Chapter 3

Hello all, just to let you know i'm planning to update this weekly, most likely on a Monday or a Tuesday - it's all finished just making the time to edit each chapter. Please let me know what you think and i hope you enjoy!

For all the reactions i'm expecting from Malfoy the one i get certainly isn't what i expect. He's not angry or raging, he's not quietly polite, he doesn't ask me if the baby is his, he doesn't do anything. It's like his whole body just freezes, not even his eyes are telling me anything completely occluding me from what's going on in his head as his whole body sort of just stops working where it sits.

In my panic i start babbling, rushing to tell him that he doesn't have to panic that i have a plan even if it is a basic one 'You don't have to be involved of course, i just wanted to tell you is all, i haven't quite figured out the details but i thought you had a right to know...Harry's going to support me and Ginny as well, the rest of the Weasleys i'm hoping will be happy but i haven't told them yet...i just wanted to tell you…' I trail off when he still doesn't move, I can almost hear my heart beating in my ears.

Finally he comes back to his senses, removing his hand from my wrist and placing both of his on the table gripping one hand in the other. His eyes still don't give anything away and I suddenly realise he must be an excellent occulemence, it's like he's a blank slate absolutely nothing to tell me what he's thinking.

'Does Potter know that the baby is…' he stops as if he can't bring himself to say it.

'Yours?' I finish when he hesitates noticing his grip on his own hand tightening, fingers going white with the pressure.

'Of course, I told him and Ginny but I thought I'd tell you before I told anyone else. Harry and Ginny can be trusted to keep the information to themselves if you decide...well if you'd rather we forget this conversation.' I shrug picking up my cup as if it's of no consequence even though we both know that the truth is much the opposite, immensely glad to find out that my hands have stopped shaking.

I feel so much lighter now I've told him, more in control again, finally. Blimey all those nerves for no reason!

'How could I possibly forget this conversion, we're going to have a child Granger.' finally some emotion from him even if it is only sarcasm, his eyebrows raising as he all but scoffs.

I take another sip deliberating the best way to word it, 'I'm going to have a child Malfoy -' he narrows his eyes at the emphasis '- you don't have to be involved i'm not going to force you, i thought you might prefer it that way, considering well…' I shrug because we both know the answer.

His eyebrows are nearly at his hairline now, any further and i'd be surprised if they don't sink into his hair altogether. 'Considering what Granger?! It's my child too -' he struggles for a moment as if trying to form the words '-i'd like to be involved.'

'Are you sure because i won't be offended if you take some time to think about it?' his glare is downright ferocious by this point but i know it's important that he knows what he's getting into, i'd already made my decision and it's time for him to make his.

'I'm sure' the words might as well be cut from glass they're so frosty.

'Oh, oh okay! That's great then.' I give what I'm hoping is a reassuring smile and his lips do that funny twisting motion once more as I rush to stir my rapidly cooling tea, just to give my hands something to do with all the awkwardness in the air.

'Why did you think i'd want to forget about this?' the words seem to be dragged out of him, as if he hates the fact that his curiosity refuses to be sated.

'Well the baby will be half me Malfoy, and I know there's something of a reputation surrounding purebloods concerning….concerning - well the creation of half-bloods.' hastily i take another sip of tea to cover the uncomfortable nature of the topic, it's not as if i need to explain the prejudice of his own people to him after all.

'I thought you knew me better than that Granger -' he struggles for a moment, clearly banking some kind of strong emotion '- i wouldn't...i couldn't…. I don't care, half-blood, full-blood, muggleborn, i thought you understood that i didn't care. Back in the safe house that wasn't a dalliance for me - it was….' he struggles again and I can't bear to watch it.

'I understand Malfoy -' our eyes meet and i'm hoping the sentiment in mine shows that i know how he feels about how special our time together was 'i apologise for assuming but you can understand why i had to check, your reaction wouldn't exactly be that of the majority.' he sits back clearly relieved that i'm serious as the redness fades from his cheeks and he seems to resettle himself.

There's silence for a little while longer as we finish our tea and mull over the conversation but its not awkward as it was in the beginning, there's something soothing about it.

'Have you been to see the healers yet, to make sure everythings okay?' he nods to my stomach even though it's obscured by my baggy jumper, he's still occluding but his eyes are slightly wide, no doubt still shocked.

'I was planning to go after our meeting to see Andromeda, I wanted to speak to you first before I started to tell others' I twist my hands when I belatedly realise that she's his Aunt, slightly awkward but it's not something I usually associate with my cunning older friend.

'May I accompany you?' such a polite offer that i almost don't know what to do with it, i've never had to deal with a stuffily polite Malfoy before.

'Of course, it's very much up to you how involved you are' I stand taking that as my cue to leave, looping my coat around me and getting out my purse to put down a few galleons.

Of course Malfoy beats me, throwing down far too many coins and ushering me out before I can so much as utter a word of protest. Hand gently placed on my back as he guides me through the door.

'Are you able to apparate?' another eerily polite question, it's starting to throw me off, where's the attitude, the sarcasm?

'Would you like me to side along you?' i can't help but wonder if he's ever been to Meda's house before.

He shakes his head in the negative 'i'll meet you there.' a pop and then he's gone, leaving me to follow along after him.

A heartbeat later and we're in Andromeda's floo room and the witch herself is there to greet us, dressed in stunningly elegant purple robes and looking just as cheerful as ever.

'Hermione darling you'll have to excuse us i didn't realise that my nephew was visiting today.' she smiles nonetheless as if it isn't the slightest inconvenience, eyes happy as they grin at us both 'Perhaps we can take tea before we start your appointment, you wouldn't mind would you Draco?' another warm smile as somewhere in the house a monitoring charm goes off.

'We're actually here together Aunt.' Malfoys voice is cool and collected as he deliberately ignores the way she blinks in shock.

'Is something the matter darling?' she frowns in obvious concern as she checks me up and down for obvious injuries, eyes darting between the two of us in confusion as she whips out her wand.

'I'm pregnant.' I give a shy smile that I'm sure is more of a grimace, I feel both of them study the movement and I'm just able to make out the way that Malfoy's Adam's apple bobs at the admission.

Andromeda's gaze flits from Malfoy to me, from Malfoy to me and then back again before her mouth pops open in a little O. Something flashing in her eyes just for a second before it's gone.

Then the monitoring charm rings again and she snaps to attention as if coming back to herself 'Please excuse me i just have to fetch Teddy.' without another word she's off pretty robes swishing behind her.

'Well that went well.' finally some personality from the man beside me as he shuffles uncomfortably.

'I think she might be confused, we've grown quite close over the last few months.' I wince beckoning for Malfoy to follow me as I lead us into what I know is the living room.

He looks uncomfortable proceeding without an escort but thankfully doesn't insist on waiting for Meda as we finally get to my favourite room in the house, It's full of comfortable sofas and plush toys, a small wooden table in the middle and a roaring fireplace in the centre.

'And you didn't mention?' he waves a hand between the two of us before he takes a seat on the sofa, tilting his body towards the space he's left beside him in invitation.

'Well she had a lot going on, I didn't want to make it awkward for her by telling her about...well you know. Plus what would I have said, it would have been uncomfortable at best!' I huff defensively watching his eyes light up, finally a bloody reaction!

'I can think of a few things you could have commented on.' He smirks to himself and his eyes shine at the relieved memory as he leans closer, I refuse to admit it's attractive, I absolutely refuse.

'I'm not really the type to kiss and tell Malfoy' I glare at his ridiculous expression, refusing to admit how often I've thought about that night, or how desperately i'd wanted to talk to Meda about it.

'On that we agree.' he sobers with a dark look I can't decipher as his eyes travel down to my lips and back again.

Andromeda returns before we can do anything silly with a sleepy little blue haired boy who completely breaks the moment, I can't help but smile at my beautiful godson when he suddenly perks up, chocolate brown curls sprouting on his head and a toothless grin stretching across his mouth.

I stand and hold out my arms so Meda can all but pour him into them, letting his tiny arms grab me tightly, all soft baby skin and cute pudgy arms, Malfoy looks positively alarmed at the way he's clinging to me.

'Should you really be doing that, in your condition?' he nods to my stomach as he rises, gesturing to the little boy sitting on my hip with one pudgy cheek pressed to my collarbone.

I look at Andromeda in confusion, what on earth does he mean?

She grins seemingly recovered from her earlier bout of shock at seeing the two of us together, looking smugly excited 'It's perfectly safe for her to hold Teddy, he isn't heavy she isn't exerting herself, now let me call Poppy to come and watch him and i'll take you through to my clinic.'

An elf appears on the words and I gently put the little boy on the ground, watching him bring a meaty little fist to his mouth to start sucking on it. We follow Andromeda through the house and back into what looks like a doctors office, a bed tucked into one corner and a desk on the opposite one.

Potions and spell books line the shelves and three little chairs sit off to one side.

'Please' she nods to the chairs after taking one of her own.

With a wave of her wand a notepad and a quick quote quill appear, floating next to her still and waiting for her to command it to write.

'So you think you're pregnant?' She gives us both a comforting smile in full on healer mode.

'I'm sorry I didn't confide in you sooner, i didn't want to put you in a bad position.' i can't help but smile at her worriedly.

'Don't be silly Hermione-' she reaches out to give my hand a comforting squeeze '-i'll still be expecting you around for tea on Sunday, and Teddy will still be waiting for you to take him to that wretched muggle park on Tuesday.' her warm smile reassures me in a way her words never could.

'You're the best Meda.' a watery grin accompanies the words.

'I adore you sweet girl, now tell me about this pregnancy.' straightening she removes her hand and turns serious once more.

'I performed the charm this morning three times and each time it flashed gold, i've also missed three periods which i put down to stress -' i clear my throat uncomfortably '-i've also had erm, unprotected - intercourse' a dark blush that i can't help as Malfoy clears his throat next to me.

If i didn't know better i'd say he was uncomfortable too.

'Do you know the approximate date of conception.' a glance that tries not to be amused as the quill notes something else down.

'Mid june?' a hesitant glance at the man next to me, the dates are all rather fuzzy after all.

'June 16th' he answers for me, not even a creeping doubt of uncertainty.

Andromeda nods not the least bit concerned, asking me a few more questions about family and sexual history. I blush my way through the answers glad that the extent of it is the man next to me and only slightly reassured that his answers at least will be the same.

'Right if you want to hop up onto the bed and lift your shirt we'll see if we can hear the heartbeat.' I rise scooting up onto the bed and making eye contact with Malfoy, thankfully after a moment he follows us, positioning himself by my side as I gently move my jumper upwards.

'Now first of all I'm going to confirm the pregnancy, gold means that you are indeed with child and no light means you aren't are you ready?' She lifts her wand and I nod yes.

A second later a familiar gold light fills the room and I'm almost sure Malfoy's stopped breathing.

'Perfect, now in a second i'm going to cast a charm that will let you hear the heartbeat, are you ready?' another nod, this time one Malfoy joins in on before she waves her wand.

The heartbeat is loud in the silent room echoing just that little bit too fast and so clear that it brings a tear to my eye. It feels real now, I'm actually growing another person inside me, I move my hand up to cradle my still small stomach. How utterly brilliant.

Malfoy's eyes lock on the movement and they're burning.

Andromeda takes a few measurements, pronounces my due date (march 16th), makes me step on the scales and uses a floating tape measure to take my height before she pronounces me perfectly healthy. She arranges another appointment in a few months' time and then we're back in the floo room after hugs and promises that I'll be there for tea this week.

'So how's this going to work Granger?' Malfoy suddenly looks awkward as we just stare at each other.

'Look I have no guideline here Malfoy, I've never done this before either, how would you like it to work? I'm open to suggestions?' I raise my eyebrows fidgeting uncomfortably for once not knowing the answer to something.

'I want to be there, for everything' a decisive nod as if he's physically agreeing with his own words, like he's just made some kind of promise to himself and now he's following through.

'I have no quarrel with that.' I let my arms fall utterly exhausted with the drama of the last few days, it's been a hard year.

'Can i take you to breakfast tomorrow, maybe we can discuss things in more detail?' a hesitant offer but an offer nonetheless.

'Of course, I'll owl you my address-' i step towards the floo '- until tomorrow Malfoy.'

'Tomorrow Granger' and then I let the flames take me away.

…..

I walk through Zabini manor in a complete daze the fact that i've been here so many times the only reason i manage to find Blaise, lazing in front of the fire and laughing at something Theo has said, both of them with a glass of firewhiskey in hand.

'Draco! We expected you ages ago where have you been?' an exuberant Zabini greeting that i completely ignore as i flop into an armchair.

'Draco are you okay?' of course it's Theo who asks, my quiet sensitive friend has always been more aware of others than most of us, he'd needed to be.

'She's pregnant!' i can't help it i just blurt it out, the words falling in the room that's suddenly silent.

'Who's pregnant?' again it's Theo who asks Blaise is sitting there with the same look i'm betting is on my face, panic.

'Granger' I swallow uncomfortably, pulling at my tie to loosen it, suddenly needing more room to breathe.

Blaise shoves his glass of firewhiskey into my hand as though it'll give me strength and I drink it down enjoying the way it burns, a pleasant kind of pain.

'Ah man it's okay, i know you had a thing for her but this is probably for the best…' Blaise looks like he can breathe again, refilling my glass before running his hand through his hair in relief and flopping back in his armchair.

'Draco' Theo interrupts, having not taken his eyes off me, he was there in the Great Hall, he'd seen the poorly concealed way i'd interacted with Granger, Blaise's relieved expression dies a quick death as he takes the both of us in, mouth falling open in shock.

'It's mine.' I take another mind numbing gulp, the burn anchoring me to the present. The conflicting feelings of complete and utter delight and then the suddenly overwhelming panic.

Blaise lets out a curse that's filthy enough to make the darkest wizard blush as Theo sits back in taciturn shock, both of them staring at me as if I've just told them the sky has secretly been green this whole time.