ANNiEEx3: You'll see…
goldenlioness1102: Thanks a lot! Thanks for always liking it!
Piper: Thanks!
mysticpammy: Thanks, I will!
Natural-181: Yes it does, yes he is. :) Thanks for the review!
Punkhotti006: Here's your update!
Golden Angel7: Here's a new chapter!
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Ginny sat on Hermione's couch cradling Hailey in her lap as Hermione sat next to her and explained what had happened, crying harder than ever. "And…he…he…he said that…" She hiccupped and continued to sob. "That he only dated me out of…out of curiosity!"
"Curiosity? What do you mean?"
"He only dated me because he wanted to know….who Hailey's father was, not because he liked…me!"
Ginny sighed. "I'm sure he liked you!"
Hermione shook her head. "Well, even if he did, it doesn't change the fact that he hurt me!"
"Of course it doesn't."
"Ginny? What the hell am I going to do now?"
"Get over him, I suppose."
"But it's going to be so hard!"
"It always is. But remember what I said about you, Hermione? You're strong. You still are. You'll get through this, and you'll realize he wasn't "the one"."
Hermione sighed. "I guess he wasn't."
Ginny nodded. But she didn't feel so sure. It was a shame really. It seemed like they were perfect for each other. But she guessed it was just the way things had to be.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Draco sat on his couch, doing absolutely nothing. He was empty. He let her go. It was all his fault. Hermione, Hailey…they were the good things in his life, and he had allowed them to go. He shouldn't have. He should have done or said something!
But he didn't.
And it killed him.
Him and his bloody curiosity! He was a fucking insensitive idiot! He had to do something. He needed to apologize. He needed to get her back.
And soon. Wait, actually, he should go and beg for her forgiveness right now! The sooner the better, right? He checked his watch. Her work would end in thirty minutes. He might as well take his time and walk.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Viktor had planned it all out. He was going to kill Hailey first. He needed a bit of time before he dealt with an adult. Especially an adult like Malfoy who could beat the crap out of him in three seconds. He would killHailey about now, when Hermione was still at work. Mrs.Bradburry would be easy to get past. He would just Stupefy her, simple as that. Then Hermione would come home, and find her baby dead.
Viktor decided to walk to Hermione's apartment. It would give him time to clear his head, and polish his plan so it would be perfect.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Hermione sighed as she walked out of The Three Broomsticks. Finally, work was over. Work was a bore, especially when she was stuck thinking about Draco all day. Now she just needed to unwind and see Hailey's adorable face.
She decided a walk would relax her. Yes, a walk. Mrs.Bradburry could take care of Hailey for a little while longer anyway, right?
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Viktor reached Hermione's door. "Alohamora."
The door opened easily, revealing Mrs.Bradburry sitting on the couch and watching the television. He could tell from the look of her that she was Muggle. Oh well. She turned around and saw him. She gasped and leapt up. "Who are you? What do you-"
"Stupefy."
She froze, a look of shock evident on her face.
Viktor smirked. This was just too easy.
He made his way around the tiny apartment, and sooner or later, found Hailey sleeping peacefully in her crib. He raised his wand.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Draco made his way to Hermione's apartment, only to find the door wide open, and a stupefied woman on the floor. His heart raced. There was a wizard intruder! He made his way cautiously around the house, as quietly as possible. He was very unfamiliar with Hermione's apartment, but that wasn't such a big problem, since the apartment quite small.
He peeked into a room, and found a guy in front of Hailey's crib, his wand raised, and in the middle of saying a killing curse.
"Avada…"
Draco did not hesitate to think. He stupefied the guy on the spot. The intruder went rigid and collapsed onto the floor. Draco smiled gleefully. He got him! He went over to the body and turned it over to take a good look at the stranger who almost killed Hailey.
Krum.
Draco shook his head. Damn. Viktor really was an obsessed, resentful asshole. He looked over at Hailey to see if she was alright. She was still sleeping soundly. He smiled. Good.
Now he had to find Hermione. He made his way back to the living room, lugging Viktor around with him all the while. Hermione picked that time to appear.
"Draco? What the hell is happening? Why is Viktor lying on the floor? Why is my front door wide open? Why is Mrs. Bradburry lying on the floor? Where's Hailey, and what are you doing here! What-"
"Hermione, okay, I can explain all of this."
"Then explain! Go on, start now, I need an explanation, Draco! Why aren't you-"
"Okay, okay! Now, I went here to apologize about what I said last time, and when I got here, I found the front door open, and that woman lying there. She's Muggle, isn't she? I think she is. So, I was naturally concerned about what was going on."
Hermione sat down slowly, comprehending what was going on. "Go…go on."
"So, I looked around the house to look for the intruder, and I found Krum about to say the Killing Curse-"
"Killing Curse? Who was he trying to kill?"
Draco didn't answer, and seconds later, her eyes widened in horror. "Oh my god! The bastard, I'm going to kill him! Draco, perform the counter curses! I need both of them conscious. Mrs.Bradburry's Muggle, so you have to perform a Memory charm as well."
"Why should I revive Viktor? Don't you want him to be-"
"I want you to perform the counter curse so I can kick the living shit out of him."
"Hermione, I don't think that's wise. I think we should just notify the Ministry that he broke into your house, and almost performed a Killing Curse on…on Hailey."
Hermione sighed. "I guess you're right, but I wish I could. I need to go check on Hailey! Do the counter curses now and contact the Ministry!"
Draco nodded. "I'm on it."
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
ONE WEEK LATER
The following article was published in The Daily Prophet:
VIKTOR KRUM SENT TO AZKABAN!
Famous Bulgarian Quidditch player Viktor Krum has been sent to Azkaban for attempting to murder his own daughter, Hailey, who is six months old. Luckily, Krum's ex-wife Hermione Granger's boyfriend, the handsome yet notorious Draco Malfoy saved Hailey in the nick of time. Granger is eternally grateful that her daughter's life was spared. But rumor has it that Malfoy blackmailed Krum, so his reputation would be given a spectacular boost. Krum is sentenced to a life sentence in Azkaban prison, and the reason behind the attempted murder is left unknown to the press.
-Rita Skeeter
Hermione sighed as she finished reading it. Rita Skeeter still had the nerve to comment on the Malfoy reputation. She was extremely grateful that Hailey was still alive, thanks to Draco. She had forgiven him, actually, and he knew it. They were back together, which made her very happy.
But what didn't make her happy was the amount of attention she was getting from the bloody, stubborn press. They were always trying to take a picture of her and ask her thoughts on bla bla bla, and some had even attempted to camp out outside The Three Broomsticks, but she was miraculously able to shoo them away. Also, she lived in a Muggle area, so the press could not be there, it was too dangerous.
Draco, on the other hand, was subjected to no mercy. He was constantly surrounded by packs of them, due to his "heroism". Not that he cared. He was used to attention from them anyway, so to him, it was no big deal.
Mrs.Bradburry had forgotten everything that had happened, so her life was still normal and carefree. Lucky Muggle wench…
Hermione was now slightly paranoid, so she checked on Hailey more often. She knew deep down that no one would try to kill her baby again, but she was just comforted when she saw she was safe. She swore never to let anything bad happen to her daughter again.
Just then, her phone rang. She picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hermione! Ron's being released tomorrow!"
Hermione smiled widely. "Oh my God! That's wonderful, Ginny!"
"Yes, it is! You should go to the Burrow around 1:00 tomorrow, because that's where we're holding his welcome back party, and you need to be there!"
"Okay, I'll see you then."
"Okay! Bye!"
"Bye."
Hermione hung up. She laughed. This was so awesome! Ron would be released, and everyone would be happy again! It would be just like old times, without Harry.
Hermione sighed. Harry. If only he was still alive to see Hailey, and Ginny pregnant...It was no use thinking about it now. But she still missed him, more than people thought.
Hermione shook off these thoughts and went to bed, thinking about tomorrow, when she would see Ron again.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Hermione waited anxiously with the other Weasleys at the Burrow for Ron to return with Ginny. The Weasleys were not talking to Ginny because, according to Percy, she was a "dirty whore", which caused him to be cursed by Blaise, Hermione, and Ginny at the same time. Nothing serious, though.
Hermione shook her head as she looked at the Weasleys' anxious faces. They were trying desperately to act as if nothing was amiss with them. They were trying to act as if they hadn't changed since the twins' deaths and Ron was sent to rehab. But Ron knew his family well, and Hermione knew he would know that they were permanently somber, and it was something they couldn't fix.
She wanted to throw something at the Weasleys. They frustrated her so badly. But she knew she couldn't. She couldn't do anything about it. Just then, the door opened, and Ron walked in, a huge smile plastered on his face.
Hermione squealed and ran to hug him. "You're back!"
The Weasleys' faces brightened. "Ron!"
In a matter of seconds, Ron was smothered in a tangle of hugs. He laughed. Hermione smiled. Ron was back, and everything would be fine.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
Draco knew that Hermione had forgiven him, but not completely. He didn't blame her. To gain her trust again, he had been doing various things for her, like buying her flowers and taking her out to dinner, with Hailey of course. Actually, he was buying her a bouquet of violets (her favorite flower) this very minute.
Draco made his way to Hermione's apartment and knocked on the door. Hermione opened it. He gave her the flowers and stepped inside. He looked around, and saw…Ron Weasley.
They stared at each other for a second or two. "Hermione? What is Malfoy doing here, and why did he give you flowers?"
Hermione looked extremely uncomfortable. "Well, Ron, he's my...my boyfriend."
Ron's eyes widened. "You're joking."
"No she isn't, Weasley."
"Hermione! Malfoy! Of all bloody people…"
"Please, Ron! Don't be angry!"
Ron looked like he was going to kill somebody. "Hermione…you are fraternizing with the enemy."
"Oh she is, is she? Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, Weasley, but-"
"Draco, please-"
"Oh! So you call him Draco now, do you?"
"Ron! Please-"
"How the hell did you end up with Malfoy!"
"I-"
"That's our business, Weasley, so shut up!"
"You shut up, you-"
"SHUT UP! Both of you!" The two men stopped bickering reluctantly. "Now," Hermione continued, "Ron, I'll explain, Draco, stop fighting with Ron."
"But he started it-"
"ENOUGH! It doesn't matter!"
"Fine."
"Now, Ron, Draco and I got together because…well, we're attracted to each other, like all the other couples in the world-"
"But Hermione, this is MALFOY! He's the ass who called you Mudblood throughout our years at Hogwarts! He made you cry! How can you be attracted to someone who made your life hell?"
Hermione could not answer. "I…I don't know-"
"You mean you don't know why you're attracted to me?"
Hermione sighed. "Can you guys just stop interrupting me!"
They both mumbled an apology.
"You know what? This is going nowhere. Both of you are too stubborn to listen. I won't bother with you two. Ron, thanks for coming over, Draco, thank you for the flowers, they're lovely. Now, please leave."
"But-"
"Both of you out, NOW. Please leave me alone for awhile."
The two men sighed and left. Hermione closed the door, and sighed in relief. Ron and Draco would never get along.
Draco and Ron glared at each other and stomped their separate ways.
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
A/N: Hi! I hope you liked this chapter! I won't be able to update in a while because I'll be in China, taking a look at The Great Wall….anyway, review, please!
