Disclaimer: Not mine. Would JKR actually let draco and hermione do this?


Perfect Mistake

Ten

Sacrifice


Hermione always imagined herself to be the most beautiful on her wedding day. Honestly, which girl didn't?

Her gown was white (of course) with lace and ruffles, very classic- simple and beautiful. Everything was exactly as she wanted, as she wished for- the flowers, the gown, the church- everything was impeccable, perfect.

She was a radiant and gorgeous bride, the place was beautifully decorated, all the guests were chatting happily, the whole wedding was what she wanted, all but the groom.

Ron was grinning and shaking Neville's hand, looking very proud and eager.

Hermione swallowed, her hand straying over her stomach. She was going to show soon, by the end of the month. She grimaced, if not for this child, she would not be wearing this gown, ready to give her hand to this groom. Somehow, this baby served as a comfort to her, her sole living link to him. This baby was part of them- their love, evidence of their love and passion.

She was going to love this baby, with all of her heart, and no matter what, she was going to protect her child.

"Congrats, Hermione," Luna pulled Hermione into a hug. "You are a really lucky girl," she smiled.

"Thanks," Hermione smiled serenely. "And thanks for coming."

"You look fantastic," Luna grinned.

"So do you," Hermione laughed. She couldn't believe that she was making small talk, like everything was okay- like this was not the day she was going to hand herself over to lifetime of misery.

This was something she had to do, there was no choice, if she loved this baby, this was what she had to do- and she loved this baby.

--

Crying and trembling, Hermione tumbled into Draco's ward.

He had been sleeping but at the sound of his door flying open, being a light sleeper, he sat up.

When he saw her, he looked shocked. "Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked urgently, one glance taking in her pale face that was streaked with tears, her shaking hands that were struggling with Bee and the suitcase's weight, her messy hair and haunted eyes.

"What happened?" he got out of the bed and moved to her side. After a round of healing charms and potions, he was already able to move around easily. One more day, the mediwitch had promised, and he'd be free and good as new.

"I am so scared," she whispered, dropping Bee onto the sofa, where she continued sleeping soundly. "Ron, he threatened to take Bee away if I ever took her to see you and I couldn't risk him hurting Bee," Hermione choked out an explanation. "I gave him a sleeping potion and then gave him the full body bind. I think he'll stay that way until he wakes up and finds himself unable to move, and well, I don't know how he'll go from there."

"Hermione," Draco sighed. "It'll be okay, I'll keep you safe. I'll be out of this place tomorrow first thing in the morning, I'll take you and Bee to the Manor and I'll never let you out of my side. If possible, I'll help you get a restraining order, and I swear, I will not let him touch you or Bee or I'll kill him."

Hermione fell into his arms, shaking and shivering, but more safe then she'd ever felt in her life.

She trusted him, she realized, she would entrust herself and Bee to him, because she was sure that he loved the both of them more than he loved himself, the way she loved Draco and Bee too.

She transfigured the sofa Bee was sleeping on into a bed and climbed on, falling asleep next to her daughter.

Draco watched them for a moment, before settling back into bed.

--

Ginny was the first one in the ward that morning as Draco was getting ready to go.

"Hermione, really, was it necessary?" Ginny asked hotly. "Ron hasn't even regained consciousness!"

Draco scowled at the redhead. "Really, Ginny, is it necessary for you to walk into my ward and start scolding Hermione who just got the fright of her life, thanks to your brother?"

Ginny digested his words, her scowl fading, then her eyes widened. "What exactly happened?" she demanded.

Hermione hushed her, gesturing to Bee who was still sleeping soundly. "We'll talk outside. Draco, watch Bee, will you?" She led Ginny outside.

Ginny looked at her expectantly.

"Ron was slightly drunk and he was angry with me, he threatened to take Bee away from me if I ever take be to see Draco. He was on the verge of hitting me and I didn't have my wand, so I pretended to be scared and he let me go to pour him a drink. I added a sleeping potion and casted the full body bind on him, less he come after me. I packed a suitcase and apparated me and Bee here. I am not going back home, Ginny, he'll never forgive me." Hermione shook her head.

"So where are you going to go from here?" Ginny asked.

"I'll be taking Bee and moving to Draco's house," Hermione answered. "I'll do anything to keep Bee safe, you know that, Gin."

"I don't blame you for this," Ginny said, sighing. "I just don't like the way things are."

"Do you think I do?" Hermione asked wearily. "I'm tired, Ginny, I'm really tired."

"Are you girls done?" Draco poked his head round the door. "Bee's awake and asking for you," he told Hermione.

Hermione rushed in to her daughter's side. "Morning, baby," she said, smiling brightly.

"Why are we here?" Bee asked blearily.

"Oh, we're going on a holiday," Hermione fibbed.

"Really?" Bee asked with her eyes wide in excitement. "Where?"

"We're going somewhere secret," Hermione whispered, winking.

Bee bounced up and down in glee. "Who's going with us, Mommy?"

"Daddy's busy so I got Draco to go with us, how's that?" Hermione asked.

Bee grinned. "Hello, Mr. Draco," she said cheerfully. "I see you're better."

Draco grinned. "See I got our suitcases packed," he pointed at the suitcase. "You ready to go on an adventure?"

"YES!" Bee screamed, bounding in his arms, giggling.

Ginny watched the three of them, admiring the sheer beauty of the beauty they made, and backed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her and she knew that they wouldn't realize that she had left, she thought with a small private smile on her face.

--

Draco had gotten Malfoy Manor cleaned up the second he returned to London. A troop of house elves worked day and night to give the whole manor a make over, the attic was piled full of dark materials and things Draco wanted to lock up and never see again.

He told Hermione that as they apparated into the front lawn on the manor. Bee let out a scream of delight at all the room she had to run, and proceeded to run headlong into a flock of grazing birds.

"Why don't you donate them to the ministry or something? Get rid of them for a good cause," Hermione suggested.

"Good idea," he said. "Why didn't I think of that? All that stuff is just taking up room in my attic.'

"So what did you do to the manor?" Hermione asked, keeping an eyes of a running Bee.

"Clean up the whole place, throw out most of the furniture and got new ones," Draco shrugged.

Hermione shouted Bee's name. "Bee!" she called out. "Get back here, we're going in!"

"Are we going to live here, Mommy?" Bee asked breathlessly.

"DO you want to?" Hermione asked.

"Yes! It's prettier than our house!" Bee said.

"Of course," Draco swelled with pride.

They climbed the steps onto the porch and Draco pushed the door open, grinning.

Hermione gasped. The inside of the manor was bright and sun-lit. The drapes were all pulled open, full-length windows letting the light stream in.

"Wow," Hermione said in awe. "It's lovely."

"I know," Draco said smugly. "This way, I'll show you guys around."

--

Bee watched the exchange her mother and Draco. Bee was giddy with that fresh, crispy sweet smell in the air.

They bantered and bickered, like little children and Bee tried to remember the last time her mother had giggled or blushed. Her mother's cheeks were tinted with pink and her eyes sparkled.

Bee might only be five, but she knew that friends did not touch each other the way her mother and Draco touched each other. They certainly did not let their hands linger on each other's arms. If they were only just friends, Draco would not have let his hand stray to the small of her back and settle there, his thumb rubbing small comforting circles. Her mother did not push him away, Bee noted.

She pretended to return to the book she was reading, all the while watching Draco and her mother.

Her mother ducked her head, grinning widely at something Draco whispered into her ear and Bee's eyes widened as Draco let his lips brush the side of her face and her mother tilt her head so their mouths met, however briefly.

A burst of smell hit Bee in the face- something like milk and honey, like cotton candy and something spicy.

She heard her mother's laughter and she turned to the window, where an owl was tapping its beak urgently on the glass.

"Mommy, there's an owl!" Bee shouted.

"Open the window and let it in, sweetie," Hermione smiled.

Bee slid the window open and the bird flew in, flapping its wings noisily. Something closed around her waist and she screamed in alarm, before her vision went black. The last thing she heard was her mother's cry.


A/N:

Thanks to all who reviewed! Those comments really keep me going and i'm halfway through the next chapter which should be up pretty soon (:

Please review! 3

-lissie