Chapter 41:
"It's time?" she asked in a mere whisper.
The nurse nodded and motioned for Hermione to walk into the room.
Hermione stood still for a moment and then realized that the nurse was waiting. It was time for her to go inside that room, and end the life of her unborn child.
She looked up at the nurse, who was now standing by the door impatiently. Tears found their way down her cheeks and she shook with anxiety.
"No." she whispered looking at the nurse.
The nurse looked up at her, an utterly confused expression on her face.
"No!" she repeated much louder as she ran from the clinic shaking her head feverishly.
As strong as she believed herself to be, she couldn't do it. She couldn't kill it. As hard as it might seem, she must cope with reality and come clean to Draco. It was a mistake made by both of them and they would have to face it together.
She ran to the house, ran as fast as her weak state would allow, yet she knew the speed wouldn't matter because she couldn't run from reality. She looked back and saw the clinic as nothing but a blur in the distance. That's what Hermione hoped it would stay as; A bad memory, that would hopefully fade away.
Hermione ran inside the house breathless. Tears were covering her face's pretty features. Her hair was in a mess due to the heavy running that she had done. She saw Draco staring out the living room window with a worried expression on his face. She ran to him and buried her face in his chest. Draco embraced her, and started stroking her hair.
"What is it love?" he asked gently.
Hermione didn't answer, she couldn't talk, nothing she did helped stop the tears that were escaping her eyes. Her body was shaking from the mass amount of anxiety that accumulated over the past week. She tried to control the tears, to stop the shaking, but all of her attempts were to no avail.
Draco hugged her tighter and moved with her from side to side in attempt to calm her down. He was on the verge of tears himself, it pained him to see his girl suffer so much.
"Shh baby, don't cry. Whatever it is I'm here for you. Shh my love." he said stroking her hair.
Hermione wanted to open up her mouth and let everything out. She wanted to tell him about everything that happened this past week. She steadied her breath and looked up into his gray eyes.
Draco's warm glaze greeted her eyes, and Hermione found herself bursting into tears once more. Draco picked her up and placed her on the couch, he then conjured some calming tea and handed it to her.
Hermione drank the tea up and lay in his embrace until she felt a sense of calmness take over her. She then decided to take a soothing shower and later have a long talk with Draco.
She cleansed and scrubbed her body as hard as she could. She tried to wash the past week away. All the worries, stress and anxiety, her pregnancy and the complications that came along with it. She tried her hardest to have it drain away with the water, and leave her forever. She was in the shower, washing herself feverishly for half an hour; Until she finally felt like all was lost and that she had to face reality immediately. She wrapped her bath robe around her body, and went into the living room to talk to Draco.
In the living room Draco was seating on the couch with two cups of hot tea on a tray next to him. There was also a box of tissues and a pillow he conjured just in case his girl would need some extra support. When he saw her walk in, he patted the empty space next to him and beckoned for her to sit down.
Hermione sat down next to Draco and sighed deeply. She then gratefully accepted the cup of tea that he handed her and started sipping on it slowly. After about five more minutes of silence she decided to gather all of her strength in one bunch and reveal the truth to her loved one.
"Draco, I have to confess. There is a serious reason to everything odd that's been happening with me in the past week. I, Draco, oh my god, I'm…" she couldn't continue. She felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks and reached for a tissue to wipe them away.
"Baby, what ever it is I assure you I'll be here for you. Love we're engaged, we're going to get married, and hopefully spend the rest of our lives together. You have to be able to open up to me and share your problems with me. I want to help you, I want to be there for you, but how could I when you're pushing me away?" he asked her sensibly, urging her to talk with his words.
"I know baby." Hermione cried, blowing her nose into the tissue. "I want to talk to you, and tell you everything I really do, but I don't know how." she added, feelings of guilt rushing into her. Draco was so sensible and understanding now, she dreaded of his reaction to the truth she must reveal.
"Tell me. I urge you to talk to me. Whatever it may be, I will always be by your side." said Draco, brushing a few tears away with his fingers.
"Draco, I'm…" she paused and steadied her breath. "I'm four weeks pregnant." she finally said, Hermione then jerked her head up and looked into his eyes.
Draco's eyes enlightened with joy and expressed confusion at the same time.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Hermione got frightened by this question. Was he doubting her? Was he not happy? Was the glimpse of happiness in his eyes her mere imagination?
"Yes Draco. I'm sure." replied Hermione.
"Oh my God. This is great." exclaimed Draco happily.
"You really think so?" she asked worriedly.
"Off course I do. Love you're carrying our baby in your womb what could be greater than this?" he asked placing his hand on her stomach.
"Oh Draco, I'm so happy you're happy. I was so worried." she said sobbing once more.
Either she turned into an emotional wreck or the pregnancy hormones were really starting to kick in. But something was definitely wrong.
"Off course I'm happy, what would ever make you think I wouldn't be?" asked Draco smiling.
"I don't know, I just thought you would get upset, because we're young, and the world is in a chaotic state, and your name is still not cleared out and what not. I never expected you to be so happy, and supportive." admitted Hermione, a little embarrassed that she didn't know her fiancé good enough to know that he really did care.
"Hermione, that's why you should always come to me first. There's no reason to assume, I'm here aren't I? Wow I'm going to be a dad, this is amazing news, I love you so much." said Draco pecking her on the lips.
"Yes, you are here, and you're amazing. I love you too and I'm so happy you're so thrilled. Thank God I didn't go through with the abortion." said Hermione, immediately biting on her lip for her slip of her tongue.
"What?" Draco asked angrily. "You were going to get an abortion, without even telling me?" he continued, feeling his calmness leave his body.
"Yes, but I didn't. I couldn't. I'm so sorry for even considering it. You have to understand I was so shocked, and unprepared, I didn't know what to do." explained Hermione.
"But still, how could you consider it without talking to me first?" pushed Draco.
"I'm sorry, I really am. Please let's not fight over it. I really don't want to fight with you. I didn't do it, and I finally got enough courage to tell you. Now can you just hug me and help me settle all of this internal mess?" she asked, placing her head on his shoulder.
Draco brought his arms around her waist and brought her closer to him. He then kissed her on the temple and hugged her tightly.
"I just can't believe you were ready to make that decision without consulting with me first. After all I'm the father of the future baby, I do have a say you know." said Draco calmly.
"I know, and I am sorry, believe you me. I wasn't thinking right, I was too upset and acted too fast. I promise I would never do so again." said Hermione, hugging him deeper.
"I'm glad you didn't go through with the abortion." he whispered into her ear.
"So am I." she replied smiling.
"Having a child would be such an amazing experience, and I'll help you with everything I promise." said Draco, kissing the tip of her nose.
"It would be amazing, scary but amazing non the less." Hermione said sighing into his shoulder, and feeling relieved for the first time in a long time.