Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this story! I appreciate all the review, follows, and favorites, truly.

Again, this is a dead dove, non-HEA fic so please be mindful of the trigger warnings before proceeding.

Trigger warnings: This chapter contains swearing, eating disorder, emotional manipulation, infidelity, and graphic sexual content. This fic is suggested for 18 and up. Reader discretion is advised.

Enjoy!


Chapter Four


Theo had not called on Hermione for the last two months. It was the loneliest, most devastatingly bleak time she could ever remember in her entire life. She'd stopped eating, unable to stomach anything, even toasted bread. Malfoy's parents were making horrific remarks about her skeletal frame every time they saw her while Malfoy himself continued to act disdainfully toward his noncompliant wife. Hermione paid them no heed as she spent her days doing nothing except stare out the manor windows as she'd done that week in the drawing room, hoping to hear from Theo again and wishing feverently he'd return to her.

She contemplated going to Nott Manor herself but knew if she did a blood bath between her love and father-in-law would only end in tragedy. Eventually she attempted to send a letter to Theo, asking him to come to her so she could beg for his forgiveness and reconcile, but she soon learned her post was being searched by her scheming father-in-law as he had before.

Which was why when Lucius had sought her out that morning his unscheduled appearance was quite the unwelcome surprise to her. He was, as always, barely able to even stand in the doorway of her rooms let alone look at his mudblood daughter-in-law.

"So, Draco tells me he's been attempting to make amends with you for the past few months, so you will finally fulfill your duty to this family, and you have rejected his endeavors."

Hermione bit back an angry retort. If by attempt he meant harassing her to fulfil her half of the vow to the point she'd broken down crying in bed as he yelled like a raving loon to open the fucking door then yes; he had and she did reject them. Nevertheless, saying anything to her father-in-law was pointless since he would only use her words against her spitefully.

Instead of waiting for her to say something he continued on, as if her side of the story didn't matter in the slightest anyway.

"I trust you've at least rectified the additional problem of your own affair so I need not assist you as I did with my son."

Hermione's eyebrows narrowed warningly at him then, daring Lucius to say one disparaging word to her about her love for Theo or threaten his persons. The devastation this megalomaniac had wrought on not one, not two, but four lives with his underhanded dealings was a level of evil she couldn't fathom. So disgusted was she with this man that she didn't think it possible for him to sink any lower in her esteem. He seemed to know exactly what she was thinking as he grinned leeringly at her.

"My son has told me a rather interesting fact. It seems not only did you plot with him behind our backs to secure this marriage between the you two but you have, in fact, another arrangement for after you finally birth him a son."

Hermione didn't even respond. Whatever information Lucius was attempting to acquire to no doubt use against her he'd not discover from her. He smiled cruelly at her silence, looking as if that was all the evidence he needed.

"It would do well for you to comply with the vow sooner rather than later, mudblood. One wouldn't want to have to take further measures and do something...drastic."

A real chill of fear swept over her as the malicious patriarch turned without another word to leave her to fret anxiously over what he'd meant to do.

A week later and Hermione still held out hope to hear from Theo while keeping Malfoy's relentless demands at bay but she could not keep her father-in-law's interference from affecting her days.

All of her resilience had failed her which was why she sat alone at the dinner table with her husband in his private dining room. It'd been at her father-in-law's suggestion that the pair of them restart this tradition in an attempt to foster more intimate feelings again. It was also Lucius who told the house elves Hermione was no longer allowed to take her meals that she didn't eat alone in any of her rooms.

Earlier that evening a soft crack from apparating revealed the shy house elf from the drawing room, Hattie, standing in her parlor. She'd come to explain the master's orders as well as recite his reassurances that young master Malfoy would behave like a gentleman in her presence, as if that would entice her to go anywhere near him. A polite decline was on the cusp of her lips when the female house elf begged her kindly to please come with her so as not to displease her master. What choice did Hermione have but to comply? As if she didn't have enough reason to detest Lucius now she'd have to worry that he may do something to the innocent creatures running the manor if she didn't satisfy his demands such as eating with her husband. She despised him all the more.

Malfoy finished his third glass of firewhiskey as she pushed her peas around on her plate.

"You haven't eaten anything all evening, wife." He muttered, sipping on his refilled glass, obviously attempting to be polite as he was censured to be.

She almost told him to piss off but her training in decorum kept her silent in favor of peace as she speared a single pea with her fork, slipping it into her mouth, and chewing slowly.

"I heard some interesting news today." He announced suddenly.

She could care less but she said nothing.

"Daphne Greengrass is engaged." Malfoy said calmly, his eyes watching her carefully.

She tried to hide her scowl of annoyance. Why would she want to know that the elder Greengrass girl was to be married? They were cordial acquaintances, at best.

"She's to be Daphne Nott this time next year." He revealed conversationally, taking a sip from his glass.

Hermione's utensils clattered loudly when she dropped them onto her plate.

Impossible.

Her eyes searched her husband's face, surely he was joking with her. A vicious, evil damn joke. Malfoy held her gaze humorlessly, the telltale that he was, in fact, speaking the truth.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat on the tears welling there.

It can't be.

Any appetite she might've had was instantly gone as she clamoured to her feet. She didn't even excuse herself from his presence as she fled to her rooms.

No, he wouldn't. Not her Theo. He'd never.

She threw open her parlor doors and moved to her study, needing to find comfort or a distraction, anything other than thinking the most painfully unimaginable thought.

Theo was to marry. He'd forsaken their love to fulfil his duty as Lord Nott and intended to take a wife. Surely Malfoy had misheard. She'd write to Theo right away to find the truth, silently daring her horrid father-in-law to search her letter so she had reason to hex him as she'd wanted to for years,regardless of their bloody deal. Perhaps her husband was simply being particularly spiteful this evening.

Hermione attempted to open her study doors but they refused to budge. Confused, she tugged again.

Nothing.

"What?" She muttered, pulling harder but the doors wouldn't yield.

She felt a surge of panic. Why weren't the doors opening?

"I see you've found your study is locked." A voice said calmly behind her.

Hermione whirled to face her husband leaning casually on her parlor door frame. How had he gotten through her wards?

"What did you do?" She hissed, her eyes flashing with such a violent anger she hadn't felt in years.

Her husband shrugged, complacent.

"I did nothing. My father on the other hand, as lord of the manor, has taken down your spells keeping me from entry and instead barred you from entering into your study. It's meant to be an incentive. You'll get your precious study back when you're pregnant."

She felt sick to her stomach.

"You can't let him do that, Malfoy, you promised." She stammered.

He jeered at her disbelieving face.

"I believe you find I can. See, I vowed to give you your books in exchange for an heir. I've been very lenient to let you have them these past several years. My father however, has become quite overbearing wondering why I can't simply fuck my wife to kill two birds with one stone by fixing my plight with the vow and getting you with child. In fact, he's threatened to take drastic measures with regards to the line of succession of the Malfoy estate if we're not pregnant within the next year. So, as you can see, my dilemma is now yours. Give me an heir and I promise to ensure he returns access to your study."

Hermione's breathing became erratic as she yanked on the door handles.

"Give me my books, now." She demanded.

"No." He replied hard-heartedly.

"Give me my books, Malfoy!" She shrieked, tugging harder on the handles of her study, begging them to comply with the junior lady of the house.

"No, not until you uphold your end of our vow, wife! I will not relent!"

She whirled on him then, eyes flashing with all the years of hatred she'd held close to her heart for everything she had suffered since taking his name.

"Have I not given you and your family enough?" She seethed, ripping the stupid gaudy earings from her ears and pulling her sleeked hair free of its pins so it can be as untamed as she felt.

"I've done my part, Malfoy. I kept you out of Azkaban and your father even though it was never a part of our agreement. I bound myself to you as you required. I made myself the perfect mudblood pretending to be a pureblood wife so much so most of your society forgets that dreadful fact. I've turned a blind eye to Astoria and whatever affairs you've seen fit to have all while keeping my bed empty until someone finally showed me actual love for myself. You will not interfere in what little I have left that pleases me!"

He strode up to her then, forcibly backing her into a marble pillar behind her as he fumed inches from her face.

"Where is our son then, Granger? You act as if you've fulfilled every part of your duty to our vow, so where is he? If your books are so meaningful to you, submit to the vow so I may have my body and magic returned to me and produce my heir. Then we can bloody well move on with our lives."

"You have to be intimate to produce offspring Malfoy or has that fact slipped your mind? I refuse to submit to a vow for your sake when you haven't bothered to uphold those same vows I kept for the better part of our marriage!" She retorted heatedly at his imbecilic comment.

His face became expressionless but in his eyes she saw the binding craze he spoke of. It was clouding his irises and pupils with a magic induced haze. They bounced frantically between her two wide tawny eyes with a look of absolute need. A need to fulfill the vow he'd made with her. Hermione's eyes searched his, not daring to think he would…

He wouldn't...but he could.

She knew something drastic was about to happen next if she didn't bring him to reason right away.

"Draco…you swore to me. You promised me kindness and respect with regards to this part of our marriage." She whispered with real fear that she rarely displayed to her husband.

Fear he may take what technically he has the right to but had never done even by outdated laws the pureblood society kept legal for these very situations.

Malfoy swallowed thickly, obviously fighting to find control of himself at her words. The terrible thought crossed her mind that he might not be able to find that control as the binding took over his senses and made him break that vow he'd made on their wedding night all those years ago.

After a time her husband's breathing went from rage filled to steady even breaths. Recognition of her and the situation seemed to give him the ability to find his sense of self again as his eyes, still magic covered, swept away the fog of madness. Relief for her safety coursed through but Malfoy still crowded her space as he regarded her cunningly, as he would if she were a merchant he was keen to barter with.

"Let's speak candidly, Hermione. I need for us to fulfill our vow so I may keep my sanity, as well as have my body and magic returned back to their normal state. I am also in need of an heir. My father has done his utmost to make sure this happens now but he could always make things worse than he already has, for both of us, if we don't start making progress."

Sensing his honest approach with her, Hermione at last let her husband see some of the sympathy she couldn't help but feel for him and his situation brought on by the man he'd admired so much.

"I'm sorry about Astoria, Draco."

Malfoy's eyes flared with rage for a moment before they cooled.

"Don't bring her into this and I will leave Nott out of our discussion as well. This has nothing to do with them, we are strictly speaking of things between you and I."

She almost reaffirmed her sincerity but decided against it. She doesn't want to hear him speak about Theo nor does she want to think of him right now. Instead, she looked imploringly into his eyes.

"I need to have my books. In all my time of living here and everything I've undergone I have asked for nothing else. Please, Draco?"

She could see him study her face and saw a hint of similar sympathy flickered in his gaze before it turned unreadable.

"You'll get them back once you're pregnant. This isn't up for negotiation nor can I change my father's mind. If you want them back you'll have to complete your end of the vow before I go completely insane and have our heir."

Light tremors ran across Hermione's body as she came to the realization of what she'd hoped to avoid since before she even stepped foot in this prison; she was cornered. She had to comply if she would ever want to get her books back. More importantly, if she wanted to avoid the same fate as the half deranged man before her they needed to comply with their vow. In order to obtain what little joy she had left she'd have to bow to her father-in-law's will and complete what she swore she would.

She had no other choice.

"I know," she spoke in a tearful whisper, "I know I promised you I would and I mean to uphold that vow."

Malfoy's eyes betrayed his shock at her easy offer of compliance, obviously expecting to continue to argue with her. With a shaky breath she held her husband's gaze.

"I know that you have no love to give me, but will you at least give me kindness and respect in this, Draco? You made a vow to me that you always would."

He didn't speak for a long minute before he exhaled a quiet sigh.

"You're right, I did. If you agree to concede to the vow's will, as will I, then I'll do as I vowed by treating you with kindness and respect when we do."

Satisfied with his promise, seeing no deceitful or harmful intent in his demeanor, Hermione at last made a decision.

"Alright."

The harsh look in Malfoy's eyes seemed softened slightly when she spoke, roving over his wife's tear filled face. She wore the same expression from that fateful night when they married. The similar face of a girl staring at him hopefully only to find emptiness from a boy who couldn't ever be hers. The vow's magic seemed to be encouraging him to reach out to her now that she'd affirmed her permission. With unpracticed patience, his hand lifted to her cheek of its own volition, and cupped it with tenderness he'd not shown her since she had taken his name.

Hermione's eyes slid closed and for a moment she relished in the feel of this physical comfort she needed. This was the gentleness she always knew her husband could give her if he had so chose to. She wondered in that moment of what might've been, the affection that could've been born between them had he let it grow into fruition. She saw flashes of good company, the ease with which they would have conversed with each other on mutual interests, slight touch of their hands to stave off mutual desires their vow emboldened, and fleeting looks that may have had very different meanings than they did now.

When his thumb grazed her cheek it was enough to bring her eyelids open and her golden brown eyes rose to his magic filled pewter grey hold.

Malfoy was looking at her with what seemed full of something she'd never seen from him before; kindness. It made her smile questioningly, trying to convey her desire for this affection admist this moment which should be full of trepidation but instead she felt assured courage from his gesture.

He could see the bold woman his wife had grown into and he couldn't help but admire her for it. This was who she should've been; Hermione Granger, wild, free, unbidden. It's not to his personal taste but it's nevertheless stunning.

It's then he thinks he might kiss her. He wondered if she'd improved her skills since their first year of marriage now that she had her own experiences. With no memory to compare her to, since he can't remember the last time he'd kissed her, he wordlessly mused how she perhaps was quite good at it. Hermione took the opportunity from him when her own hand slid across his cheekbone to cradle him experimentally.

The sudden returned touch meant to bring him comfort from his wife, of all people, astounded him. The last time such affection was shown to him was when his Astoria explained her unexpected betrothal to a German baron and subsequent departure. He hadn't realized how much he craved such affections with her gone now.

Indulging in this feeling of contentment, Malfoy closed his eyes and imagined what their life may have been if he'd attempted to know this from Granger. If he'd let her in as she'd asked on their wedding night. He may not have known the great love that was his Stori nor the many happy moments they'd shared. He may not ever have known such things if he'd picked his wife and they may very well have ended up at this point anyway. Perhaps this was something to be explored later with Hermione now that they had no one else to turn to. For the time being the magic had begun to bring forth that intense feelings of needing their vow's completion. It draws him to her and with a surprising feeling of thankfulness that he will at last be complete again, he decides he wishes to show her what she has requested; kindness.

Draco's lips descend on hers. It's chaste, meant to be a peace offering, an attempt to show his sincerity to be respectful since she is giving him back his life. Hermione didn't pull away as he anticipated but in fact tilted her head up to present her lips submissively. He'd forgotten how plump they were, how feminine his wife's hair smelled since it was usually pinned back, as it swirled around her face. The binding was making the taste of her intoxicating, better than any of the best liquors his galleons could possibly buy.

Without thought his hands naturally found her waist and he couldn't help but notice how petite she was compared to the lush curves of his Stori. The sudden thought crossed his mind of how she looked as thin as she had when he met her in that dingy cottage, creating a true concern that his wife really wasn't eating enough. It was a fleeting thought though because he felt her hands move to rest on his chest, burning the covered flesh beneath with the faintest of touch.

It's then that he took a chance at something he hadn't done since their first year of marriage. His tongue tasted her lips. Of course his wife was surprised but her mouth parting with a gasp was an unintended consequence. He took advantage to dip his tongue into her mouth and gently stroked it against hers. The explosion of magic and sweetness at the taste of her gave him a carnal hunger like he'd never known as his body yearned to feel and taste more of her; to be completed with her in their vow.

Hermione, still floating from this reality that she was currently snogging her husband, didn't realize her hands had traveled up his neck to slide into his platinum blonde hair, holding his mouth tightly to hers. His taste reminds her of ice and magic and it burns its chilling path throughout her body, lighting her anew with that binding induced arousal. Draco's own hands began to unbutton the front of her dressing robes, making quick work with his deft and skilled fingers.

The feel of fabric parting to reveal her soft skin to his quidditch callused hands that ran along her waist and hips sent a shutter of pleasure up Hermione's spine. That feeling of their combined magic was growing between them again and made every touch and taste that much more satiable.

Driven to feel her skin on his, Draco worked on the buttons of his own dress robes as his lips finally left hers to run his tongue along her jawline and up to her earlobe where he nipped distractingly at her skin. The feel of the magic pulling him toward her was more intense than anything he'd ever experienced, even from their wedding night. His wife gave a sweet moan of want from his tongue's administration and had his cock twitching before shedding off his robes, leaving him bare chested and clothed only in his boxers.

Desperate to join him Hermione's own hands left his hair to pull off her robes. The expensive fabric fluttered to the ground behind her, leaving her only in a matching nude bra and knickers set. Even all these years later she felt no hint of embarrassment at herself bared like this before him. That look of desire he held whilst roving his eyes over her gave her confidence that she desperately needed to reach behind her and unclasp her bra hooks, slipping the fabric off her delicate shoulders. Once the article of clothing was tossed aside. Draco slid his hands up to cup her breasts, remembering from long ago how full they always were one of her more desirable features.

Now more experienced, her hands slipped into his boxers, gripping his semi hard cock firmly in hand, giving several long strokes along his shaft to excite him fully. She'd forgotten how smooth and silky his skin felt as she familiarized herself again to him, making a shudder of desire run through his body as he rolled his thumbs over her nipples, teasing them. They worked each other over and soon a symphony of moans sung from them with her long strokes of his shaft and his pinching fingers moving in tandem.

The binding demanded more as he bent his head down to draw her left nipple into his mouth, his tongue lapping at the taste of his wife's delectable skin. It was so overwhelmingly sensitive to his touch that her head fell back with a cry of want while the magic intensified their foreplay, bringing them both to a needy state that had to be fulfilled soon.

Malfoy dipped his hand between them to slip two fingers into her easily slicked cunt. The feel of her walls clenching at his entrance had him wasting no time to ready her as his fingers eased in and out of her parted folds. Hermione let her body do as it will as her hips rolled over his fingers that pressed and pulled from her eager body.

It'd been so long since she came that it wouldn't take long, especially with their magic making her feel the utmost desire for them to come together and reach completion at last. Her hand rotated over the head of his cock, rubbing the bead of come there over his skin as his hips thrust his length into her talented hand.

Fuck, she had much improved. His hand withdrew from her knickers to join the other as they ran a fevered trail down her sides to where the intimate cloth rested at her hips. The magic was throbbing between them, almost painful, and he needed to be in her. With a quick tug her unmentionables were around her ankles. Her hand slipped from his boxers to brace against his shoulders as she shimmied out of the unneeded lace. His boxers met the same fate before being kicked unceremoniously from their presence.

Draco thought for a moment he should take his wife in bed since anyone could walk in and see them. However, his wife was hitching her leg up toward his waist and he could only comply with her silent demand as the vow bid him to fulfil his part without further delay. His hands gripped her arse as he pulled her up while pushing her back into the cold stone behind her. Hermione squeaked at the sudden temperature change on her skin but it soon turned into a sigh of lustful need as she felt his hips roll into her a few times before both of her feet hooked around each other at his back.

"Put me in your cunt, Hermione." Draco pleaded, his hands holding her firmly in place.

Hermione's own hand delved between them, easily fitting his head where she needed him most in that moment. Their shared magic was almost tangible and heavy as it pressed in on them, demanding their submission when he at last slammed his hips forward to sink deep inside her welcoming wet warmth.

Both of their heads tilted back with a loud sigh of relief. The feel of their magic running along their skins combined with their bodies being joined after so long was like a cool shower after a run through the desert. Draco wasted no time then as his head tipped back down to stare at his wife through the magic hazed lust while he began to pound his full length into her.

Gasping whimpers slipped out of Hermione as she found herself clinging to his shoulders with her nails digging into his flesh there as she let him use her to bounce atop of his shaft. She wanted to look at him, to see if the sounds he was making matched the look in his eyes but she feared what she'd see there; forced intimacy.

"Look at me." He demanded in that moment, surprising her as her eyes could do nothing but obey.

She noticed his pupils were blown wide, the glint of magic seemed to be flickering in them as he watched her face. He seemed possessed with need as he pulled his pelvis back only to slam her arse hard into the marble behind her again and again. The magic moved like heavy sweat on their skin and seemed to be making them feel like they're frenzied as it did the first time they were together.

The dazed of desire and the overwhelming drive to find completion, to join their magics together again, filled her with such an intensity. Her hand dipped once more between them and she began to stroke her own clit needily. The sight of her touching herself and her full breasts swaying with each thrust up into her, was quickly bringing that intense need to come over him.

Hermione began to feverently breathe his name, trying to tell him harder, faster, deeper as her fingers swirled and flicked at her tingling clit. Her walls began to pulse around him, drawing their pending orgasms nearer.

She could feel the magic press into her, giving her a sensitivity to every touch, lick, and earth shattering stroke so that it was like a wave washing over her again and again to completely drown her in pleasure. Her fingers faltered in their movement as she felt her stomach clench. It took her by surprise when Draco's lips found hers again as he buried his cock into her with short, hard pumps.

It was so intimate that it finally brought her to where she needed to be as she hummed loudly at her body's release. Draco groaned at the combined feel of her walls throbbing tightly around his straining cock with their magic thrumming thickly between them. It only took him a few jerking thrusts of his hips to join his wife at the pinnacle of his orgasm and fill her completely.

He almost collapsed on her but found strength to lean heavily into her instead, still holding her up as he caught his breath in the crook of her neck. Hermione ran comforting fingers over his back, relishing in her post climax bliss and the same electric feeling of their magic being together again like it was meant to be.

Eventually Draco's head rose from her shoulder to stare at her, looking at her much differently than he usually did. It was almost as if he'd enjoyed this intimacy with her. With great uncertainty Hermione leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips. He didn't recoil nor did he return it. He simply accepted the affectionate gesture from her.

When she drew herself back she watched his face curiously.

"Draco, I think we can agree we've both broken many vows to each other and the consequences for doing so have been...life shattering."

Draco silently agreed that he hadn't anticipated the binding vow's would go to such lengths to force them into upholding the spoken words. When he said nothing she continued.

"Perhaps we should start anew now. I know when I asked you to give me respect and kindness I only asked it of you when we were intimate but...do you think we can try to find respect and kindness, or at least civility, outside of that?"

With gentle hands he lowered her to her feet to stand before him. A bit dismayed that he hadn't agreed she was surprised when he leaned down and picked up her dressing robe, holding it open for her. She slipped her hands through and removed her hair from within the confines. When she turned to face him again he was leaning down to pick his own up. After he was robbed and his boxers replaced he looked her carefully in her eyes.

"We can try. We're the only two in this together now, so we may as well attempt to find some comfort with each other if for no other reason than to appease my father."

Her heart soared with optimism. It was a start which was better than where they'd been even an hour ago. If nothing else, it was a chance.

Draco looked taken aback to see Hermione in his private rooms. She still rarely went to them as they'd worked on kindling a respectful relationship with each other over the past few months. They'd even begun to seek each other's company on a few rare occasions, usually when the vow magic overcame them to reinforce that their magics were meant to be joined, but there had been times where they would simply sit and try to find things of shared enjoyment to converse superficially about with comradery. However, she wasn't sure how else she could find him with certainty except by coming unannounced into his rooms.

"Good morning, wife. Is everything alright?"

"No-well, yes. Yes I suppose so." She started, flushing at her flustered response.

Draco's eyebrow rose at her confusing response.

"Well, since everything is and isn't alright I take it you came here to speak to me about what that means."

"I have." She said confidently.

Draco watched as she reached into the pocket of her dress robe and withdrew her wand. She waved it with a spell movement he was unfamiliar with. After a few more twists of her wrist brought a line of blue magic light to appear between them.

"What's this?" He asked curiously.

The line of bright blue color seemed to be moving up and down in rapid time.

"It's a midwifery spell to check for a fetal heartbeat." She whispered quietly.

She didn't think he'd heard her at first but then his wide pewter grey eyes rose to look into her face.

"Fetal heartbeat?"

"Yes, fetal as in fetus. I suppose we should congratulate ourselves on our success." Hermione said softly, nodding to the faint heartbeat line the pregnancy spell produced.

Malfoy stared transfixed at the moving line, watching it move up and down in time with the fluttering heartbeat nestled within her womb. Eventually his eyes rose to hers.

"How do you feel?" He asked with an out of character gentle tone.

"Violently ill, actually." She said truthfully.

No need to spare him as she was prone to rush to the lavatory several times a day. He stared at the blue line until the spell faded and naturally vanished between them.

"I'll contact a midwife to come visit with you and see if I can't find a potion that's safe for you to take to assist with the nausea."

He surprised her with the sincerity when he spoke to her and it made her smile a little that for once he seemed actually concerned.

"Thank you, husband."

She twisted her fingers nervously as she thought on what she'd meant to say next.

"Draco, now that we are expecting, I want there to be no disillusionment between us. I find myself to be rather afraid."

He frowned at her curiously.

"You? The same woman who flew on a dragon after escaping Gringotts, fear childbirth?"

She shook her head.

"No, that isn't what I meant. May I speak plainly?"

He nodded, making her steel herself as she looked him in the eyes.

"I'm afraid of your parents' untoward influence on our child. I...I don't want them to teach the baby to despise and disrespect their mudblood mother nor disregard my role in my own child's life."

Her husband's face showed his surprise at this bold confession. It was a few minutes of deep thought on his part before he found his reply.

"I don't believe my mother would do such a thing, even with her dislike of you."

Hermione took a deep internal breath. No good would come from pointing out all the instances Narcissa had shown herself capable of the same cruelty as Lucius. She would have to approach him from a different angle to get what she desperately needed.

"Perhaps your mother may not but you cannot deny your father would and has much influence over her which may compel her to do so."

Draco seemed to want to find fault with this statement but even he had to nod his head slowly.

"I cannot deny my father would be so brazen as to attempt to do that. I have a great fondness for my mother but I wouldn't be surprised if she were influenced by my father as you say to do just that."

Hermione's eyes glowed hopefully.

"Can we move from the manor, then?"

Draco folded his arms over his chest as the magic between them felt uneasy.

"We cannot remove ourselves from the manor because as heir apparent I must keep it my primary residence. I would have to give up my title and fortunes which means the baby," he nodded toward her stomach, "would also lose the privilege of being my heir apparent and all the advantages that come from being the Malfoy heir."

Her heart sank, even though she could care less for the title or riches that would be passed onto her child, she knew that her husband would not give up his birthright for himself or their baby. It made her rather distraught. How could they avoid her in-laws undue influence whilst under the same roof? Draco seemed to look a little empathetic to her internal plight.

"Perhaps you could spend time with our child at Chateau Malfoy until they are of age for tutoring. By then they will spend much of their time away at their studies and you will be able to observe their progress as you see fit. Until then, you can spend almost all of your time there."

That...could work.

"May I build the library you promised me?"

Surprisingly, he threw his head back and laughed.

"I suppose I did say you could do that. There's some land near the estates right by the coast I have thought of purchasing. You can build your library there."

Her soul was dancing in a way it hadn't in years. She could leave the manor with her child, she could keep her books, and raise her baby as she saw fit.

Draco further surprised her when he stepped a few paces forward until he stood next to her and took her hand gently with a very serious look about him.

"Hermione, I don't want to upset you, but I'm concerned about the health of this pregnancy. I know the emotional upheaval of late has taken a toll on you physically."

She felt her cheeks redden. Of course he noticed she hadn't been eating as she should. Ever since they'd started to try for an heir again she had purposefully worked on increasing her meal intake and even forcing a nutrition absorption potion down her throat weekly. It was the only thing allowing her to absorb any nutrition from what little she could eat. She would focus on keeping it down long enough for the potion to syphon the necessary vitamins and calories before she inevitably lost each meal.

"I'm eating again as I should Draco, I swear. I'll speak to the midwife and see if she has any other suggestions." She offered, hoping this would appease him.

He nodded, looking down at her hand.

"Will you tell Nott?"

Her heart raced at the thought. She knew she needed to tell Theo. It was time to confront him about his engagement and the implications it would have on their relationship along with her pregnancy.

"I would but my letters are being searched." She whispered sadly.

"Use my owl, then. It won't be searched."

"Thank you, Draco." Her voice cracked with heartbreak, knowing what was to come when she at last saw Theo again.

Draco's hand tightened around hers as she looked up at him.

"For whatever it's worth to you, I hope you know that I'm sorry, Hermione."

It was an odd moment to share between them as they experienced the same heartache of losing the loves of their lives that were not each other.

"I'm sorry too, Draco."

They stood in the quiet comfort of each other, their hearts both as broken and grieving together for what could never be.