The rest of September passed in a blur. After word had spread about Hermione's pregnancy, she had been bombarded by constant looks and remarks from the other Hogwarts students. Many people congratulated her or expressed their concerns about the baby and Ron's involvement. Others, mainly Slytherins, threw snide comments her way. Once, during Potions, Pansy Parkinson had loudly told another Slytherin girl that she bet the baby would come out with chipmunk teeth and ratty red hair that would warrant putting the child in a freakshow. Harry had responded by chucking a bowl of dragon's blood at her, which soaked her robes. Slughorn had just smiled and awarded 10 points to Gryffindor.
The class workload was already becoming strenuous too. With N.E.W.T. preparations in full swing for every class, homework kept her busy for what felt like every hour of the day. When she did happen to have free time, it was usually spent on napping, her weekly appointments with Madame Pomfrey to check on the baby's growth, or walks with Ginny and Harry around the grounds where there was almost no chance of running into Ron or a group of Slytherins.
Draco's health had seemed to improve over the last two weeks as well. His wounds had healed fully within a day of applying the Dittany, luckily leaving no scars behind. Though, Hermione wasn't sure how lucky he would be next time if the wounds were inflicted in the same places again. It was likely the Dittany would become less effective the more damage that was done over time, especially if the wounds went deeper in the future.
Despite the few rough days following the full moon where Draco slept most of the day, she had noticed he seemed happier. He had even made both of them hot cocoa the previous Wednesday when they had both been up late studying for a Transfiguration exam the next day.
But, she couldn't help the sinking feeling she got in her stomach when she realized this wouldn't last long. In Tonks's letter, Tonks had mentioned Remus going through extreme mood swings. The days leading up to the full moon would be the worst as the wolf prepared to surface. Tonks had warned Hermione about Draco possibly lashing out, but had also assured her he would return to normal within a few days following the full moon. As long as a normal Draco meant tolerance, no name calling, and more quiet hot cocoa study sessions, she wasn't going to complain. This was maybe a Draco she could be friends with. But she wasn't sure he felt the same. Whenever they laughed or smiled at something the other said and made eye contact, he would quickly look away and turn to ice like he was withdrawing into himself. Like he was reminding himself that she was a Mudblood and not worth his time.
"I don't understand," Draco said, pacing back in front of the fire in the lounge. "I...what's happening, Remus?"
Remus's head, surrounded by emerald green flames where it hovered in the fireplace, frowned thoughtfully and said, "I think you're becoming friends with her, Draco."
Draco ran a hand through his hair and turned back to pace the other way. "I can't be friends with her. She's a..." He cut himself off before he said 'Mudblood' and instead continued with, "I'm a werewolf. I'm dangerous. I can't afford to have friends."
Now, Remus rolled his eyes. "My friends are what got me through most of my transformations."
"I know that," Draco said and this time, he stopped pacing to face the fire. "But this is different. She's not an animagus like your friends were. She can't help control me or keep me company during the full moon."
"That may be true, but she's still one of the only people who know what you are now," Remus pointed out. "She can help in other ways. She already has with this previous full moon."
Draco's cheeks flushed as he remembered her hands on his skin as she had applied the Dittany, and he quickly scrubbed a hand over his face to try to hide the blush from Remus. "She has her own problems to deal with. And I'm not even sure I should be around her. Her hormones are going crazy, and they're driving me crazy."
"I understand. Tonks's are the same way with me. I imagine it's even worse for you though. You're brand new to this, and you must feel the urge to-"
"Please," Draco said stiffly, holding a hand up. "Please, do not talk to me about werewolves and mates and sex."
Remus laughed, and Draco relaxed at the familiarity and warmth of the other man's genuine amusement. "Alright, I won't. But, I'm here if you do need me to. I know you're confused by this new dynamic with Hermione. I know it has to be hard to throw out those Pureblood habits and treating her like you have the past six years. But, she really is a brilliant and caring girl."
Draco sighed. "I know. I just...my brain feels muddled...overwhelmed. Sometimes, I can't even look at her because I don't know if I like her or hate her."
"Why would you hate her?"
"For confusing me."
Remus laughed again. "That's not her fault."
"I know. Anyways, thanks for talking to me. Give Tonks my best."
"Off to the Quidditch match?" Remus asked.
"No, I have homework. And how'd you know there was a match today?"
"Harry wrote me. He kept asking me questions about you, but I think I've steered him away for now. Lately, he's been writing about Ron and trying to get me to talk to him."
"Will you talk to Ron?" Draco asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Someone needed to talk sense into that git.
Remus shook his head. "No. I'll just be another voice among the multitude already berating him. If he wants that child, he'll come around. But, honestly, I think it may be in everyone's best interest that he sign away his parental rights. He's finally started replying to his parents' letters again, but from what Molly told me, he only did so to tell them off. He sent them a Howler that made Molly cry."
Draco clenched his jaw tightly so his teeth ground together. "That baby shouldn't have a father like that. A father that doesn't want it."
"I agree. I think Hermione has a tough road ahead of her regardless."
Cheers erupted around Hermione as Gryffindor scored another 10 points, putting Ravenclaw 60 points behind now. Ginny seemed to have gotten even better over the summer. She had scored eight of Gryffindor's ten goals so far.
"This is fantastic!" Lavender shouted from beside her, waving a red and gold flag above her head.
Hermione laughed and cheered with her. Her back and feet were hurting from being on her feet for over an hour during the game, but it felt so worth it to be focused on something as simple as a Quidditch match where no one was looking at her rudely or sympathetically.
As Ravenclaw took possession of the Quaffle again, Hermione moved to sit down to quell a sudden spell of dizziness, and Lavender plopped down beside her. Lavender had been oddly friendly since the classroom confrontation a few weeks ago. She made a point to speak to Hermione more frequently now and readily joined in on conversations when she overheard Harry or Ginny ranting about Ron over mealtimes. Apparently, in addition to Ron's sleight of keeping Hermione's pregnancy a secret while snogging her, he had started a rumor about Lavender being really easy, which many people had started teasing her about with crude drawings and writing on bathroom stalls. Hermione thought if Harry didn't punch Ron again soon, Lavender would do it for him at this rate.
"Have you thought about my offer for the first Hogsmeade weekend any more?" Lavender asked, her cheeks bright pink from the chilly fall wind that churned through the stands.
Hermione closed her arms around the small bump of her stomach, drawing her robes tighter around her to keep out the wind. "I don't know. It's still two weeks away. I'll have to see what homework I have."
Lavender rolled her eyes and laughed. "Always studious. Well, I hope you say yes. I really want to see what things they might have for a nursery in the village."
Hermione nodded. Lavender had been asking her about going baby shopping every day for the past week. She couldn't decide if it was endearing or annoying. Maybe a bit of both. But, still, that wasn't the reason Hermione wouldn't be going shopping that weekend. It was because the first Hogsmeade weekend was just two days after the next full moon, and something in her just didn't want to leave Draco alone in the castle during his recovery.
Lavender and the other Gryffindors leaped to their feet again as Ginny sped by with the Quaffle tucked under her arm.
A tap came on Hermione's shoulder, and she turned. It was Ron.
"Hey," he said, his voice soft as he glanced around them to check that they weren't being overheard in all the commotion of Gryffindor scoring another goal. "Can we talk for a minute?"
Hermione nodded stiffly and made her way out of the row. Nerves coiled in her belly. Every time Ron had spoken to her recently had been to shout at her or say something else nasty. But the way he had leaned forward and lowered his voice, his eyes full of concern, maybe...just maybe, he had come around and he actually did want to talk.
She followed him around the corner of the elevated section of stands so they were standing in the shadows where the stairs started to descend back to the ground. "So..." she said.
Ron swallowed. "Look, I think you need to reconsider this whole thing. This baby...it has to go."
"Ron-"
"No, listen. I've been thinking. This will ruin you. Didn't you want to liberate the house elves and other magical creatures or whatever SPEW was about? How can you run for an office at the Ministry and do all that if you're taking care of a kid? And your opponents would likely bring it up about a child out of wedlock. You'd never get elected."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, wishing she had a real dagger just then instead of simply staring them at him. "You've never been interested in anything related to S.P.E.W. This is a load of crap, and you know it. Drop the act."
Ron's gaze darkened, and he huffed out a breath. "Listen to me, Hermione," he said, and she could see the rising anger in his eyes. "Weasleys get enough crap as it is. I don't want this following me around for the rest of my life. It's too messy."
"Too messy?" Hermione snapped. "You're talking about a human life. You want to get rid of it so you won't be inconvenienced. I don't even want anything from you. Don't worry about the money or custody. You never even have to meet the child. So, there. You're free. End of discussion."
She tried to move past him to return to the elevated seats, but Ron pulled her back, his hand now curled around her upper arm in a vice grip. She struggled, pushing at him with her free hand. "Let me go, Ron."
"No, not until you agree to get rid of it. You may not want anything from me now, but what if you change your mind? What if the kid shows up on my doorstep years from now wanting answers, wanting to know me, and disrupts whatever life I've built by then?"
"You can send them away. Or, I don't know, maybe you'll have matured past the age of five by then! But I'm not getting rid of it. I want this baby." She pulled harder, though she was perfectly aware that they were standing at the edge of the steps, and if she pulled too hard, she might send them both tumbling down them.
"Then I'm sorry, Hermione. I really am." Pain and sadness seemed to cross his features for a moment as if he were really feeling regret. "I hope you'll forgive me someday."
"What are y-" Hermione started to say, but just then, Ron turned so her back was to the stairs. And he pushed her.
There was no thought as she fell. She only had the sudden sensation of her stomach rising into her throat as she dropped away from Ron and he grew more distant with each searing hit of a stair against her. The world seemed to still be shaking when she rolled to a stop on the landing some twenty or so steps below him. Everything hurt, and she wanted so desperately to sit up and curse him with every spell she knew, but she was still dazed from the fall and a few blows to her head. Black spots danced in her vision.
She watched him turn away through her blurring vision, and that's when a bright red stunner hit him directly in the chest, and he collapsed at the top of the stairs.
A moment later, Lavender and Parvati were racing down the stairs toward Hermione. Both looked panicked, and Lavender had her wand drawn. Lavender seemed to be saying something, maybe Hermione's name. But it sounded far away to Hermione, and a moment later, her vision went dark.
Hello all, I was feeling inspired, so I wrote a new chapter. I apologize for being absent for so long, but I just haven't felt like writing anything lately. I think I may have forced out a chapter for another fic earlier a few months ago, but I don't like writing that way. It never comes out good. Anyhow, my doctor says I have some depression/other mental stuff going on that is preventing me from finding much joy in writing at the moment. And I honestly hadn't realized how long it'd been since the last update. I hope you guys liked this chapter. I actually had fun writing it, so maybe today was a good day. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
