A/N — Just a massive thank you to TectonicTigress & TriDogMom for their alpha skills and to all you lovely people reading and reviewing! It really does help to keep the words flowing — we're now up to chapter twenty pre-written!
It had been five days. Five fucking days and she still hadn't opened her eyes. Draco felt like a man possessed. His eyes never strayed from her still form, waiting for a movement, anything to break the monotony. The ticking of the clock behind him set him on edge, a constant reminder that she still hadn't moved. Every now and again his eyes would fall shut, his body trying desperately to get some sleep, but as soon as they did Draco would hear her calling out to him for help and he'd wrench his eyes open as his heart pounded to be confronted by her still sleeping face. It was going to drive him mad, but he wouldn't leave, wouldn't stop waiting for that sign that she was there.
On the sixth day, Hermione moved, just a little bit, but it was enough to send Draco's heart into overdrive. Feeling it pound against his chest, Draco watched as Hermione's face twisted in pain. Draco leapt up and wrenched the door open, shouting madly for a Healer before racing back to Hermione's side.
Hermione whimpered and writhed against her pillows, her eyes moving wildly beneath her closed lids. "Hermione," Draco spoke softly as he wiped a fresh tear from her cheek. "It's ok, you're ok."
Hermione calmed momentarily before sitting up suddenly and heaving over the side of the bed, Draco moving to hold back her hair even as her sick covered his shoes and the floor around him. He rubbed small circles on her back until she finished, her body then collapsing back against the bed as Draco muttered a quick Scourgify.
Hermione's chest heaved as she slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the bright sun as it poured into the room. Finding Draco's concerned gaze fixed on her, Hermione's lower lip trembled as she recalled the absolute pain before the darkness. "Wha—," Hermione tried to ask, her voice hoarse from lack of use. "Wha— … Draco," Hermione sobbed as Draco wrapped his arms around her.
"Ssssh," Draco soothed as she shook in his arms, unable to believe she was finally awake. "I've got you, it's ok."
"Ms Granger?" the young medi-witch spoke tentatively. Hermione looked up, disorientated as she tried to figure out what had happened to her. "The Aurors are waiting outside, may I check your vitals before they come in?"
"Aurors?" Hermione croaked, her eyes flitting between the anxious medi-witch and Draco's now unsettled face.
"I trust you summoned them discreetly?" Draco spoke coldly, glaring at the visibly nervous medi-witch.
"Y-yes, Mr Malfoy," she stuttered in reply.
Draco turned to Hermione, his face now wiped of his cold glare. "The Aurors are here to see what you remember," he said softly, taking her hand in his. "I can't tell you anything until you've spoken to them. I'm sorry, sweetheart," he continued, kissing her knuckles in apology.
Hermione studied Draco's face carefully, seeing only absolute sincerity. She turned to the medi-witch and nodded sadly. "It hurts," Hermione muttered as she turned back against the pillows and closed her eyes.
"Where does it hurt, Ms Granger?" the medi-witch asked as she stepped forward to begin her diagnostics.
"Inside," Hermione sighed. "Here," she said, using the hand Draco had released to rub across her chest.
"I'll let your Healer know," the medi-witch replied gently, charming the diagnostic notes onto her records. "What you're feeling is expected after the trauma you've been through."
Hermione flinched. "Trauma?" she questioned, looking at Draco expectantly for the answer.
"The Aurors will explain," Draco replied, shooting the medi-witch a look. "Are you done yet?" he snapped impatiently. The sooner this was over the sooner he could talk to Hermione.
"Y-yes, Mr Malfoy," she muttered, backing away from Hermione. "I'll report to Ms Granger's Healer and let the Aurors in, if that's ok?"
"Yes," Draco replied sternly before turning back to Hermione and perching himself next to her on the bed.
"Why did she keep calling me Ms Granger, Draco?" Hermione questioned, watching as Draco squirmed under her hard gaze.
Luckily for him, the door opened and Harry walked in with two unknown Aurors. "They'll explain," Draco answered with an apologetic smile. He knew Hermione hated secrets and didn't want to be the one keeping them from her.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed warmly, his face relaxing with relief to see Hermione awake. "We'll talk in a bit," Harry continued turning more serious. "I can't officially debrief you as I'm too close to the case. My colleagues, Harper and Connolly, will take it from here."
Hermione nodded at the newcomers, feeling slightly self-conscious as she lay in nothing but her pyjamas. Wait a minute, Hermione thought as the men drew closer to her bed, why was she wearing her pyjamas from home? How long had she been out for?
"Ms Granger," Harper began briskly. "What is the last thing you remember before waking up here?"
"I was at home," Hermione answered thinking back. "Daphne had just left and I decided to go for a swim. I was… I was walking down to the pool…" Hermione paused as her stomach rolled, "I felt sick." Hermione stated, twiddling her thumbs. "I felt sick and it passed, then there was this… this pain… it was so hot. I felt it… I felt it rip through me and I, oh!" Hermione exclaimed, her hands dropping to cradle her bump. She turned to Draco and asked desperately. "Are they ok?"
"Yes," Draco replied sincerely, smiling as Hermione relaxed and rubbed her hands over her bump protectively. "Somehow they weren't hurt at all."
"You don't remember anything else?" Harper interrupted, glaring at Draco. "There wasn't anyone or anything else near you?"
"No," Hermione responded firmly, not liking how Connolly was eyeing Draco. "I was completely alone, the last thing I remember is being stood on the steps. Harry and Ginny were busy and Draco was out of town with Theo visiting Blaise."
"Ok, Ms Granger," Connolly interjected as Harper pocketed his notes. "Your statement corroborates with Miss Greengrass' and Mr Malfoy's. We are currently investigating the possibility that Mr Ronald Weasley unlawfully broke your marriage bonds thereby causing significant injury to yourself."
"By possibility, they mean certainty," Draco spat as the Aurors gave him a filthy glare, unable to hold his temper as they spoke so lightly of the incident. "And by significant injury they mean nearly killing you."
"Draco," Harry said awkwardly. "They are just doing their job, you know we can't state facts until after the trial."
"Ron did this?" Hermione asked, meekly looking between Draco and Harry as they shifted awkwardly. She was briefly flung back to the memory of discussing marriage bonds with Ron shortly after their engagement. They had many lengthy conversations about the bonds, for Ron, they were an important part of the wedding ceremony. Yet, for Hermione, it wasn't something so clean cut. She wanted to understand how the bonds work. Eventually, Hermione realised that the bonds were given in every magical ceremony, she was willingly tying herself to Ron so why would she not add in the magical bond and keep with tradition? Looking back on it now, Hermione wondered if she should have put up more of a fight. "Tell me," Hermione commanded her voice wavering slightly as the boys looked at each other.
"You're dismissed," Harry told Harper and Connolly who nodded in Harry's direction as they left the room.
Hermione glared at Harry and Draco who were trying to avoid her gaze. "Tell me everything, now," she demanded as both men shared a look before sitting down on either side of her.
Harry began calmly, knowing Draco had done more than his share of storytelling since the accident. "Your magical core was attacked and I'm fairly certain it was because Ron broke the marriage bonds. He um… he came to dinner at Molly and Arthur's to announce— shit— to announce that Lavender is pregnant." Hermione flinched at Harry's words but he continued, "we argued and they left, minutes later I got the call that you had been bought in. Draco had been taken away as they suspected he'd done something—"
"But Draco would never hurt me!" Hermione exclaimed her face growing red with anger, she had half a mind to go and tell them exactly what she thought. "What stupid son of a bit—,"
"Hermione," Draco spoke calmly, gripping her hand, but smirking slightly at her anger. "To some I will always be a Death Eater. Now let Harry finish, please."
Hermione nodded grumpily and Harry continued. "Once I got Draco, we saw the Healer who explained about your core, I told them about Ron and they went to do more research but that was six days ago…"
Hermione stared open-mouthed at Harry, "I've been out for six days?" she asked sadly as the severity of the situation sunk in. She had been unconscious for six whole days because Ron had broken their marriage bonds, Hermione wasn't sure how she could even begin to process that.
"Your body needed to recover," Draco spoke softly avoiding Hermione's gaze, he didn't want her to see the fear which had been controlling his thoughts. "The Healers don't know why but something about that cave saved your life, if you had been anywhere else… you… you might have…" Draco stopped, unable to say anymore.
"I might have died?" Hermione asked quietly watching as Draco kept his face hidden but nodded in answer to her question.
"You were so lucky Hermione," Harry said as Draco's body shook with silent tears. "The Healers have never seen anyone survive an attack of that magnitude and the fact that the babies were completely unharmed has baffled them."
"What about Ron?" Hermione questioned quietly, causing Draco to look up at her suddenly in disbelief. "Was he hurt when he broke the bonds? Where is he now?"
Confused Harry answered slowly, "As far as I know he wasn't hurt. Currently, he's in one of the Ministry cells whilst the case is put together."
"Oh," Hermione muttered sadly, looking away from Harry's concerned gaze and Draco's red-rimmed eyes to stare down at her bump. "Did you know, when the bonds get broken, the pain experienced by both sides is linked to how much they were in love when the bonds were made? I guess I was more in love with Ron…"
Silence echoed around the room, Harry and Draco stunned into silence as Hermione's words rang in their ears.
"It's fine," Hermione continued briskly, hastily wiping away a few fallen tears. "We're fine. What is he being charged with Harry?"
Looking up slowly Harry met Hermione's questioning stare and turned to Draco who nodded slightly, "Attempted murder through unlawful bond breaking," Harry said swiftly, trying to minimise the hurt by saying it quickly.
Hermione fell back on her pillows and closed her eyes, how had her life become so complicated? One minute she's happily married then she's in the middle of a separation. Then she's back with her husband who swiftly leaves her upon hearing of her pregnancy. Now she was in hospital, following an accident of his doing. Would life ever calm down? In an attempt to break the silence that had engulfed them Hermione asked, "Is that why they keep calling me Ms Granger? The divorce is done?"
"Magically yes," Draco answered quickly, wanting to change the subject to anything except Hermione's near death experience. "But legally no, you just have to sign the paperwork."
Harry stood up and leaned over to place a kiss on Hermione's forehead, "I've got to go," he said gently. "I need to let Ginny and your boss know you're awake and although I'm not allowed to be directly involved, I need to see how the case is progressing. I'll see you later."
"Love you, Harry," Hermione sighed as he waved from the door, glancing at Draco Hermione asked. "What else have I missed?"
Draco sighed, what hadn't she missed? "You caused quite a stir Hermione," Draco said lightly, standing to fill a glass with water and hand it to Hermione who took it gratefully. "The first day I could barely get near you. It felt like the whole Auror department was in here with various people from your department all shouting questions at the poor Healer, I've never seen a man look so stressed."
Shaking his head Draco repressed a shudder as he thought of handing over his memory. "Everyone had to give statements, Daphne and I had to give our memories of that evening to the Aurors. Once they had the statements the Aurors cleared out. Then your boss wanted to know where your research was so they could try and figure out what protected you."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked Draco, looking at him quizzically. "How was I protected?"
"When I… found you there was this like, orange cage of light around you," Draco explained, trying to describe what he saw without reliving it again. "You landed in the water, face down, but this cage— it protected you— you could have drowned had it not been keeping the water away from you. I got soaked picking you up and you were freezing cold, so cold your lips had gone blue but you were totally dry. It was the strangest thing."
"Hmm," Hermione hummed as she considered what Draco had just said. "I wonder if it was the runes on the bottom of the pool?"
"I don't know," Draco replied, noticing the spark of curiosity light in Hermione's eyes. Before she could get too carried away he looked at her sternly, "but you're not going near that place for a very long time."
"We'll see," Hermione retorted as Draco crossed his arms and glared at her. Not wanting to argue with him Hermione asked another question, "so that was the first day, what about the rest?"
Draco frowned at Hermione's distraction attempt but went along with it anyway, he had other plans to keep her away from that cave. "Potter popped by with your parents on the second day, which reminds me, you told them everything?"
"I had to, Draco," Hermione replied sincerely. "I don't keep secrets from them, not after what I did."
Knowing Hermione was referring to the fact she had wiped their memories during the war Draco nodded and moved on. "I'll have to get Potter to tell them you're awake, I still don't understand how to work that blasted telephone thing."
Hermione giggled, watching as Draco's face transformed into a breathtaking smile. "You've no idea how much I've missed that laugh," Draco said truthfully, making Hermione blush. "Anyway, on the third day, Molly and Arthur stopped by which was a bit awkward to begin with."
Hermione's smile fell from her face, "I take it Ron told them everything?" she asked sadly.
"Yes," Draco replied, hating how the mere mention of the Weasleys caused Hermione's face to drop. "However, Potter did give them the full story. Naturally, they're shocked but they still see you as part of the family. Molly has already decided on a colour for the baby's first jumper. I didn't break the news about it being twins though."
Smiling slightly, Hermione gently rubbed her bump and spoke to it quietly. "You hear that? You're both going to get a Weasley jumper! Does Harry know?"
"Harry was in the room when the Healer mentioned the twins," Draco answered a little distractedly, he had just realised if the twins were his, there was a whole vault full of family heirlooms they would be entitled to.
"Anyway," he said, swiftly changing the conversation so his thoughts didn't linger. "Blaise, Theo and Daphne visited the following day and brought The Prophet with them. Somehow they got all the sordid details from a reliable source which prompted my mother to visit the following day."
Horror flashed across Hermione's face as her heart pounded. "The press? Your mother? All the details? How?" Hermione questioned in rapid succession, she needed room to breathe, adjust, recover, not worry about the press watching her every move.
Mentally kicking himself Draco answered carefully, perching himself back on the bed beside her. "The press believes you and I had an affair prompting Ron to leave you for Lavender and I am using my influence to get Ron put in jail." Draco scoffed as he recalled reading the trashy article, "they've made themselves look stupid as everyone knows my name is worthless. Plus, Harry got the Auror department to put out a statement confirming the 'facts' of the story are incorrect."
Rubbing her hands across her face Hermione sighed loudly. "Do I even want to know what your mother said?"
"She was fine," Draco reassured Hermione. "Wanted to hear my side of the story and she would like to meet you, you know, properly."
"Seriously?" Hermione screeched, sitting bolt upright in bed which made her head spin. "Your mother wants to meet me? Oh god, oh god, oh god!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Draco soothed as he moved to hold Hermione, she needed to be resting not flapping about worrying over nothing. "You don't have to, she only wants to meet you as we're so close now. Mother would like you to know her as who she is, not as the frightened woman who made the wrong choices in the war."
Hermione sobered at Draco's words, "your mother saved Harry. Lying to Voldemort's face took courage and gave us Harry back. If she hadn't done that, who knows what would have happened."
A knock at the door interrupted the pair, they watched as the door slowly opened to reveal another Healer. "Hello Ms Granger, I'm Healer Turpentine, I've been looking after you since you arrived."
"Thank you," Hermione responded, a little lost for words as the Healer just stood and stared at them.
"I'm here to check your vitals again and then I have a question to ask you, if you're up for it?" Healer Turpentine asked as she pulled Hermione's notes from the end of the bed.
"Of course," Hermione replied politely as Draco moved to sit on the chair beside the bed, his eyes narrowing at the Healer as she came closer.
"Brilliant," Healer Turpentine said, flashing a perfect smile as she moved to stand beside Hermione with her wand poised. "Lie still please."
Hermione nodded and rested back against the pillows, staying completely still as Healer Turpentine completed various examinations, diligently noting all the results down, "All done, thank you Ms Granger."
"What was this question you wanted to ask me?" Hermione asked curiously as she got comfortable.
Healer Turpentine shifted on her feet, evidently uncomfortable she began speaking delicately. "I've seen in your notes you are, um, unsure as to the paternity of your children?"
"Yes," Hermione replied bluntly, not understanding where she was going with this. She looked to Draco to see his face had creased in agitation with one of his fists balled up tightly.
"I only mention it because we have recently developed a new way to test for the paternity, which doesn't pose any threat to the baby," Healer Turpentine told Hermione, wringing her hands nervously.
"What is this new way?" Hermione questioned as Draco sat forward on his chair, now absorbed in the conversation.
"We take a blood sample from the mother and potential father and compare the DNA within each sample. From around seven weeks there is a small amount of the fetuses DNA present in your blood which increases as the pregnancy progresses," Healer Turpentine explained. "As it's your blood we'd be testing there is no threat to the baby."
Hermione looked at Draco, his eyes burning with desperation. Knowing the paternity of the baby was important to them both and Hermione wasn't about to hold up the process. "You can take my blood," Hermione answered the Healer whilst keeping her eyes on Draco.
Happiness flooded Draco's heart as he stared at Hermione, her face hopeful, "mine too." Draco added quickly as Hermione beamed at him.
"We only need yours Mr Malfoy," Healer Turpentine replied. "When Ms Granger was admitted we took some for the routine tests."
"No problem," Draco responded, eagerly rolling up his shirt sleeve to get the procedure started. "Can you take it now?"
"Yes," Healer Turpentine said, surprised by his eagerness. "Of course."
Draco held out his forearm to Healer Turpentine, looking up when she let out a small gasp. Realising his mistake Draco hurried out a quick apology as he tried to pull his sleeve back down. "I'm sorry, I forget I have it, I'll cov—"
"It's not a problem Mr Malfoy," Healer Turpentine responded quickly, pulling herself together as Draco froze. "It just surprised me, I've never seen one before."
"Lucky you," Draco muttered as Healer Turpentine pulled a vial from her pocket. Using her wand she painlessly opened Draco's vein and siphoned the blood into the vial, performing a quick healing spell when she was finished.
"Thank you Mr Malfoy, Ms Granger we'll have the results soon," Healer Turpentine informed them as she walked towards the door. "Unless you have any further questions I'll leave you."
"No," Hermione replied thankfully, although she'd only been awake a short while she was ready to go back to sleep. "I don't have any further questions, thank you."
Nodding at Hermione, Healer Turpentine left the room. "I guess there's one good thing to come from this then," Hermione said to Draco who looked at her blankly. "If that test works we'll know who the father is."
"Yea," Draco replied a little dazed, smirking at Hermione. "Yea we will."