Chapter 3

Two years later.

Hermione Granger walked through the halls of Hogwarts for the first time in two years. She was here at the behest of her old Transfiguration teacher and Headmistress McGonagall. Hermione had graduated at the top of her class and apprenticed to be a Dark Arts master so she could take over the much-coveted teaching position.

Entering the Headmistresses office, she smiled at her old teacher and mentor. "Hello, Professor McGonagall, how are you this afternoon?"

Minerva McGonagall's face lit up as her favorite student enter her office.

"Hermione, so good you could come, you know why I have requested to see you." She smiled at the younger woman in front of her. Hermione had turned into such a lovely young lady. Where her hair once used to be bushy and chaotic looking, it now tumbled down her back in thick curls. Her teeth had been fixed her fourth year, and now she wore a slight bit of makeup but not too much to make it looked caked on like some woman.

"Yes, you asked me to come so I could take over the defense against the position of the dark arts because that is what I mastered in." Hermione smiled sweetly at the older witch while Minerva handed her a cup of tea. Hermione thanked her, then took a sip.

Minerva nodded while pouring herself one as well. She liked her tea with a bit of lemon juice and one sugar cube; after both had taken a few refreshing sips, they then got down to brass tax.

"We have a few new professors on board this year, including yourself." Hermione nodded in understanding. "Professor Flitwick has retired, and Professor Bins left us as well. We had a pretty competent professor in Defense, but he for a year, but he met a lovely young witch on holiday and decided he did not wish to come back."

Hermione chuckled, knowing the Defense curse still seemed to be active and healthy even after all these years. She spoke after taking a sip of her tea. "Well, I hope I can break the one-year curse by staying longer and for good." Both witches laughed softly at the long-running joke.

"Oh, that reminds me. I heard you have a son. How old is he? Is the father going to be coming with you to Hogwarts?"

Hermione shook her head at the headmistress's questions. "Yes, I have a son, and he is a little over one now. No, his father is not in the picture, and no, I am not married either." Hermione smiled slightly, answering the unasked question before it could be thrown out there.

McGonagall just shrugged, seeming unconcerned. "You would not be the first witch to have a baby out of wedlock, and you will not be the last. As long as you have adequate care for him before the start of term, there should be no problem. Now shall we sign those papers so you can move in?" Hermione let out the breath she had not even been aware of holding at the Headmistress's reaction. It had been far different than she had expected, to be honest. Not everyone had been pleased over her pregnancy and the fact that she had kept the baby.

At Granger, 's exhale of breath Minerva just raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you think me such a fuddy-duddy that I cannot be up with the times. I assure you I do not look down on you for having a child without the father. Minerva paused for a moment, a thought striking her and making her slightly worried. "Hermione, you said he is a little over one. That means you conceived him while here at school. You were not…" Minerva became distinctly uncomfortable for a moment before continuing. "You were not forced, were you?"

Hermione blinked at her for a moment then had to choke back a laugh at the question. "Oh goodness, no, can you imagine what would happen to the man that forced himself on me?"

Minerva did recall an incident with her and some birds and one unfortunate Ron Weasley. Chuckling the older woman shook her head. "Point taken. So, what is the little chap's name?"

Hermione smiled softly while thinking of her adorable son. "His name is Leo Granger." They finished up the paperwork after an hour than Hermione got up, shook the Headmistress's hand, and began to collect her things, getting ready to leave.

As she headed for the door, McGonagall stopped her once more before leaving. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The names of the other professors. The one who took over for Bins is Brianna Abernathy, and the one who took over charms is Lucius Malfoy."

Hermione froze at hearing this name. She turned back around slowly. "I am sorry, Professor, did I hear you, right? Did you say Lucius Malfoy?" Hermione tried not to let the shock show on her face by painting on a fake smile for the older witch.

"Yes, dear. I know it is a little bit of a shock, but he is quite good. I hope your past will not be an issue between you two?" Minerva lifted an eyebrow at her questioningly. Hermione shook her head to confirm that it would not be a problem.

Minerva smiled brightly while nodding her head happily. "Good, we are trying to promote togetherness at this school because of the war and such. I would very much like my professors to show that they can get along well."

Hermione nodded once more before turning around; she walked to the rooms she had been assigned in a daze. When she came inside, the elf that had been taking care of her son walked over, holding the sleeping toddler.

"Babe is feed's and changed would mistress like anything else's from Beebe?" Hermione shook her head, so the elf moved away about to pop out, but before she could, Hermione stopped her. "Beebe, could you mayhap get me something to eat. I fear I have only had tea, and it is quite past lunch but not dinner just yet." Beebe nodded happily, popping out than a few minutes coming back in with a sandwich and a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Thank you, Beebe." Hermione smiled gratefully at the little elf before it left again. Sighing slightly, she laid her sleeping son down in her bed than wet over to eat the food because she felt famished.

Hermione played over the words the headmistress said to her in her mind. She had no problem getting along with Lucius. It might be the other way around though. She and the Malfoy senior had not had much interaction over the last two years. She had only seen him once shortly after they had slept together. Hermione had recalled the incident vividly to this day.

Hermione walked through Diagon Alley in mind to head to Flourish and Blots to get some much-needed books and the hopes that maybe she would see the person she wanted to talk to while there. It was a long shot, but she had to try because there is no way that she would show up at his home to tell him to many eyes and to many chances to humiliate her as well. She had just graduated Hogwarts a few weeks ago three to be exact. For some time, she had been feeling queasy in the morning. She had decided to do a pregnancy spell at the behest of Ginny Weasley, who had caught her vomiting in her room when she had come to visit with a platter of food. As soon as Hermione smelled it, she ran for the washroom. Hermione did the spell, and it had puffed pink stating that she indeed is pregnant.

At first, she berated herself mentally for not being careful. Then she cried in a pint of ice cream, wondering what she would do and if she should tell the father. She was now a witch on a mission. First came finding books about babies than came hoping she would run into the father, and they could go somewhere and talk about what they might do about it.

Hermione being so focused on her speech and what she might say if she saw him, Hermione did not pay attention to was, she walked and ran right into a solid wall. She gasped as she began to fall backward. All she could think about was what would happen to her baby if she hit the ground. Luckily, the wall seemed to have arms that came out and grabbed her before she could find out.

"Ms. Granger, ever a pleasant surprise, I must say." A dark rich voice purred above her head. Two arms gripped her elbows. Hermione knew that voice even if she did not see his face right away.

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed before casting her eyes upwards, right into the blue eyes of Lucius Malfoy himself. She pulled herself upright on shaky legs and tried to stand as straight and tall as possible. Even though it did not do much good because he still towered over her but a considerable amount.

"Lord Malfoy, I am terribly sorry for running into you. Are you quite, alright?" She tried to ask as pleasantly as possible why trying to keep the quivering out of her voice at the same time.

Lucius just nodded silently. Hermione did not know what else to say to him. She found all her words failed her at that moment. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but something caught her eye before she could. Her eyes drifted down to the object in his hand. It looked like a gift, like a gift for a woman. Hermione flushed slightly while turning her head away as if she had not seen it.

"I really must be going, Mr. Malfoy, I am sorry for delaying you from your errands." She babbled while also stepping around him, trying to keep her voice from being curt.

Lucius only nodded at her as she scampered past. She did not see that his eyes followed her quizzically while watching her back retreat down the sidewalk.

Hermione came back to the present, ending her trip down memory lane. She had gotten the books she needed but had never gotten the chance to tell the father of her son that he had knocked her up. The run-in with Malfoy had shaken her so severely that she lost her nerve and instead high tailed it back to her home without ever letting him know.

Hermione did not regret many things in her life, but that could be counted as one of them. She knew he needed to know, but she could never find the right time to go to him, and an owl just never seemed right to her. Hermione felt it should be done in person.

She could not be sure if that is her fear talking or just an excuse; she used never to let him know. Shaking her head, knowing this trail of thought and reasoning would get her know were. Polishing off the rest of her food, she then went and laid down with her baby.

"Oh, my little Lion, what am I to do?" The chubby baby held no answers for her because he slept on peace. Hermione sighed, laying her head next to his, then shutting her eyes for a brief moment, she fell asleep. In her dreams, she relived the day she and Lucius Malfoy spent an incredible magic-filled night together. He felt so strong and sure against her, but in her dream, it changed slightly. She no longer had been a virgin; the room looked more opulent as well. The walls a rich cream color, the bed red, and black. A stark contrast to the beautifully pale man touching and kissing her.

Hermione, I need you.

She could hear him panting and moaning above her as he thrust against her bringing them to the pinacol of ecstasy right before she could fall over though there seemed to be a shrill noise. Hermione than bolted upright in bed, realizing that her son had begun to cry while clutching at her chest.

"Oh, my goodness, what time is it?" Summoning her wand, she waved a tempest charm to see the time floating over their heads. Her son Leo stopped crying for a moment instead of starting at the red flashing numbers in awe.

Groaning, she sat up than undid her blouse so he could nurse. She knew she needed to winey him off the tit, but Hermione could not part yet with their bonding time quite yet. As he suckled at her left breast, she lovingly ran her fingers through his silky curls than down his chubby pale cheek. His eyes closed as he nursed so she could not see the lovely color of them. "So much like your fathers. Not like my muddy brown ones at all, thankfully." Hermione cooed at him softly while he fed.

Once he finished and moved on to the other side then finished with that, she patted him on the back to make sure he had no air bubble. Hermione than checked the time once more, seeing that there still was a few minutes to dinner, Hermione quickly called a house-elf to watch her son while she attended dinner. Hermione did not wish to go but knew her presence would be expected even though the start of the term had not started.

She was quickly getting dressed after Beebe popped in. Hermione informed her that the baby had been fed and burped and that she would be back as soon as dinner finished. Hermione magicked up some toys for her son to play with and for Beebe to entertain him with incase he became fussy.

With that, Hermione bolted out the doors, not wanting to be late for dinner. Even though her rooms were not too far from the dining hall, she still had that stickler for being on time leftover from her school days.

Once she came to the doors. Hermione took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. You can do this, old girl, nothing to it. Pretend it is just like back in your school days. Giving herself a pep talk seemed to work. That is until she opened the doors and stepped inside. As she neared the dais, all breath left her when her eyes landed on the Charms professor sitting there.

Lucius looked as good as he ever did, regal, calm, collected, and bloody sexy as hell. You can do this. You can do this. It was a one-night stand, nothing more. We both moved on. I am sure he has married again, and I have my son.

Hermione repeated this in her head like a mantra, and it seemed to be working. Until his eyes landed on her, the blue still startling as ever. He appeared to be surprised to see her because both of his eyebrows rose up into his hairline as she walked forward.

Hermione came to the seat that stood right next to him, sliding inside, she smiled shyly over at him. Her eyes were dropping down as he looked haughtily over her.

"Hello, Professor Malfoy." She watched his lips quirk up at the corners. Her using the formal title of his must seem odd to him because of their history, but Hermione promised herself she would play nice.

Lucius inclined his head to her in return before speaking. "Evening Ms. Granger. Or should I call you Professor seeing as you are sitting up here with us?" To anyone else, he would sound arrogant and rude, but Hermione could see the twinkle in his eyes as he spoke, so she knew he only teased her.

"Yes, you are correct, Professor. I am now one of you. I have taken over Defense against the Dark arts." She heard a slight choking noise because he had been in the process of taking a sip of his drink, which now seemed to be causing him problems.

Once he had it under control, he turned back to her now that she had his full attention, Hermione pretended notice to notice. Instead, she cut up her steak and potatoes while taking a tiny bite. Hermione had to bite back a moan at the taste of the steak on her tongue. She had to watch her budget for some time having a baby, so steak and luxury items were off the list of things she could afford more often than not.

Hermione must have made some kind of noise when she peeked over at him. He did not stare at her eyes, but instead, his gaze had dropped to her lips. A hungry look blazing so intensely in them that it made Hermione squirm to were she had to avert her own gaze because he had that much effect on her otherwise.

"I take it, and you do not get to eat such things as steak very often, Professor? We should feed you steak more often if you would like?" To the casual observer, his question would sound innocent. Still, to Hermione, who could hear the gruffness in his voice, she knew it was anything but innocent.

Hermione flushed to the roots of her hair, turning back to her meal, she chose not to respond to his blatant innuendo towards her. After that, the two spoke no more, both too focused on the conversations of others. Hermione had gotten into a debate with professor Sprout about the herbology uses of the newfound Blackwood that had been discovered and if it could be cultivated here in Scotland or not. Lucius had gotten into a conversation with Professor Hooch about the Quidditch tournament that would be coming up this term and whether Gryffindor or Slytherin would win.

Just then, there came a loud, screeching noise that made the whole dais stop talking. Suddenly a loud popping sound could be heard. A frazzled looking Beebe stood in the middle of the dining hall, holding a wailing, screeching baby that looked red, and many thought might burst from how angry it looked.

"My goodness, that baby is mad?" Said Professor Sprout.

"Who's baby is that?" Hooch bellowed over the noise.

Hermione could feel her heart seize in her chest at the sight of her son's angry wails. She looked over at the headmistress to see her eyes turning wide at the site of the small infant. Hermione could tell that McGonagall figured it out right away. Hermione's eye swung over to Lucius Malfoys face next. He had gone pale, his eyes glassy as he stared at the baby as well.

"Gore, that little tike is right mad, ant he?" Hagrid spoke up next while covering his ears with his large meaty hands, as many of the other professors had done.

Before anyone else could say or do anything, Hermione stood up and rushed over to the elf taking the infant from her arms.

"I's sorry, mistress, he would not stop crying after you left. I's tried everything you give me, but nothing worked." Hermione tried to soothe the upset elf as well as her baby.

She then made an excuse and fled the dining hall post-haste before anyone could comment further or come to from their stupor.

Shit was all Hermione could repeat in her head while trying to make it to her room. She cajoled her son against her chest, trying to calm him down as well as herself.

"This is not how I wanted you to be found out." She murmured to Leo as she unwarded her door.

"Oh, and how did you want me to find out you bore me a son Hermione Granger?" A low hissing voice spoke behind her. "After all, there is no mistaking the white shock of hair upon his head or that he looks exactly like my entire line in every way, even with the crying." The low, angry tone of Lucius Malfoy spoke right next to her ear, making every nerve ending become hyper-aware.

"You have much explaining to do. Now!"