It was late the next morning when Draco finally made it out of his bed and into the kitchen for his usual first coffee. He hadn't really slept much, but instead listened to Hermione ramble on about everything and nothing, between further kisses and wandering hands until they finally did fall asleep. So, for the first time ever since this goddamn war had begun, he actually smiled while reaching for his usual mug and pouring some of the steaming coffee on the stove into it.

What he didn't expect, however, was the slap that came out of nowhere, making him see stars momentarily. The smacking sound rang a few seconds longer in his ear, and his jaw probably even cracked a little. Good thing the coffee mug was still on the counter.

"You!" Pansy snarled.

"What was that for?" he asked irritatedly, rubbing his jaw. Merlin, now he understood why Pansy preferred to slap people instead of hexing them. It was fucking painful, and his head still buzzed.

"I saw you two in your bedroom, bloody naked!" She shoved him. "And your room smelled like sex! You idiot couldn't keep it in your pants, could you?"

Still perplexed by her slap, he reached for her hands to keep her from shoving and slapping him further on his chest. "Stop it, Pansy!"

She threw him the deadliest glare she could muster while trying to wriggle out of his tight grip on her wrists. "I told you to wait with her, to be patient. But you obviously can't think straight anymore..."

Draco didn't let go of her; he knew she would either slap him once more or finally hex him into oblivion. "You sound like you're jealous of her–"

"Me? Jealous?" Her chuckle ended in a sneer. "I can have whoever I want; I am NOT jealous of her. But you put us all in danger because you... because you let your dick make the decision. Did she look at you with her brown doe eyes? Did she say please and rub you? Tell me..."

"For your information, I did say please. But my eyes are amber, not brown."

Both Draco and Pansy turned their heads towards the door, where Hermione was leaning against the frame. She had put on his shirt to cover the most explicit parts of her body, and crossed her arms.

"And you have no right to judge him. If you want to fault someone, then judge me," Hermione continued, her eyes narrowed at Pansy. "I was selfish, not him. You don't know how overwhelming grief can be, and how it can paralyse you in unexpected moments."

"Hermione," Draco said with a soft smile, "it's okay. I can deal with her."

She returned the smile when she briefly looked at him. "No, if she really wants to blame someone, then it should be me."

Pansy sighed, even threw her head back in response to the scene in front of her. "At least let go of me, will you?" she said, hold her arms up to show that he was still holding her wrists in a tight grip; she rubbed them, flinching slightly, after he released her with an apologising shrug. "Look, I get that you two want to enjoy your time together, and I'm not entirely against it... But if word gets out that you, Draco, fucked the icon of the resistance, even though she is clearly still mourning her husband, then we might have a problem."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brows.

"Someone might dislike the situation enough to denounce you—both of you. The fascists are just waiting for something like that."

Draco shared a look with Hermione, seeing realisation dawn on her, probably the same that had hit him. Pansy was right; this could indeed become a problem because Gruber was already trying to find proof of his involvement with the resistance...

"Shit," Hermione finally whispered and rubbed over her face. "I'm sorry, Pansy. I didn't mean to cause problems."

"I know. But Draco should have known better." Pansy gently shoved him as a reminder. "But I can keep my mouth shut. Just please don't do anything so stupid again; you have waited long enough, 4 more months won't kill you."

"War might," Draco said, reaching for his mug on the counter. Thankfully, the coffee was still warm enough. He couldn't help but sigh before he took a first sip because again, Pansy was right about it. He should have known better. "Breakfast anyone?"

..

"Boss!" Yvette called through the office door a month later before she opened it. "One of the resistance girls was here, saying you're needed in the headquarters."

Draco immediately looked up from the list of stocked alcohol, as the resistance had never so openly asked for his presence in their headquarters. He only ever had to deal with Pansy—that she hadn't come to meet him didn't bode well. "Did anyone see her? What did she say exactly?"

Yvette shook her head. "She only said that you're needed in the headquarters. She looked angry. I think you'd better go there. Martin and I can cover for you until you're back."

Draco nodded and collected the papers in front of him before he got up to follow her out. "You know how to close down if I'm not back today. I'll let you know later, all right?"

She nodded and turned around to go back downstairs.

For once, Draco used the secret exit next to the toilets, as he noticed a few fascist soldiers sitting inside. They didn't need to know that he was leaving the café. Raising suspicion was the last thing he wanted right now.

Minutes later, after a hurried but careful walk through the small town, he arrived at the headquarters, only to be immediately let inside.

"You made it!" Hermione said when she saw him and got up from the edge of the makeshift bed where she had sat next to Millicent. She tried to smile but somewhat failed.

"Why did you ask for me?" Draco asked, coming closer, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw who was lying on the makeshift bed—Pansy. What he could see of her clothing was splattered with blood. She looked unnaturally pale, and her leg was in a splint. "Wh-What happened?"

"She ran into a group of fascists and they tried to arrest her," Millicent replied, her voice sounding rather grave. "She could defend herself, but they had two wizards in their group."

"She was lucky," Hermione added and joined him. "She could hide fast enough and send a signal before she fell unconscious."

"She looks bad." His eyes fixed on the still frame of his oldest friend, Draco twined his fingers with Hermione's for comfort.

"She does. We did everything we could, but we only have very limited supplies, and definitely no Skele-Gro to help with the fracture."

"Why didn't you bring her to my place?"

"We would have, but you're the Secret Keeper and I can't carry her without raising suspicion," Hermione replied calmly. "We need your help to transport her to your place. Millie volunteered to care for her. And I will take over her position as head until she is back–"

"Hermione, you can't... It's too dangerous," he stopped her in a whisper, earning himself a stern glare from her.

"I'm not going to join field operations, but someone has to organise the group while she is out."

He sighed. "Fine. Just promise you really won't join any dangerous field operations."

"I promise," she said, lifting her free hand for an oath. "Now, please help us bring her over. We already cared for her injuries, but she isn't safe enough here."

The transport of Pansy to his place went surprisingly smooth, without any disruption by suspecting forces wanting to check the goods they were carrying. Once inside, the logistics of who would sleep where posed a small dilemma—Hermione occupied the only guest room while Pansy had used the living room as her bedroom during the night, transforming the settee into a bed to sleep on it.

"I'll take the living room," Hermione offered, "she can have my bed."

"I'm not letting you sleep in the living room," Draco replied in a stern whisper. "You'll sleep in my room."

"You know what can happen!"

"You two, stop it!" Millicent intervened. "I don't care what is or isn't going on between you two, but Pansy is more important. And I'll share the room with her."

Hermione and Draco exchanged a look, coming to the same understanding that there was more to Millicent's decision than just simple compassion. "Of course, you can stay as long as she needs you," he finally said with an appeasing smile. His place was starting to get overrun with resistance women.

"Do you need anything else?" Hermione asked, glancing at Pansy who was lying on her bed, wincing slightly when she moved in her sleep.

Millicent shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line, but still attempting a smile. "I'll let you know."

Hermione pulled Draco out of the guest room, closing the door behind them. "Nice that Millie wants to care for Pansy..."

"You've noticed it, right?"

Glancing at the door, Hermione nodded. "Yes, I think so. As much as I admire Pansy for what she does, she is still a piece of work..."

Draco nodded and pulled her closer for a hug. "You'll still sleep in my room. I don't care what the others say."

After a second of reluctance, and to his relief, she nodded.

..

The next morning, Draco wanted to check in on Pansy before he left to open the café for the day. He could hear voices when he slowly opened the door, hoping it wouldn't give him away. At least Pansy was awake again.

"Millie, you don't have to do everything for me..."

"I'm worried, you know? You're constantly putting yourself in so much danger instead of sending others. I don't want to miss you."

Draco could hear a sigh and assumed it was Pansy in response to Millicent's admission.

"I know. I'd miss you too," Pansy replied, and let out a pained gasp, as she probably tried to move. "I'm glad you're here."

Draco dared to open the door further and finally caught a glimpse of the two women—Millicent had joined Pansy on the bed, and they lay there in each other's arms. Pansy showed bruises everywhere, and her splinted leg was elevated on several cushions.

"What–?" Hermione came out of his bedroom, putting her unruly mass of hair into a tail to get it out of her face; she nodded when he signed her to be silent and joined him at the door. "Oh my god, they are kissing," she whispered, gasping quietly in surprise.

He nodded and carefully closed the door. "We should leave them alone. They have enough to go through."

"Yeah, and Pansy is looking better already." She turned around to look at him with a soft smile. "It doesn't bother you that she is into girls?"

Pushing an obstinate strand out of her face, he shook his head. "Pansy always had her own ideas about what she liked."

She captured his hand with hers, only to place a soft kiss in his palm. "I'm just glad she found someone who really cares about her, you know?"

He smiled at the touch of her lips. "I thought you wanted to lie in bed a little longer, feeling exhausted?"

She nodded tentatively, twining her fingers with his. "It's probably just the stress catching up with me... And I needed to pee."

"You're sure it's just stress?" he asked, not convinced by her rather evasive answer. He had noticed her increased exhaustion levels over the last week—she slept a lot more and needed more coffee to keep up with everything she was involved in for the resistance group.

"Draco, I'm fine. No need to worry." To reassure him, she squeezed his hand. "I'll read a bit in bed and then check with Pansy whether there is anything that needs to be done."

He nodded, pulling her closer for a hug. After a night in the same bed, simply cuddling against each other, he wasn't ready to leave her for work. For the first time ever since he had opened his café in this provincial town, he felt the urge to just stay at home, not to bother with it all. The hug was a reminder to get him through the day, something he couldn't wait to get back to.

After a brief chuckle that turned into a yawn, Hermione let him wrap his arms around her shoulders while he placed hers around his waist. "I'm going to miss that all day..."

He smiled when he felt her hands run up and down his back. "Me too," he replied in a quiet voice before he let go of her, only to tilt her head up for a kiss on her forehead. "I need to go, or Martin will complain all day about the hassle of having to prepare the café by himself."

"Just be careful."

"You know I am. I'll try to be home a bit earlier tonight; I hope you're still awake then."

She nodded. "I'll wait for you. Now go, and tell Martin not to be such a lazy butt."

..

Their arrangement with Pansy and Millicent in the guest room seemed to work out for the following weeks, even though Draco sometimes felt a bit left out amidst the three women, and sometimes suspected they had something going on he wasn't let in on.

The more time passed, the more restless Pansy grew. She was stuck in bed with her broken leg, as it was near impossible to find the ingredients for Skele-Gro to help mending her bones faster—all they could do was brew potions for pain relief, while Millicent did everything else to help the mending process, from casting spells that would encourage the healing process to simply bringing her food. To Draco's surprise, Pansy barely complained about Millicent's attention, but rather enjoyed having someone fussing over her for once. It had been a bit hard to wrap his mind around Pansy and Millicent getting close to each other —closer than he and Hermione could at the moment, to his chagrin!—but in the end, it didn't matter that much. Pansy would always be Pansy, no matter who she was with for the moment.

Draco was more worried about Hermione, as her exhaustion only grew over time, and he suspected that her involvement with the resistance group as a temporary replacement for Pansy had something to do with it.

So, one night, when he came home earlier after a quiet evening at the café, he found Pansy and Hermione sitting in the living room, talking about what he assumed to be related to the group.

"I just don't know, Pansy," Hermione said rather worried, yet unaware of his presence. "Maybe it really is all the stress recently that causes the delay. It can't be."

"Shh..." Pansy placed a finger on her lips as soon as she spotted Draco in the door frame. "Well, look who's back home alive and in one piece."

With wide eyes, Hermione turned around and then smiled with cheeks blushing in embarrassment.

"What are you doing up?" he asked in surprise and entered the room to sit down on the armrest of the settee, next to Hermione, whose gaze was fixed on her hands.

"Millie said I only need to keep my leg elevated," she replied, pointing at her leg comfortably put up on the small table.

"She's already asleep," Hermione added. After a deep breath, she finally turned towards him and tentatively reached for his hand.

"And you two are having a late night girls talk?" he remarked with a short smirk, his mind momentarily focusing on the touch of her hand, having missed it all day. With his thumb, he drew small patterns on her wrist, knowing it helped her calm down—and she looked like something was currently upsetting her.

"No," Pansy replied, crossing her arms, "just resistance stuff. We can finally use the supplies you organised for us..."

"The less I know, the better for both of us," he stopped her. "Gruber suspects you're attempting a new attack. I had the pleasure of him visiting me today and he told me, probably to get some sort of reaction. Like a fucking bloodhound, this man."

"Did he do anything?" Hermione asked, leaning into him for comfort.

"Thank Merlin's seven hells, no! I think he knows about our little deal, Pansy, because he knew what I was trying to buy for you."

"They are getting nervous... They know something is about to happen, but they don't know what nor where." Pansy flexed her fingers and leaned forward, reaching for her plastered leg.

"Don't scratch," Hermione said, grabbing her shoulder to pull her back. "I can bring you another batch of the skin potion before you go to bed."

"Please! It's driving me mad!" With a resigned sounding sigh, she leaned back. "I think it's time to go to bed for me anyway, or Millie won't shut up about staying up too long. Help, anyone?"

..

Draco was deeper involved in the attack the resistance carried out a few days later than he ever wanted, as a group of resistance members ran into his café after a loud bang could be heard throughout the town—they must have blown up a building that belonged to the fascists; he just hoped for their sakes and his that it hadn't been the headquarters.

"What are you doing here?" he asked the three men when they tried to hide in the back, his voice a hissed whisper as he tried to keep his anger in check. "You know you can't hide in here."

The men flinched only briefly under his furious stare. "Oh, come on, the whole town knows whose side you're really on–"

"Get out! Take the secret exit, but get out!"

"Mr Malfoy..."

Draco rolled his eyes when he heard the one voice that managed to piss him off by simply hearing it. After a beseeching glare at the three resistance men in the back to stay the fuck quiet, he turned around to meet the new arrival. "Lieutenant Gruber, what a pleasure."

"Cut the crap. We saw them running in here, where are they?" Gruber motioned his soldiers to search the premises.

"No. Not this time." Draco quickly cast several Shield Charms that kept the soldiers from going any further than where they were standing. "I told you before, this place is a sanctuary FOR EVERYONE! Your accusation is entirely baseless, so I won't have you harass my patrons over nothing, Lieutenant, just because you believe you saw someone running in here."

"Mr Malfoy, they are wanted for attempting to blow up our headquarters. They are lucky I wasn't in the building when the bomb exploded. My soldiers will search your joint. We aren't simply rounding up the usual suspects. They were seen..." Gruber sneered the last words, displaying his usual arrogance. "And I do hope you still have some of that gin left..."

"The bottle is unfortunately empty, Lieutenant," Draco replied with the same sneer, the only sign of the anger simmering just beneath his skin. "And you missed my point. It is well within my abilities to keep your people from searching my joint, as you called it. I was lenient the last time you destroyed everything, I won't have that again."

"You forget we have some of your kind as well–"

"And you don't know what I'm really capable of." Draco was holding his wand tightly in his hand, ready to cast several jinxes to prove his point. He wasn't stupid; he knew exactly who was on the other side and what their abilities were—none of them even closely matched his. "I don't tolerate harassment in my café, so kindly leave."

"Flaubert!"

A soldier from the back brought a townsman to the front. "Speak," the soldier ordered, shaking the man roughly.

"Are you absolutely sure that you saw the fugitives run in here?"

Draco used the moment Flaubert stared at him in an attempt to recall the memory, and non-verbally cast the Confounding Spell to suggest that he might have seen them running past and rather into a side street. The spell had taken a lot of practice to cast non-verbally, but it was essential to keep his tracks covered when out on business for the resistance.

Seconds later, Flaubert shook his head. "I don't know, Lieutenant. I mean, they could have run past it. It happened so fast..."

Gruber turned back to face Draco, scrutinizing him, and then shook his head. "You."

"I told you they aren't in here, Lieutenant," Draco replied, raising his eyebrow. "Maybe you should take other places into your consideration next time something happens to your regiment."

"Don't think you're off the hook with that, Mr Malfoy. Your end might come sooner than you think," Gruber said, turning around. "We're leaving. There's nothing to be found here."

To Draco's great relief, the trick worked. As soon as the soldiers had left the building, he returned to the corner where the resistance members were still hiding. "You fucking idiots! What did you think coming here?!"

"This is the safest place in the whole village," the oldest of the three men replied, staring right back at him.

"Not for you anymore," Draco said, his jaw clenching. He was on the verge of hexing those three men into oblivion for being so stupid. "I don't want to see you in here ever again, you fucking risked me getting arrested, and, believe me, Pansy will have a go at you for that. Or Hermione for that matter."

"We didn't mean to–"

"GET OUT OF MY PLACE! NOW!" This time, Draco emphasised his words with a well-placed Stinging Hex aimed at the man in front, who immediately squealed in pain.

The resistance members left without any further words through the secret exit next to the toilets, much to Draco's relief.

He breathed in deeply several times before he put his wand back into its usual pocket and then turned to Martin at the bar who had silently witnessed everything. "Close down for today. I have some personal matters to attend to."

This had been too close to an arrest for his liking, just because those resistance members had no better idea than to hide in his café; there had to be consequences for the group this time. He already risked enough by playing the group's supplier; he didn't need them risking his business as well.

..

"Why did you have to come as well?" Millicent said with a concerned tone to her voice when the women made it back to Draco's place from the headquarters in the evening, her pushing Pansy in an improvised wheelchair with Hermione coming in after them. "They are searching the whole town for you!"

Pansy sneered in response. "It's my group, Millie. I told them repeatedly that Draco's café is off limits–"

"I could have handled it," Hermione added, closing the door.

Draco was in the living room, reading for once, but could hear their conversation clearly enough. The exhaustion in Hermione's voice, however, had him jerk up in concern. He already kept a close eye on her whenever they were home, not in the least convinced by her repeated reassurance that everything was fine.

"I know, but I wanted to make clear once more that I'm willing to throw them out if they go against my orders, regardless whether I'm fit or stuck in a wheelchair. He does more than enough for us, so we can at least stick to his house rules." Pansy sighed deeply, irritation still apparent in her words. "Millie, don't. I can do it myself."

"Wait, wait..."

"Just let me be!"

Moments later, the three women entered the living room—Pansy limping slowly while supported by Millicent, and Hermione right behind them. She smiled softly when she saw Draco on the settee with a book in his lap. He got up to make room for Pansy to sit down comfortably before claiming the armchair next to it, slightly astonished to see Pansy reach for Millicent's hand despite her still persistent scowl.

Hermione, on the other hand, sat down on the armrest of the armchair, even tentatively so. "How was the evening?" she asked, again smiling softly.

"Quiet, at least compared to yours. How did it go?" Carefully, he placed his arm around her and slowly pulled her down until she was sitting in his lap, her head leaning against his shoulder.

"I've never seen Pansy explode like this," Hermione replied, propping herself into a more comfortable position. "They were just stupid to run into your café like this."

"I almost got arrested because of their act. And I wouldn't want to be at the receiving end of Pansy's wrath, or yours." He placed a kiss on her head, sensing how she started to relax. "You all right?"

She nodded and put a hand on her mouth to keep a yawn contained. "Just tired."

"You're tired a lot these days," he replied, letting his concern shine through.

"It's just been a bit much today. The attack didn't exactly go according to plan, and then you came in."

Draco glanced over to Pansy and Millicent, who were having their own conversation, with Pansy thankfully finally calming down. "I think we should all call it a night. Tomorrow's not going to be any easier. They might try a crackdown on the resistance for today."

Hermione sighed and nodded. "Most probably. They would just love to get their hands on Pansy, or me."

"I won't let that happen." After another peck, he carefully tried to shift his position so that he could get up with her in his arms. "Hold on tight."

Hermione chuckled when he got up, holding on tight to his neck. "You're an idiot."

"Only for you," he replied with a cocky smirk before he turned towards the other two. "You two don't need any help?"

Pansy shook her head. "Just go to bed already; she needs her sleep..."

Draco didn't miss the suggestion in her words but didn't know what she was referring to. "Don't stay up too long either." With that, Draco carried Hermione towards their currently shared bedroom.

"You should do that more often..."

..

"Draco?"

He was already dozing off shortly after carrying Hermione to bed, with her comfortably snug in his arms, when her voice pulled him back. "Hmm?"

"You're awake?" Her hands were stroking over his arm around her waist; her voice sounded sleepy, but there was an insecure tone to it.

"Now I am..." His eyes still closed, he placed a kiss on her shoulder. "What's the matter? Can't sleep?"

"I think I need to tell you something."

He only pulled her closer in response to her words, his mind totally focused on the relaxing feeling of her form against his.

"Draco? I think I'm pregnant."

Shocked, he opened his eyes to stare at her, without reacting any further. His sleepy brain took almost a minute to fully process that piece of information and what it meant. He was rendered speechless, unable to form words, even though he knew she wanted a reaction, while his mind was now racing. Merlin's seven hells, they only ever had sex once—and they forgot about protection!

Now his heart was racing too, and he felt a panic attack threaten to overwhelm him. She was pregnant for heaven's sake! However, a deep breath managed to disperse the panic, and he couldn't help but smile when he placed his hand more protectively on her still flat stomach. "Marry me."

"Draco! I don't think you understood."

"I did. Marry me."