Disclaimer: I own none of the characters here. I just use them for my own amusement. JK Rowling and co. own them No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: When two old enemies meet up again, will they be able to look past their differences and get along? What happens if they fall for each other but he's slated to marry someone else? Will he follow his heart or his parents' wishes? Dramione.

Author's note: Lyrics by The Goo Goo Dolls

Wildest Dreams

It's hard to lead the life you choose
All I wanted
When all your luck's run out on you
All I wanted
And you can't see when all your dreams are coming true

Oh yeah it's easy to forget
And you choke on the regrets

Stranger than your sympathy
All these thoughts you stole from me
I'm not sure where I belong
No where's home and I'm all wrong

A few weeks went by and things were going pretty well between Draco and Hermione. He'd stopped feeling as guilty and had tried to spend as much time with Hermione as possible, outside of work. But they still hadn't made love, much to Hermione's dismay. She didn't know what he was waiting for. But every time they got close to something good, he'd put the brakes on. The guilt would creep up on him, and he'd remember that he was still technically engaged to someone else. And that he'd slept with her. It was too much for him to handle. He felt like if he slept with Hermione under false pretenses, he'd be an even bigger shithead than he already felt he was. But he also knew he couldn't put her off forever. And he also couldn't put off breaking his engagement forever either. He had been coasting by for weeks now, just splitting his time between women, and never telling the other one what he was doing. It was a shitty thing to do to both of them. And he hated himself when he allowed himself to look in a mirror. But if he skipped mirrors and lived in the moment, the guilt was less. But how could a person live like that forever? They couldn't. He had to take an action. He had to do something. He couldn't keep up this double life. So he decided that it was high time he sent Astoria packing. He didn't love her. And he'd not touched her at all since that night she said they made love. The only affection she ever got were pecks on the cheek and the occasional hand holding. All initiated by her. He just went along. But it was time for it to end. It was the only way for him to start his life over again. No matter the consequences. He was ready to do it. He was prepared to lose it all. Hermione was that important to him, that he'd do this. For her. For them. For himself. It needed to be done.

So when they were sitting down to dinner at a fancy restaurant in the city, Astoria kept trying to hold Draco's hand over the table. But he kept pulling it away. She was getting exasperated with him and finally asked him what his problem was.

"Nothing is my problem. I'm just not a fan of PDA," he lied.

"PDA? What on earth is that?" she wondered.

"Public displays of affection. I don't like it. So stop trying to hold my hand," he said resentfully.

"Fine. I never knew you were so weird. I would think you'd be proud to show me off as yours," she said with her nose in the air.

"Look Astoria, it's been real interesting with us. But I don't think it's going to work," he said, finally blurting it all out.

"What do you mean?" she asked quizzically.

"You heard me. It's not working. I don't have feelings for you. I think we need to end this. And now."

"Now? Are you mad? We're supposed to get married!" she said angrily.

"I realize that, but I don't love you. It's all wrong. And I think it's just best we parted company and went our separate ways," he said letting out a deep breath.

She just looked at him and couldn't believe what he was saying. She'd been as charming as possible, and he still didn't want her? He still thought he was in love with that other tramp? The mudblood she'd read about in the papers? That was nonsense. She looked Draco straight in the eyes and launched phase two of her plan.

"You can't break it off with me. You already promised my family and me," she said with a steely gaze.

"I don't care. None of that matters. We're just not suited."

"Fine. Well I'll have you know that you don't have much of a choice in this matter anymore," she said haughtily.

"Yes, I do. It's still my life," he shot back.

"I'm pregnant," she said giving him the hardest look ever.

"What?" He felt the floor fall out from beneath him and it seemed as if he tumbled straight into hell. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. I'm pregnant. I was going to tell you when I was farther along, but I took a test and it was positive," she lied.

"What?" he was in utter shock and disbelief.

"Stop saying what. You heard me the first time. I'm having your baby. So you have to marry me. Or else I'll look like a tramp! And if my daddy finds out you coerced me into having sex with you, he'll castrate you," she said heatedly.

"Excuse me? Coerced you? I think you fucking made that choice on your own. You're a grown up. I didn't force you to do anything," he said just as heatedly.

"I wanted to remain pure and you wanted sex. You were insistent. What was I supposed to do? I didn't want to upset you! And now I'm pregnant. So you better stand up and marry me. You have no choice," she told him vehemently.

He just sat there and realized his life had exploded into chaos. Utter shit. Totally annihilation. How could Astoria be pregnant? Had it even been long enough for her to know? He wasn't sure, but he supposed it was possible. It had been almost a month. But still. It didn't make any sense.

"We only did it once. How did this happen?" he asked despondently.

"It only takes once, you moron. You're the one who said I didn't need protection," she lied to him again, trying to blame him for the entire thing.

"I said that? I don't fucking remember saying that. In fact, I don't fucking remember fucking you in the first place! So no, this is not happening," he said, refusing to believe it.

"Stop using foul language in my presence. We have a baby to think of. Do you want him or her to hear their father talking this way to their mother?" she wanted to know.

"Oh my God, shut up. You can't be pregnant. You can't! I don't even remember us having sex!" he said standing up from his chair and making a scene in the restaurant.

"Do sit down right now. You're embarrassing us both!" she said crossly as she glared at him.

He looked around and realized the entire place was looking at him and Astoria so he just cleared his throat and sat back down again. Vowing to himself to be quieter about the end of his life than he was being.

"Listen, you can't be pregnant. It's not possible," he said quietly but sternly.

"We slept together, so yes, it's possible. And I already took a test. Do you want to see it? Because I'll show you," she said, hoping he'd say no, because there was no test. But she was willing to conjure one up if need be.

"I don't wanna see the fucking test, okay? It's just what do you want me to say? That I'm happy? I'm not. I don't love you. I don' t want to marry you. And I want out of this mess!" he said angrily in the quietest voice possible.

"Well too bad. You're stuck with me. You'll learn to love me. And our baby. I think it's going to be a boy. I can just feel it," she said with a wicked little smile.

"A boy huh? You can just tell that? After a month? It's the size of a popcorn kernel! You don't know what it is. You can't," he told her with desperate fury.

"A mother's intuition is strong. And I think this will be a boy. The spitting image of his daddy," she said, rubbing her stomach affectionately.

Draco just stared at her and wondered what she wanted him to do. Be happy? Be thrilled that she thought it was a boy? What if he wanted a girl huh? But no, women like her always wanted to produce sons for the bloodline. But fuck that. Fuck all of that. He didn't want to believe this. But it was apparently happening.

"What do we do now?" he asked, sighing loudly.

"You marry me. And fast. Before anyone knows that I'm pregnant. I say the sooner the better. Then we can pretend it happened on our honeymoon," she said with a gleeful smile.

"Fuck. Fuckity fuck, fuck!" he muttered under his breath. This was NOT in the plan. He was furious and despondent and in shock. He wanted to throw up, but he couldn't even feel nauseous because he was so numb inside.

"Stop swearing!" she scolded him.

"I am the man here. And I will fucking say fuck, if I wanna say fuck! You will be quiet and stop telling me what to do!" he said, sounding just like his father. So much so that it scared him to death. He felt tears prick his eyes, but he refused to let Astoria see them. He took deep breaths to calm himself, but it wasn't helping.

"I'm sorry, Draco. You're right. You are the man, and I won't tell you what to do," she said softly, hoping that if she bowed down to his wishes, she'd gain his favor.

He didn't really think that men had a say over women, but in circles like they traveled, that was the best way to shut down an argument. So he just used it. He knew Astoria would fall in line, if she wanted him to be with her. But it was something his father would do and that sickened him. The whole thing sickened him. He didn't know what he was going to do. He finally had the courage to break it off and now she was pregnant? What could he even tell Hermione? He'd have to tell her the truth. She was expecting him to finally be free of this engagement and now Astoria wanted to marry as soon as possible. Before anyone found out about the baby. The baby. My God, he thought, he couldn't believe there was an actual baby to consider. He wasn't ready for that. He wasn't ready for any of this. And it was clear that his life was incredibly over. He was going to lose the woman he really loved, and be chained in a loveless high society marriage with a snobby bitch he couldn't stand. How was this his life? When his father made him bow down to Voldemort, he swore he'd never listen to his father again. But he had been stupid and forgave him and fell in line like he was supposed to. He let his father dictate everything again and now this was the mess he was in. And he had no possible way out.

"I don't want to marry you," he said finally in a low voice.

"I know. But you have to. I promise I'll make it worth your while. I'll be a good wife. You'll see," she said.

"When?"

"When what?"

"When do we get married?"

"Next month."

Fuck, that was too soon. That was way sooner than he'd ever imagined. But he supposed they had to move quickly now. No one could know he'd knocked her up before their wedding. Especially not her family. He'd stolen her virginity and gotten her pregnant. The least he could do was marry her. But he didn't want to. Not at all. Not even close. And he just sat there and wondered what the fuck he was gonna say to Hermione. He knew he'd blown that. All chances for them to be together had vanished now. He really did not have a choice at this point. Not like before where he was simply worried about money and seeing his mum. This was serious business. He had to marry her. There was no other option. Unless he wanted to die at the hands of her father. Which he didn't. Being without Hermione was going to feel like dying, but it was better than actually dying. Which was the alternative. And he could never ask Hermione to be his mistress. That would be extremely unfair to everyone involved. He was going to have to let her go. As much as it pained him, he felt like he had no choice anymore. But all he really wanted to do was cry.

He didn't have anything to say for the rest of the dining experience. In fact, when his food arrived, he couldn't even begin to eat it. So it sat untouched on his plate, while Astoria gobbled up her meal. She claimed she was eating for two now and needed her nourishment. But he didn't really listen to her. He couldn't. She was prattling on about baby names and the wedding party and all he wanted to do was shoot himself in the head. It would be a kinder fate than the one he had in store for himself. Why had he been so stupid? How could he have slept with this woman he didn't even like? Alcohol was a dangerous thing obviously, but it didn't stop him from ordering several drinks and downing them, despite Astoria's protests. He had an empty stomach so the booze hit him harder than it normally would, but he didn't care. He just wanted to numb the pain of all this. He wanted to forget. He wanted out of this arrangement but now he had no hope of that. His life was well and truly fucked. And he just sat there and stared at his food and drifted off into some sort of trance like state. It was the only way he could cope.

When the meal was over, he paid the check and told Astoria he was taking her home. She protested at first, but when she saw the look in his eyes, she relented. He just needed some time to adjust, she thought. But he'd come around. Maybe he'd even be happy? She only hoped so. She didn't know exactly what her next move was going to be, but she hoped that they'd marry quickly and she'd get pregnant on their honeymoon. And if that didn't happen, she'd just tell him she lost the baby. Well after they were already hitched, that is. She wasn't about to lose him now. Not when she had him right where she wanted him. Eventually there would be a baby, she knew. So she'd just hope it happened sooner rather than later. But she supposed he needed time to tell his tramp what he'd done. Because she assumed correctly that he'd not told Hermione about their supposed night together. But that was fine. She could wait a little. So long as he was agreeing to marry her next month. It would all work out, she thought to herself. It was a foolproof plan.

After Draco took her home, he went back to his own home and sat in the dark crying. He hadn't cried like this in a very long time. But he was losing everything that mattered to him now. Who wouldn't cry? He knew he had to see Hermione too. But he didn't know how to break the news to her. So he just bucked it up and decided to go to her place. It wasn't too late yet and he wanted this over with. Quick. Like ripping off a Band Aid. It was the only way to make it hurt less. He pulled himself together as best as he could and apparated to Hermione's flat. He knocked on the door and waited for her to open it up. When she did, she saw a broken man standing in front of her. He was in a suit, but his tie was missing in action. And his buttons were all askew and his hair was a mess. He looked like he'd been crying and she immediately got concerned and worried about him.

"Draco? What on earth is wrong? You look dreadful," she said, ushering him into her apartment.

"I'm sort of dying a little. Apparently it shows," he said dejectedly.

"Dying? Are you ill in some way? What do you mean?" she asked with concern as she sat him down on her couch.

"I'm not ill. But I just feel ill," he admitted. "Look, we have to talk."

"Talk? About what?" she wondered confusedly.

"Everything."

"What do you mean?"

"There's something I didn't tell you. And I need to tell you about it now. Only I really don't want to," he began with a start.

"What is it?" she wondered, feeling highly nervous as to where this conversation was headed.

"There was something that happened the night of the ball. And I don't remember any of it! Not even a little bit of it," he told her. "But I woke up in bed with Astoria."

Hermione just sat there for a moment, absorbing what he was saying. She didn't think she could have possibly heard him right.

"You what?" she said finally.

"I woke up in bed with her."

"You slept with her?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"But I don't remember any of it!" he reiterated hoping that would make some sort of difference in her thoughts of him.

But it didn't really. She was horrified and it showed. Her face twisted up and the tears began to leak from her eyes, and she couldn't stop it.

"Is that why you won't sleep with me? Because you slept with her first?" she asked barely above a whisper.

"Yes. I didn't want to make love to you when I still felt so dirty for what I did with her. Even if I don't remember it. It's still no excuse. I did it. And I don't know why! I couldn't even begin to tell you why. I don't even like her. In fact, I kind of hate her."

"I do too. But probably for different reasons. I can't believe you did that and didn't tell me," she said with tears rolling down her face.

"I didn't know how to tell you. It was a mistake! A tragic mistake. And I never would have done it if I wasn't so drunk. The last thing I remember is you. I remember kissing you. In fact, I thought it was you next to me when I woke up. That's how far gone I must have been," he tried to explain.

"So you don't love her now or anything?" she asked sniffling slightly.

"No! Not even remotely. You're the only one I love," he said honestly, knowing that it didn't matter anymore because what he was about to tell her next would change it all. But he still had to say it one last time at least.

"So if you don't love her or anything, then we'll get past it. It was a drunken mistake. We've all had those, right? We'll get past it," she said, taking his hands and holding them tightly.

He just looked at her sadly and wished he didn't have to break her heart like this. But he had no choice.

"We can't get past it, Hermione. It's bigger than just a one night mistake," he said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"She's pregnant."

Hermione felt her stomach drop to her knees and she really thought she might be sick. She clamped her hand over her mouth and tried to choke down the sobs that were forming in her throat.

"She's what?"

"She's pregnant."

"Oh my God…"

And with that, Hermione lost it completely. She started crying so hard her whole body shook. Draco tried to take her in his arms, but she just brushed him off. She didn't want him touching her right now. Or maybe ever again. She was so betrayed, she didn't know what to even say to him. And he felt so horrible and broken at seeing her cry like that, he started crying again too. And he couldn't stop. They both just sat there crying together, except they were very alone. Both of them were alone with this. Finally Draco spoke.

"I never meant for this to happen. I don't even remember it happening. I would never do this to you in my right mind. I can't even believe I did it at all."

"Are you sure she's really pregnant?" Hermione finally got the courage to ask.

"Yes. She offered to show me the test."

"Did you see it?"

"No."

"Then maybe it's a lie?" Hermione offered up, trying to find some sort of hope in this mess.

"Who would lie about something like that?" he wondered.

" She would, because she wants you," she told him.

"I'm pretty sure it's not a lie. She told me I had to marry her. Fast. Before her daddy finds out what I did. I-I can't have him find out. He's not someone you want to mess with. He makes my father look like a basket of kittens in comparison."

"So then you're just gonna marry her? Just like that? What about us?" she asked through her tears.

"I don't know about us, Hermione. I don't think there can be an us," he whispered softly.

"So then you're choosing her over me?" she wanted to know.

"Don't you understand? I have to do this. If I don't, her father will kill me. Literally. He's not afraid to go to Azkaban because he's already been there before," he said desperately, tears rolling down his face.

"So it's over then? That's what you're saying? We're over?" she wanted clarification.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I don't want it to be over, but I don't know what else to do," he said miserably.

"You can leave now. That's what you can do," she said angrily.

"I don't want to leave," he cried sadly.

"Well I want you to leave. I-I can't look at you right now. I'm too upset. I need to be alone. You have to go," she said effectively shutting him down.

He stood up from the couch and walked slowly towards the door.

"I still love you," he said softly.

"I still love you too," she responded just as softly.

"Are you still my Scully?" he asked with a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"Always," she answered. But then she looked up at him again. "But you still have to go."

And with that he just turned around and walked out the door. He didn't want to overstay his welcome any more than he already had. He just didn't want to lose her. But he had to lose her. There was no getting around it. He just wished it didn't feel like he was having his intestines ripped out with a fork. Nothing had ever hurt this badly, because nothing ever meant anything to him the way she did. But it was all over now. He couldn't have his cake and eat it too. If he was lucky he might leave this mess with her friendship, but he wasn't banking on it. Why would she want to be his friend? But he kept hoping that maybe she would. It was the only thing he could cling to. But he knew it was going to take some time. He'd just be patient and let her grieve in peace. He needed to be alone too honestly. He had to think about his life and his options and what he could do to keep Hermione in his life somewhat. That is if she would ever consent to be in his life, outside of work. Which work was going to be painfully awkward now. He knew that. Maybe he'd just quit? Except if he did that, he'd never see Hermione again, he'd wager. So he had to stick it out. Even if it was painful to do so. As he was getting ready to walk away from her door, he heard her sobs start up and it wrenched his guts again. He'd done this to her. She'd never forgive him. And worse yet, he'd never forgive himself either.

When Monday came, Draco was so nervous to see Hermione he was literally shaking as he walked in the door of their office. He wasn't even sure she'd be there, but she was. She was sitting at her desk but she didn't look up when he entered. She was staring at a case file, but it was evident that she wasn't really reading it.

"Good morning," he said softly as he put his things down.

"Good morning," she said back just as softly.

"I-I brought you a fancy coffee from the shop down the road. It's a latte. It's much better than the shit you can get here," he said, placing a coffee cup on her desk.

"You really didn't have to, but thanks," she said, pushing it aside and staring back at the case file.

"Would it help if I said I was sorry again?" he wondered shakily.

"Not really," she shook her head. Then she finally looked at him. He was a mess with his eyes bloodshot and his hair bedraggled. It didn't appear that he bothered to shave that morning either. And his hands were shaking almost violently. She became concerned. "Draco are you ill?"

"No. I'm just sick at what I've done," he admitted trying to keep his hands still.

She went over to him and took his shaking hands. She held them in her own and she closed her eyes.

"I don't want you to make yourself sick over this," she whispered to him.

"How can I not? Look what I've done? I've ruined everything. And the worst thing is, I don't even remember doing it!" he said somewhat angrily. Not at her, but at himself.

And she knew that. He was killing himself over hurting her and she didn't know what to say. Other than she didn't want him to do that. She wanted him to live his life the best he could. Even if that was without her.

"You've got to stop beating yourself up. I care too much to see you like this," she admitted, as she let go of his hands and sat on the edge of his desk.

"Do you forgive me then?" he wondered through his bleary eyes.

"I will. Someday, I will. I'm not there yet. But I will be," she said quietly, playing with the picture of Mulder and Scully he had on his desk.

It seemed a lifetime ago when they were using them to hint about how they felt. But it was not that long at all. Back then things still had hope and promise and now all of that was gone. But Hermione couldn't hate him. She wanted to, but she couldn't. It wasn't his fault this mess he was in. Not really anyway. Obviously Astoria had taken advantage of him in his drunken state. And he was just out of his mind. That's what she kept telling herself. People made drunken mistakes. It was just incredibly unfortunate that there was a baby coming as a result.

"You really think you'll forgive me someday?" he asked hopefully.

"I think there's a chance, yes. I-I don't want to lose your friendship. But I also know we're so much more than friends, but we can't go down that road again. Not now. Not with the baby and the wedding. But in time, maybe we could be friendly again. I just need time, Draco."

"I'll give you all the time you need. I won't bother you. It means so much that you'd even consider being my friend after what I did," he said wanting to grovel at her feet just for a scrap of her attention.

They were silent for a time and she moved off his desk and put the picture down. She sat at her own desk and just stared into space. He did the same. It was obvious that not a lot of work was going to get done today. She finally spoke.

"So when's the wedding?" she wanted to know.

"Next month. The twenty fourth," he said looking away from her.

"Wow. A date and everything. Already? I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Of course she wants to get moving quickly. She doesn't want to tell anyone her secret," she said shaking her head.

"I know you don't want anything to do with this, but you're invited to come. Not that you would. But I-I don't have a lot of people to invite and it would mean something if I had your support," he said, realizing he was asking way too much of her.

She just looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"How could you ask me to go? I-I don't want to see you marry someone else. That's the last thing in the world I want," she was taken aback and grief stricken over the thought.

"I'm sorry. It was a stupid thing to ask. I knew you'd say no."

"Why would you want me there in the first place?"

"Because I still need you, Hermione. You're my best friend," he said honestly.

"Best friend? We're back to that now?" she sighed unhappily.

"We never stopped being best friends. It's just there was a lot more to it. But you were always the best friend I ever had."

"I still can't believe you'd want me at the wedding. Don't you know how painful that would be for me?" she asked him pointedly.

"Forget I asked. It was a dumb idea. I'm very sorry," he apologized again.

She just sat and thought about what he was saying and asking of her. Part of her did want to go because she did want him to know he wasn't alone in this world. But the rest of her wanted to run screaming from the entire affair and pretend it wasn't happening. She just couldn't believe this mess her life had become. She was walking on clouds before because she'd finally found the love of her life. And now none of it mattered because he was marrying someone else and had gotten her pregnant. It didn't seem like reality. It felt like a soap opera. But she just bit back her tears and told herself she wouldn't cry anymore over Draco. He made this bed, and now he had to lie in it. But the worst part was even if she wanted him to suffer, it meant she suffered too. She got no enjoyment or vindication from knowing his life was in ruins. Because if his life was in ruins, so was hers. She just wished she had a time machine so she could go back to the night of the party and stop Draco from making the worst mistake of his life. But she had no more time turners and no way to do it, so it was all set down. He was getting married, and she wasn't going to have any part of that. She didn't care if it might make him feel better to have her there. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. In fact, she was having a tough time bringing herself to be in his presence at all. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and kiss him until they couldn't breathe. But there would be no more of that for them. Not now, and not ever. They were over before they even had a chance to begin. Doomed from the start. All because of his stupid family and his station in life. She'd never forgive them for putting him into this awkward position to begin with. But someday maybe she'd forgive Draco for his part. He was just a lost man. She knew that. He didn't know how to stand on his own. And for that, she was sad. Because if he'd done so from the start, they'd still be together now. But it was done. And there was no going back. She just wanted to move forward.

To be continued…. Thanks for all the reviews! I love them. So keep them coming! It helps me write even faster….