A/N: This chapter contains lyrics from the song "Someday" by Nickelback. Okay, so I know its been a while since I last posted and I bet its driving you CRAZY wondering if Draco is alive or not. Is Draco being alive a dream? Does this leave Harry and Remus dead, or a dream as well? Are you sick of all these dreams? Well so is Hermione! How will she deal with it?

Read Chapter Three as she is awakened.

Unto the End, Into the Beginning

Chapter Three: Awakened

The door handle jiggled, someone was trying to unlock the door. Hermione clenched her fists, holding her breath. It had always been a nervous habit and she waited in anticipation as Draco Malfoy opened the door. Hermione quickly released the air and breathed in more, she realized her mouth was dry.

"Hermione?" he asked with concern, "is everything alright?"

"You're dead!" she shouted.

"What did I do?" he said, taking her outburst as a threat.

"No, I mean you're dead! You're really dead! I saw you die, I watched your funeral...I visited your grave..."

"Honey, what are you talking about?" Draco questioned.

"This has to be a dream. Some crazy dream, but god why can't it be real? No! Why can't I move on? Why won't you let me forget you?"

"Hermione, this isn't a dream and why would you want to get over me?

""Okay, if you're not dead then why did I see Lucius Malfoy kill you...and where have you been for the past bloody three years?"

"Hermione, I think you should come sit down," Draco urged, placing his hands on her shoulders and forcing her to sit down. He bent down onto his knees and crouched in front of her, his hands resting on the arms of the chair.

"I want you to listen to me, okay?"

"Okay," Hermione said nervously.

"Lucius did try to kill me but he didn't succeed. I prevented the spell from hitting either of us. As soon as I could tell he was going to perform the curse again, I did it before he could. Don't you remember? We were worried that I would be sent to Azkaban, but it was classified as an act of self defense. As for the past three years, you know very well where I've been, Hogwarts. We graduated from Hogwarts almost three months ago. Your pregnancy has been giving you a lot of strange dreams lately but none of them ever had a hold on you as long as this. You must be getting close; you and the baby are having unsettled emotions."

Hermione took a deep breath as she thought about Draco's words. She looked down at her large stomach. Having graduated Hogwarts only a few months ago would explain why she was still pregnant. But her dream had seemed real. She had felt all the emotions she experienced during her waking hours. Giving birth to Remus, the pain of losing Harry and Remus, those lingering memories of Draco's death. But Draco was alive, their love was alive. That meant...that she hadn't fallen in love with Harry, she hadn't named her child Remus.

"Why don't I get you something to make you feel better..."

"No, I'm fine Draco," the realization truly hitting her for the first time, "I haven't lost you."

With Draco's help the two of them rose from their seats and Hermione threw her arms around him. She held his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. It seemed like she hadn't felt his touch for an eternity. She couldn't describe how all of this made her feel. Excited, confused, desperate and in unexpected extreme pain. She pulled back from Draco, clutching her stomach. She screamed in pain, not being able to tolerate the pain her unborn child was causing her.

"Sit back down, I can help," Draco offered, trying to comfort her.

Draco put his hands on her stomach and looked up at Hermione. Hermione shook her head to let him know that she was still in pain; she had no idea what he was trying to do. Despite Hermione's doubtful expression, Draco didn't remove his hands. A small glow began to emerge from his hands, it was dark at first, slowly becoming brighter and brighter. It reminded Hermione of the time her and Draco had been in the chamber, he had used this technique to heal her back, even though it had really been him who needed to be healed. But in the chamber she had seen visions from his past...and now she wasn't seeing anything. Before she could dwell on it for any longer the light stopped abruptly and Hermione no longer felt any pain.

"How did you do that?" Hermione asked in amazement, remembering that Draco never really explained this power that he seemed to have to her.

"Well, I've been reading some books. It's the least I can do to help with the pain of the last month," Draco said, taking her into his arms.

"Reading books? You mean they've written books about this?"

"A few, yes. Let's just say it's similar to an advanced version of Occlumency."

Hermione remembered hearing about Occulumency, their former Potions Master had tried to teach it to Harry in their fifth year, but neither teacher nor student had been very devoted to the lessons.

"I thought that it was a technique to block your memories, not share them."

"People seeing my memories is just something that happens. That's why I only use it when it's necessary, but that's not important right now. Are you feeling better?"

"More than you know. I love you so much," Hermione said, tightening her grip around his waist.

"Not more than I love you," Draco argued.

"How about we call it even?" Hermione suggested.

"Good idea and do you know what else a good idea is?"

"What's that?"

"You getting some rest."

"No, I'm fine...really..."

"You're always stubborn, aren't you?"

"Of course," she said triumphantly, giving him a small grin.

"I'm serious Hermione, I'm worried about the two of you," he said, stroking her stomach lightly, "and I won't have anything endangering you. Not again."

"Okay, you win."

"Good," Draco replied, lightly kissing her lips.

Hermione awoke in her bed hours later. For the second time today, she woke up not knowing what day or even what time it was. She turned her head to look at the clock; it was seven-thirty in the evening. Hermione looked to her left, where Draco was fast asleep. She smiled, stroking his cheek gently. She couldn't believe that she had ever dreamed something so horrible. Then everything came flooding back to her in a sudden whirlwind of visions. Draco killing Lucius. Hermione's real graduation, in which she and Draco had attended together. Telling her parents she was pregnant and letting them meet Draco. Draco surprising her with the beautiful house. Losing touch with Harry and Ron. Draco training to be an Auror. The joys of her pregnancy. She pulled her hand away from Draco's cheek and noticed a diamond engagement ring on her ring finger. She pulled it closer to examine it, how could she ever forget the night Draco had proposed to her... It was Draco and Hermione's first night in the house that they could call their own, which had been just six weeks ago...Draco and Hermione sat by the fire, drinking sparkling cider to celebrate the purchase of their new house.

"Hermione?" Draco asked, setting his glass down in fear of dropping it. His hands were shaking.

"What is it?" She asked, not able to keep from smiling at seeing how nervous he was.

"I know that things haven't been the easiest for us...and maybe you wish things would have gone differently...but I couldn't be happier. You and our unborn child are no longer in danger. I love you so much Hermione." Draco said, pulling Hermione into a heated kiss. Hermione pulled away after a few moments.

"Are you trying to tell me something Draco?"

"No," he lied quickly, "yes."

"Which is it?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. I have something to tell you. I know we're doing things a bit backwards...but I can't help it. There is only one another thing that would make my life complete, and that's if you would be my wife."

"Oh, Draco..."

"I'd give you everything you ever wanted Hermione, you know that."

"Draco..."

"We'd be a family, Hermione, and I promise I'd take care of you and our baby..."

"Draco," Hermione repeated, pressing a finger to his lips, "You don't need to convince me. I've been hoping that you would ask me for be your wife for a while now."

"I'm sorry I didn't ask sooner, I just wasn't sure if it was the right time."

"It was the perfect time, Draco."

Draco kissed Hermione again; holding her in his strong arms...Draco opened his eyes wide and yawned

."Hey, how long have you been up?" he asked.

"Not long," she replied, smiling.

He took her hand into his and kissed it softly."Are you feeling any better?" he asked.

"Yes, I am. Thank you Draco,"

"There's nothing to thank me for. I just hate seeing you so distressed. Last week you had a dream that you gave birth to our child and it died. It took me an hour to convince you that it was a dream."

"I don't remember that." Hermione said, confused.

"You won't remember your other dream after a few days either. Its normal, though, Hermione, don't worry. The mother usually starts having fears about the delivery when you get closer to the birth. Maybe we'll go see my mother when you're feeling better, she did carry a Malfoy after all. And look how I turned out!" Draco finished his statement with a grin.

"And what makes you think I'd want my son to turn out anything like you?" Hermione questioned, struggling to keep a straight face.

"You know I think I like it better when you're in pain, then you don't have the energy to be sarcastic."

No sooner than he had finished talking did he cover his head, guarding himself from the pillow that went flying toward him.

Hermione and Draco apparated just outside the gates of the Malfoy Manor. Draco uttered a spell under his breath and the gates obediently swung open. Hermione had never seen the manner before and she had never imagined it to be this eerie. The building seemed much too large to be a house. Hermione thought of how lonely Narcissa must be, living in loneliness on these vast grounds, but perhaps being alone was a better fate than being married to Lucius Malfoy. Draco took her hand and they walked up the long pathway that led to the large door that had been etched from the finest gold. He hit the large knocker against the door several times and within moments a man in a white outfit and a black cape answered the door. His expression was stern and Hermione was reminded of Lucius, which explained why such a man had been hired to greet guests.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, the Mistress of the house has been expecting you. She is currently occupying herself out in the courtyard."

"Thank you, Adam. Nothing more will be required of you," Draco replied monotonously.

The man bowed slightly to Draco, and then to Hermione, and made his way into the kitchen and out of their sight. Hermione wasn't sure if she liked the idea that Draco had led such an extravagant lifestyle, even if he hadn't had the proper upbringing. He still had been given the best there was, would he want this for their family? Hermione couldn't stand the thought of her and her family being served by other wizards and witches or, Merlin forbid it, house elves. She was also very nervous about meeting Narcissa. After all, she had only seen her once at the Quidditch World Cup, and that was only for a few moments. Hermione could remember that she was beautiful, but she didn't speak much. Was she like Lucius? Would Narcissa be bitter toward Hermione? After all, she was the reason Lucius and Draco had fought that night in the chamber. Would she be accepting of her unborn grandchild?

There were so many things that Hermione was dying to ask, but not sure how to. By this time Hermione and Draco had reached the courtyard, which looked out onto the vast acres of land that now belonged to Narcissa. They stepped onto a large terrace that had stone steps leading down to the large, beautiful garden, full of many different flowers and plants. Draco approached his mother, who had been looking straight ahead, although Hermione wasn't convinced that she was really looking at the garden. It seemed that she was in deep thought about something.

"Mother?" he asked in a soft tone, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh Draco, I'm so glad you've come," she said, rising to wrap her son in a large hug.

"Mother, this is Hermione. This is the girl I'm going to make my wife."

Narcissa stared at Hermione just long enough to start to make her feel awkward, but then she approached Hermione and gave her a tight hug as well.

"Welcome to the family Hermione," Narcissa said in a caring, yet slightly distant tone.

Narcissa's eyes dropped to Hermione's large stomach and her lips formed a smile. "My first grandchild!" she squealed with delight, directing Hermione to a chair for her to sit down in.

By the several empty classes sitting on the table where the three of them sat, it was obvious that quite a bit of time had passed, over an hour in fact. They talked about how Draco and Hermione fell in love, their plans for the wedding, whether or not they had thought about names for the baby, Draco's training and remedies for Hermione's pain. Hermione noticed that whenever a subject might be leading toward Lucius, Narcissa would change its direction immediately.

"Well, I'm sure that you two will want to be going. But before you do I want you two to know that I've been thinking long and hard about this. Now that...well, now that I'm not living here with anyone else besides the staff, I'm giving you two the manor. Now I don't want any objection, I don't need this place all to myself and you two have a child on the way."

"Mother, you can't give us the manor!" Draco protested.

"I can and I will!" Narcissa said in a motherly tone.

"But where will you live?" Hermione asked.

"Well, didn't you two just get a small house not that long ago? Perhaps we'll just trade."

"Mother, I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, you can get all the help you need here and..."

"Draco, I would be offended if you declined my wedding present. Trust me; I think it's the best thing for me. Besides, you know you can apparate in at anytime if you just have to check on me."

"Mother, I don't like this idea at all."

"And just why not? Besides, Draco, I raised you not to decline gifts, it's highly insulting."

"Alright, you win. Thank you mother." Draco said in a defeated tone, giving her a warm hug.

"Thank you for having us Narcissa, it was an honor to finally meet you." Hermione said.

"Yes, dear, it was lovely meeting you as well. Don't be shy to drop in, especially when that bundle of joy comes along, alright?" Narcissa asked in an excited, yet still some what distracted tone.

"I will. Draco and I will let you know as soon as we do."

"Goodbye then," Narcissa said, turning back out toward the garden.

Hermione watched her there in silence until she felt a slight tug on her arm. Draco gave her a quizzical look, which Hermione decided shouldn't be explained here, and they left the Malfoy Manor.

"I don't know Draco, there just wasn't something right about the way your mother was acting," Hermione protested as they walked into their house.

"Hermione, I told you. My father had her under the Imperius Curse and even after it was broken because of his death it still had some lasting effects. She's gotten a lot better since his death though. That's why I've been holding off on letting you meet her, I wanted her to become more independent first," he explained as he hung both of their cloaks on the coat rack.

Hermione sat on the couch, with some difficulty, and sighed heavily. Draco sat next to her, placing an arm around her.

"I just want your mother to be okay. I also want this pregnancy to be over with already!!! It's been over 8 months!!"

"I know honey, it's going to be soon, I promise."

"You promise?" Hermione asked, relaxing in his arms.

"I promise" Draco repeated, kissing her cheek.Hermione returned Draco's kiss on the cheek, telling him that she loved him.

"I love you too," he said, pulling her into a deep kiss. Their kiss grew in intensity, capturing and re-capturing each other's lips. His kisses drifted to her neck and then back up to her lips, which his tongue pushed past to meet with hers. Just then, Draco felt a small amount of pressure on the back of his neck. He pulled away from Hermione and saw that a letter had been dropped on him by a messenger barn owl, which apparently had nipped his neck. Draco quickly untied the twine and unrolled the parchment.

Dear Mister Draco Malfoy -

This letter is to inform you that Level 2 of your training will begin promptly at two o' clock this afternoon. Please note that your absence will mean you being dropped from the Ministry's training program.

Sincerely,

Mikayla Winthrope
Secretary to the Minister of Magic
Mister Cornelius Fudge

Draco sighed and by the expression on Hermione's face, Draco knew that Hermione knew what a letter from the Ministry meant.

"Honey, I am so sorry. I...I can't miss this session or they'll drop me from the program. Today I'm beginning the second level."

"Draco, it's okay, I understand. When you went into this program we both agreed that we would do our best to just work around your schedule. I knew that you'd be busy Draco. It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. I should be here with you, especially now that you're so close to delivering our child." Draco said, contemplating what to do.

"Look, Draco, I'm going be okay. Besides, I'm overdue for a call to my Mother and that usually takes hours. Anyway, if something were to happen I'll just owl you, okay?" Hermione said with a smile.

"Is this supposed to be a trap?" Draco asked.

"Just go! I'll be fine."

"I love you so much Hermione."

"I love you too. Be careful!"

"You too," he said, giving her a goodbye kiss before grabbing his cloak, a briefcase from inside their small hall closet, and leaving quickly.

Hermione picked up the phone and dialed her mother's number. She felt a little weird using a telephone, it being one of the very few muggle inventions that she still used.

"Hello?" Hermione heard Mrs. Granger's voice from the other end.

"Hi mom," replied Hermione.

"Hermione! I'm so glad you called! I was just thinking about you. Haven't had that baby yet, have you?"

"No, mom. I promised that when I went into labor I'd call you, and I'm going to."

"Okay, I know. Just making sure, dear."

"So how are you and Dad?"

"Oh, we're managing. Busy as ever at work, we can't wait until we retire, that way we'll be able to spend more time with our grandchildren."

"I'm just having one, Mom!"

"Well, I know...but by the time we retire I'm sure you and Draco will have had one or two more."

"Well, I don't know about that."

"Oh, Hermione. I almost forgot to tell you. You know I was looking through the paper the other day and there are some very nice homes going for a fairly decent price in the same town that we live in!"

"Mom, Draco and I have a place here. Why would I be interested in a place in the muggle world?" Hermione questioned, wondering what her mother was up to now.

"Well, I just thought that you might move back here so that you'd be closer to us."

"Mom, Draco and I have a place here. I told you that."

"Well don't you think it's about time you moved back here?"

"Mom, my place is in the Wizarding World! It has been since I came to Hogwarts when I was only eleven years old, you know that."

"Hermione, you're place is in the Muggle world where you were born. Or have you forgotten?"

"Mom, I haven't forgotten where I came from, but I'm making my life here now and if you can't accept that then..."

"Then what...you're going to shut me out of your life?

""Mom! I didn't say that, you know it's easy for Draco and me to visit you."

"Well, you know how I feel about this. When you come to your senses then give me another call." Her mother shouted in an angry tone into the telephone.

"Mom, listen to me..." Hermione began, but stopped as soon as she was greeted with a large clicking noise and then a dial tone.

"I can't believe her! My own mother hung up on me!" Hermione rose from the couch and walked in the kitchen.

She poured herself a class of water, but didn't drink it. She continued to pace angrily through the kitchen and into the living room. For the first time in a while her eyes drifted to the fireplace, where pictures of her, Ron and Harry filled her gaze. She hadn't allowed herself to look at them for a while now because of the immense guilt that was growing inside of her. She slowly drudged up the stairs and into her room. Hermione went into the closet and removed several items of clothing from the top of an old trunk. Her fingers skimmed across the letters H.G. that stood next to a Hogwarts crest. She opened the trunk to find several large books. Only these weren't reading books, they were scrapbooks filled with pages of her friends, the castle that she had called home for seven years and of all the adventures she had been led on. Hermione grabbed one of the large books and sat on her bed. Opening the book, she was immediately met with three smiling faces. She was with her best friends, Harry and Ron. Above the picture were the words "My First Year" in curly writing. Looking at the picture now, she couldn't believe how much all of them had changed. The three of them looked so innocent, unaffected by the evils of the world, they hadn't yet tasted betrayal. Their smiles suggested that they didn't have a care in the world. Hermione couldn't remember being that happy. It was before they knew that someone was going to try to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, a creation that produced the elixir of life.

-
How the hell we wind up like this?
Why weren't we ableto see the signs that we missed?
try and turn the tables
I wish you'd unclench your fists
and unpack your suitcase
lately there's been too much of this-

Hermione turned the pages, being greeted with brighter smiles every page. As she got into the pictures of their second and third year their smiles became a little worn. It was then that she realized that maybe they were trying to pretend like everything was alright. She remembered that it hadn't all been smiles. They had to study for exams, deal with Professors and even solve dangerous mysterious. All of this and more had been the cause for all of the fights the three of them had amongst themselves.

-but don't think its too latenothings wrong,
just as long as you know that someday I will
someday, somehow,
gonna make it alright but not right now
I know you're wondering when,
you're the only one who knows that-

Although, the times hadn't all been bad either. She remembered warm, lazy days on the lake their sixth year. She remembered late night parties and Quidditch celebrations. She remembered late night talks in Harry and Ron's dorm, even though she wasn't supposed to be there. Hermione missed everything, the good and the bad. But when would she get her friends back?

-Well I'd hoped that since we're here anyway
that we could end up saying things
we've always needed to say
so we could end up staying-

She knew that things had been awkward between them their seventh year. But she was so sure that they had worked everything out, especially after everything that had happened. They had been through so much together, only to end up like this. Only to drift apart...

-now the story's played out like this
just like a paperback novel
lets re-write an ending that fits
instead of a Hollywood horror-

They should have the perfect lives. Instead, they all pretend they do. If the media ever found out what had become of the "Dream Team" from Hogwarts, they'd be knocking down their doors to get exclusive interviews.

-nothings wrong, just as long as you know
that someday I will
someday, somehow, gonna make it alright
but not right now
I know you're wondering when,
you're the only one who knows that-

They had promised that they wouldn't loose touch with each other, and now look at them. They hadn't called or owled each other since graduation. They got together for a short while on Harry's birthday, but that had been extremely awkward. Harry and Ron hadn't even come to the baby shower that some friends of hers had thrown her. Somehow, she felt like she had failed Harry and Ron.

-How the hell'd we wind up like this?
Why weren't we able
to see the signs that we missed?
try and turn the tables-

Hermione starred down at the three beaming teenagers waving madly at her. It had been the summer before their seventh year. They were at the burrow in Ron's backyard. The whole Weasley family, Harry and Hermione had been there. All of the guys had played Quidditch while Ginny and her watched. The shot was taken right after Harry and Ron had lifted Hermione into the air using the ends of their brooms.

-now the story's played out like this
just like a paperback novel
lets re-write an ending that fits
instead of a Hollywood horror-

Looking at them, they didn't seem like people who couldn't be in a room together without not saying a world at all or having a screaming match. You wouldn't guess that the last time all of them had been together it had ended in tears and anger.

-nothings wrong, just as long as you know
that someday I will
someday, somehow
gonna make it alright but not right now
I know you're wondering when
you're the only who knows that-

Hermione screamed in frustration and threw the book down. She couldn't go on like this anymore. She needed her friends support, now more than ever. She was trying to start a new life with Draco and their child but she wanted her new life to include her life long friends.

-someday, somehow
gonna make it alright but not right now
I know you're wondering when
you're the only who knows that
I know you're wondering when,
you're the only one who knows that
I know you're wondering when-

Hermione wondered how much longer it would be before they all stopped denying that they were unhappy and just try to work out their problems.