A/N: Hello fellow readers! Here's my thirteenth installment :)

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When You Lose Your Way

When The Worrying Starts To Hurt

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"Draco, there's a lady in the fireplace for you," Hermione called out to me this Saturday morning with a heavy sigh. I jumped up eagerly from my bedroom where I had been gelling my hair back and quickly ran over to the hearth.

"Susie, hey," I greeted, settling myself down in front of the fireplace. Susie's face was crackling in the fire, smiling her white teeth at me and waving. "How are you?"

"Good! How are you? And the baby," she added. I heard Hermione scoff, and I rolled my eyes.

"We're both great," I said, chatting up a storm.

"Draco, we're supposed to be - "

"Give me a second,"

"But - "

"What are your plans for tonight, sweet?" I asked, ignoring Hermione.

Susie answered with a dull "nothing," although smiled, for she knew I was going to ask her out. What kind of guy would I be, to not ask her out for Saturday evening? Besides, this must have been a record for me! I've been dating Susie for, drum roll please...

One week!

Okay, I know that really isn't much, but I haven't been going this long with a girl since Pansy, and it feels like a big deal. One week! Sue me!

Hey, that rhymes with Susie!

But anyways, it was our one week anniversary, and I planned on taking her out. Everything was planned quite well actually. I had dinner reservations at one of the most expensive restaurants in Hogsmeade, where we would have our own private concert with the Weird Sisters and then enjoy a nice walk around the city, right beneath the stars. She was going to love it.

"Can I meet you at the Entrance of Hogsmeade so I can take you out?" I asked.

Susie nodded. "Oh yes, of course."

"At around seven, okay?"

"Okay, I'll be there. I have to get back to Mungo's but I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah, sure thing."

"Bye!" And with that, she disappeared from the burning fire.

I smiled. This girl had me wrapped around a finger.

Our first date had gone really well. I took her to The Three Broomsticks to keep things simple, and then took her to the Quidditch Pitch to teach her how to fly. She slid off the broom countless times, but at least she got to fall on my lips, which made me a very happy man. Susie was really nice. Really great.

And a good distraction too.

She made me forget about Blaise's accusations of me having feelings for Hermione. Although I really don't have feelings for her, I can't help but let his words ring in my head every now and then. But the echoes would always stay away from me when I was with Susie.

"Plans for tonight?" Hermione asked scathingly. I rolled my eyes at her. Hermione didn't like Susie very much for some reason.

"In fact, I do. Is there a problem?" I asked her.

"No," she said, shrugging. She kept her eyes focused on her homework. "But," she said. I sighed. There was always a 'but' in her sentences when it concerned Susie. "We have rounds tonight, remember? I could always cover for you, but..."

My eyes widened. "Oh, can you please cover for me, Hermione? Please, please, please? With pickles on top?" I added.

"For the fourth time in a row, Draco?"

"This will be the last time!"

"Don't forget I'm still pregnant and need my sleep! You don't want me grumpy."

"You always are, so what's the difference?" I said with a smile. She glared at me. "That was supposed to be a joke, by the way."

"Kind of like your girlfriend Susie?" Hermione asked me. My mouth gaped. I had never heard something so mean come out of her mouth!

"Excuse me?" I asked, getting ready to defend my girlfriend.

Hermione sighed. "Sorry. That was out of line."

"Yeah it was," I agreed.

"Sorry," Hermione repeated, going back to her homework. She rolled around on the couch to avoid any speaking with me and gasped when she sat up straight. I stopped whatever I was doing and looked at her with concern.

"Are you okay?"

She rubbed her belly ruefully and shrugged. "It's just the baby kicking... don't worry."

I stared at her. Ever since Susie came into the picture, she'd been getting grumpier and grumpier. I was beginning to think she was jealous of Susie, but why would she be? For one, Susie was nineteen and only just getting herself into Mungo's. Hermione would be starting off where she was at by graduation. Hermione was smarter, and funnier, and... maybe even prettier, so what was there to be envious about in the first place?

Maybe it's because Susie has me.

Whoa. Back-track. Let's not go too far with assumptions, okay, Draco?

"Is something wrong, Hermione?" I asked her, while sitting down next to her on the couch. I wanted to pat her belly but I didn't know whether or not it would hurt her. The baby had been kicking her for most of the day and that little intake of breath a few minutes ago wasn't the first one she'd had today.

"Nope. It's just the kicking. It hurts so much," she added with a shake of her head and a wince to go along with it. I was staring at her stomach, wondering what I should do.

"Are you sure that's it?"

"Yup."

"...Do you want me to make you some tea - ?"

"Nope."

"Do you want me to leave you alone - ?"

"Yup."

"Are you sure you're okay - ?"

"Draco," she snapped. "I'm fine. I'll yell if I need you." And then she turned away from me.

With a puzzled look, I got off the couch and went to the kitchen. Slowly I picked out some fruit from the fruit basket and placed it in front of me. I was getting really restless with her now a days. I was caring for her 24/7, hardly enjoying myself because I was always worried about her, and now when I find a good... distraction, she still jumps down my back.

"Seriously, what's your problem?" I suddenly asked.

Hermione turned around roughly and glared. "You're asking me that after I basically just told you to buzz off, because...?"

"Because I'm really very happy right now and you're ruining it. So tell me what the problem is so I can continue being happy again," I told her straight out.

Her mouth contorted in thought. "You're honestly happy?" she asked me, with a little guilt in her voice. Oh, finally, for once she's the one feeling guilty and not me!

"Yeah, sure I am." Although that was half a lie.

Hermione sighed and sat up properly on the couch. "Sorry I'm being such a brat then," she apologized, with honest sincerity in there to go along with another painful gasp.

"Apology accepted," I said. "Now what's wrong?"

She sighed. "It's just... well, I don't know, really..."

"Did Susie do something? Maybe she inadvertently insulted you in some way - ?"

"No, never. She's nice."

I smiled. "Oh dear Merlin. Did you just call her nice?"

Hermione smiled, although grudgingly. "Yeah."

"See? That wasn't so hard. Now come on, tell me what's up."

"Well... I'm not used to the father of my baby going out with someone who could potentially be the step-mother of our child."

My eyes widened in surprise, although I was a little more disappointed then anything. What exactly did I want to hear from her? "I'm upset because I'm jealous of Susie, and I want you to be mine, Draco, all mine!" Yeah... right.

"A potential step-mother? Hermione, don't you think you're getting a little ahead of yourself right now?"

"Anybody one of us dates might be a potential step parent, Draco, you know that."

I sighed. "But she won't be."

Hermione stared at me. "Why not?"

"Because she's fun to be with and a great person, but not my future wife. And if she is, I'm not feeling like that right now. You have nothing to worry about, Hermione," I assured her.

Her face lit up. "Really?"

Finding this kind of odd, but a good sign, I nodded fervently. It was true. I was not going to marry Susie. This thing I had going on with her would probably be short term, and the most intimate thing we would do together would be snogging, so Hermione need not worry about a sibling for our little baby.

"Don't worry," I told her.

"I'm not," she said through a smile. I grinned back at her. I think I just made her happy. Point 1 for Draco in corner two!

"Now get back to your homework, now that you're done jumping down my back," I commanded, putting a book in front of her. Hermione took it and stuck her tongue out at me. "I'll be going out to prepare for my date with Susie... is that okay?"

She shrugged and smiled half heartedly. "It's fine. Will you be coming back?"

I thought for a moment. "I'll be back to change quickly and then meet up with Susie. You might not be here, so I guess I'll just see you later tonight."

"Okay," she said, taking her time standing up, "but I think I'll stay here... I don't have the energy to go out because the little thing in there," she stabbed a finger at her belly, "thinks my stomach's a bloody play pen." She stopped where she was for a moment and her face cringed in pain. She composed herself and shook her head angrily. "Stop it, will you?" Hermione yelled to the baby.

I chuckled a little. "Owl me if it starts hurting too much okay? If you can't reach me for any reason, try getting yourself to the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomphrey will know what to do." I gave her a list of people she could owl to ask to keep an eye on her as she walked me to the portrait hole but she declined every name I suggested.

"It's probably nothing. See you later?"

I sighed at her stubborness but let it go none the less. "Alright. Bye."

"Be home soon!"

"Take care of yourself," I said, after stepping through. And I meant it, because I had a sinking feeling that perhaps those pains weren't a good thing.

xxxxxx

"Hot date tonight, I see," Blaise said, spotting me as I walked up to the castle with flowers and a gift box in my hand. I took it upon myself to make sure all the plans were ready and to buy Susie a wonderful bouquet of daffodils to go along with a bracelet I bought her at one of Hogsmeade's most expensive jewlers. She was going to be insanely in love with me by the end of the night, and I knew it. Everything would end up great, and I would go home to Hermione at the end of it all.

Hermione. I couldn't stop thinking about what she said. She was really scared that Susie was going to be our child's stepmother. I believed her, because she had real worry in her eyes, but I didn't think that was all. The rest of what was worrying her was obvlious to me, and I thought that if that was all she was willing to tell me, then I would have to let it go.

I just wish I could somehow know the rest of it!

"Indeed I do," I told Blaise, while sniffing the flowers. They smelled amazing.

"You and Susie still going strong then?"

"Yup. Tonight's our one week," I announced proudly. Blaise gave me a shocked look, although I knew it was fake.

"One week? Wow!"

"Shove it," I said, taking the flowers back from him, for he had snatched them away. "I haven't gone steady in a long time, you know that."

"Well, you could have gone steady with Granger..."

I narrowed my eyes and smacked him upside the head. "Shove it," I repeated, more strongly this time.

Hermione was my friend. The Mother of our child. I couldn't possibly date her... I think.

With a rough shake of my head, I quickly got the thought out of my mind. I had a girlfriend named Susie. She's amazing and kind and sweet and everything any guy would want and definitely not Hermione.

"So what have you got planned for tonight?" Blaise said, changing the topic quickly. I explained everything that I had arranged for us to do tonight, and told him that I was particularily excited about just being with her.

"Wow. So I guess this means your over Hermione?"

I sneered at him and smacked him again. "I was never... under her," I said, although confusing myself.

"Sure," Blaise said dismissively, while walking me up the rest of the way.

"So is Hermione still having those pains?"

"Yeah, they're really bugging her."

"And you left her to herself in the common room?" he asked, seemingly appalled.

Remembering that she had refused to ask someone to watch her while I was gone, I slyly sought out Potter and Weasley, to ask them to take care of her because of my date. Although they agreed immediately, they pretty much spit in my face telling me I shouldn't be dating when I should be taking care of her.

Bunch of ugly prats. I need a break anyways!

"Yeah, but I asked Potter and Weasley to take over for me," I told him. I wasn't worried.

He gave me a confused look. "But... Potter and Weasley are on the Quidditch Pitch practicing," he told me. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Right, like those kiss ass golden boys would really leave Hermione alone for Quidditch."

"Well... they already did," he continued.

"Blaise, now's not the time for jokes, I have to get ready for a date," I snapped, walking ahead of him. "They wouldn't leave Hermione alone, especially since she's been having those pains."

"Malfoy, you idiot, look," and he pulled me around by the elbow, and pointed towards the Quidditch Pitch. Although we were somewhat far away, I could make out the practicing uniform of Gryffindor in a shining red, and two people with prominent hair colours passing a quaffle around. One of them had red hair and the other, jet black hair. I raised my eyebrows.

"Well then... who's taking care of Hermione?"

"Dunno," Blaise said, and although he said it carelessly, I could tell he was worried. "They wouldn't just bail out for no reason... they probably asked the Weasley girl to do it instead."

But as if on cue, a number of Gryffindor girls walked passed us and outside. One of them was Ginny.

"Oi, Weasley!" I yelled, running over to her. She looked behind and saw me running.

"Yeah?"

"Are you taking care of Hermione?"

She shook her head in confusion. "No... should I be?"

I ignored her question. "When was the last time you spoke to her?"

"A few minutes after you left her. It was through the fireplace."

"Did she say anything? Did she seem in pain?"

Ginny thought for a moment and then nodded. "Now that I think about it... she wouldn't stop wincing and changing her position on the couch. She sort of just... said goodbye to me really quickly and then shut off the connection. I thought it was because you had come home."

My eyes widened in panic and I left her standing there with her friends. I rushed past Blaise but he stopped me. I had the instant, pulsing feeling that Hermione wasn't okay.

"What is it?" he asked urgently.

I pulled myself from him and sprinted away to the dormitory I shared with her. I knew I shouldn't have left her, and I knew I should have done something more to take care of her. I had a bad feeling Hermione wasn't okay, and my heart ached harder and harder each moment I got closer to her.

As I finally reached the dormitory hole, I screamed the password and gained myself entrance. I stumbled through and carelessly flung aside my jacket. I ran over to the living room, in front of the fireplace, where Ginny said she last saw her.

And to my horror, there she lay, on her knees, doubled over in pain while clawing at her stomach.

"Hermione!" I yelled, rushing up to her.

"I-It hurts," she gasped, cradling back and forth on the ground. I could hear her taking sharp intakes of breath every moment and it scared the hell out of me.

"Holy shit. What happened?" I said, while trying to make her stand up. I had to get her to the Hospital Wing as quick as I possibly could.

"It hurts," she cried in agony, while I pulled her up. She slouched into me and I draped her arm over my shoulder. I was close to tears just watching her try to deal with the pain she was enduring. "It hurts," she repeated, tears streaming from her eyes.

"It's okay, it will be okay, trust me," I said breathlessly. Dear Merlin please let her be okay!

"Make it stop, oh God - it hurts!" she exclaimed.

"Stay calm, we're on our way to the Hospital Wing!"

I kicked open the dormitory door and ventured to the hallway. I was in a state of panic. I didn't know where to go, because I knew no shortcuts or easy ways to get downstairs and to the damned Hospital Wing. She kept on moaning in my ear and everytime she yelled I panicked even more.

I didn't know what to do. But I did the first thing that came to mind and screamed my ass off. "Somebody help us!"

Hermione yelled in pain as I did so, and hearing that was the only thing stopping me from fainting. She had to trust me.

"Make it stop, Draco..."

And although I had little confidence in myself, I gave her my bravest face.

"It's okay, Hermione. I'll take care of you. Trust me." She nodded through her pain.

"I trust you."

I used those words as fuel to somehow have me drag her to the Hospital Wing in my weak arms, whispering hurried words of comfort into her ear. She moaned and groaned about the pain but everytime it stopped I gained hoped.

"Hermione, it's going to be fine, we're almost there, just trust me," I said. I kept on repeating those same words. Trust me. Because I needed her to. It was the only thing that would fuel me even more.

"Hurry," she pleaded, as she clawed at her stomach with one hand and grasped my arm in another.

"Madame Pomphrey! Madame Pomphrey where the hell are you?" I screeched once I kicked open the Hospital doors. I didn't know it, but some people had followed me there. Ginny, a few of her friends, and some of the Quidditch team for they had seen the commotion. I ignored them all. All I cared about was making sure Hermione was okay.

"I'm right here, what's all the commotion about?" she asked, while trotting into the room with a disgruntled look.

"Hermione - it's, she's - you've got to help her - she - "

"It hurts," she moaned out loud, and I could feel the worried glances and crys of concern fill the air from our school mates.

"Give her air," Madame Pomphrey ordered, as I lay her down on a hospital bed. "I shall tend to her and call her medi-nurse. Leave, I need the work space," she commanded, now serious about her work. I didn't move a muscle.

"What will you do to her? What's wrong with her?" I demanded, not moving an inch.

"I cannot make a decision on any of those questions if you remain here, Mister Malfoy, so I suggest you leave so that I may tend to her. Your staying here only delays her healing."

I gave Hermione an apologetic, yet brave look. She looked at me with a pained face, and I knew I had to leave. I brushed my hand against her face softly and left the room as fast as I could.

As I leave, I'm swarmed with people. Potter, Weasley, Ginny and a few others who saw. I continue to ignore them.

If I had just stayed with her then perhaps this would not have happened. If didn't ignore her pains then I could have done something, but I was ignorant. I blamed this whole situation on myself, and I was so, so, so worried. Hermione had to be okay. She had to. Her moan filled the air, just as Madame Pomphrey shut the doors, and my heart sunk.

If she wasn't, then I wouldn't know what to do.

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To be continued...
A/N: Whoa-izzle! What's going on here? Well, that's for me to write and you to find out! Stay tuned guys! Review if you're awesome!