Another chapter. :)

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Chapter 18: The Worry

Christmas and New Years had come and past. It was now January and still as cold as ever. It was the 28th and Hermione was four months along. Her stomach showing only a little more, but still not really noticeable. It had been a funny day, because her Professors, or at least the one's that didn't know or weren't at her wedding, kept calling her Ms. Granger and when she'd correct them, they'd stare at her shell shocked. Especially Hagrid, who was not only her Care for Magical Creatures Professor, but also a dear friend to her.

She felt horrible for not inviting him to her wedding, but during the beginning of school and through her whole ordeal she liked to call her life, she hadn't spoken to him much and she sadly had to admit, she forgot about him.

But, now she found herself standing infront of the forbidden forest staring at small little creatures walking around the grass. Hagrid said they were called 'Amortens'. They slightly resembled a horse, except they looked as if their skin were made out of a purple leather and their eyes were a violet color. They were by far beautiful creatures, but their sharp fanged vampire teeth that stuck out, made them slightly horrific, even if they were the size of a small dog. And as Hermione got to thinking about the name of the creatures it struck her, and she raised her hand.

"Yes, H'mione?" Hagrid asked his eyes lighting up for the fact that a student had a question.

"These, Amortens aren't 'Amortiens' are they?" Hermione asked with a smile, for she already new the answer and she couldn't believe that Hagrid could get his hands on a few, no! Not a few; a whole herd!

Hagrid's smile only widened, "Why yes H'mione they are."

"What are you two, bloody blabbering about?" Asked one very irritated Pansy Parkinson.

Hagrid and Hermione looked at Pansy, eyebrows up and Draco gave Parkinson a glare.

Hagrid and Hermione looked at each other, "Why don't you explain, H'mione?" Hagrid suggested. Harry and Ron just looked at Hagrid in disbelief, they couldn't believe he was acting so.

Hermione gave Hagrid a smile, "Thank you, Professor." she said and then turned to the class, "The Amortens or known as 'Amortiens' are the creatures that give the Amortentia Love Potion it's great affect. Those teeth..." She said giving the Amortens a look, "...give off venom. It's said that the powerful Gods of love were in control of these creatures, giving them orders to bite certain victims. Causing these so-called victims to fall in love with the first person they see. After centuries Witch's and Wizards always wished to bottle up the Amortens powerful venom, but's it's very hard. Seeing that the only way to get the venom without getting bitten, was to kill the Amortens and the Ministry and many others found that killing the Amortens would soon fall to their extinction, so there were laws confirming that only Potion Masters could ever do such a terrible thing and that's why Amortentia is so rare of a Potion, because there are very few Potions Master. Also, because the very few Potion Master would never dare kill such a fantastic creature." Hermione stated proudly.

Draco smiled at his beautiful, smart, pregnant wife and when she caught his gaze she stated to blush, she couldn't help it. Even if they were married, his looks still gave her butterflies. He gave her a wink and she blushed even more.

"Thank you, H'mione." Hagrid said grinning.

"No problem, Professor." She said and smiled up at the half-giant, her cheeks still red as ever. She then gracefully started to walk over to Draco. That's when it happened. When the slow motion took place.

She saw Pansy Parkinson's foot out their, but she kept moving, she was too shocked to stop. Soon, she found a small, slight scream escape from her throat and she fell face down. She felt pain and she rolled to her side with the help of Draco, who was asking her question, that she blocked out. She put a hand on her stomach and looked up at Draco whose face was full of worry, a single tear slipping down her cheek, "The baby." She whispered before unconsciousness took over.

-

A day. A day went by and Hermione hadn't woken up. She laid in the Infirmary all twenty-four hours. People came in and out to see how she was. Lavender Brown, the Patil sisters, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, almost every Gryffindor, some Slytherin girls who Hermione had befriended, and of course Blaize Zabini, who had become one of Hermione's best friends. Draco Malfoy, however, never came in and out of the infirmary to see how she was doing, do to the fact that he sat by her side and never moved, holding her hand in his, waiting for her to wake up. Draco Malfoy was going to keep to every word of his sacred vows.

Kaytrina walked into the Infirmary and put a hand on Draco's shoulder making him look back at her. He took a deep breath and let it go. He was glad she was here. She always seemed to make him less unnerved, less scared.

"How is she doing?" Kaytrina asked.

"Pomfrey hasn't confirmed anything, yet." He said and looked at Hermione. Seeing her looking that way, almost lifeless, brought Draco to tears. "I don't know what to do. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know anything." He said trying to hide his tear-struck face.

Kaytrina half smiled, "And for once in my life neither do I." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek. She had forgotten about the Prophecy all together. She stared down at this girl that was her student and friend, a girl that herself and many of the other staff could call family. She damned her gift. Her curse! She just wished that she could see something, it didn't have to be anything big. Kaytrina didn't mind if it was microscopically small. Anything that indicated that the unconscious girl before her, not to mention the child that grew within, would live a strong and healthy life, would be just fine. She want something, anything. She would welcome the siring pain with open arms, just for a glimpse. But, their was nothing. "I'll leave you." She said and then left him in the infirmary.

Draco rested his head on the edge of the Hospital bed and thought. 'Maybe if we were never...' 'Don't even think that. If she knew you were thinking that, she'd slap you upside the head.' 'I know. I shouldn't even have thought...' 'Your right you shouldn't have thought that. She's the love of our life. You've never felt love before she came along. She's our wife and she's carrying our son you...!' 'I know. I know. I'm a dunderhead.' 'I was going more along the lines of stupid, idiotic, ungrateful, selfish, damned, basterd; who deserves to rot in hell.' 'I guess I deserve that.' 'Of course you do.'... A long pause made it's way into the metal conversation and Draco could swear that he could hear his mind sighing. 'I love her.' He thought. 'I know.' 'I wish she'd wake up. I want to hold her in my arms and never let go.' 'I know.' Draco's mind told him sadly.

Hours went by and suddenly, his hand moved. He lifted his head up to see Hermione moving her arm and starting to stir. His eyes wide open, hoping that she'd open her eyes, wishing to every god that she would.

Hermione couldn't smell the fresh outdoors, so she knew that she was no longer in front of the Forbidden Forest. Then it all came back to her, she had just finished telling about the purpose of the Amortens, she started walking back to Draco's side when she saw Parkinson's foot outstretched before her, she was too shocked to stop and then, she didn't remember.

Hermione opened her eyes, and looked around, her face coming upon a hopeful looking Draco. She was soon engulfed with a hug and her face was being showered with kisses. For a moment, she welcomed it, but then when he back away, her hand went to her stomach and she looked away from Draco; tears forming in her eyes. She brought her free hand to her mouth, a gasp escaping from her lips. She looked back to him a couple tears slipping down her smooth cheeks.

"The baby?" Her voice cracked. "He's not...my baby's not..."

Draco's eyes widened and he grabbed Hermione's handa, "Oh, no, no, no." He said and brought her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles, "He's just fine. Riddick is fine." He assured her.

Hermione closed her eyes and relief flooded through her. She took a deep breath and let it go, "Thank the gods." She said and brought a hand to her growing stomach.

Draco kissed the knuckles of the hand he still clutched, "I was so worried." He told her, "A lot of people were worried. You had a lot of visitors." Hermione looked at him hopefully and he shook his head, "No, they didn't come." He said trying to lose the malice in his voice at the very thought of Potter and Weasley. Hermione just nodded her head.

"Oh, well." She said staging a small smile, "I decided, when they stopped talking to me, that they were no longer a part of my life." She said, more to herself then Draco. Draco gave her hands a small squeeze and then she scooted over and patted the space next to her. Draco smiled and climbed onto the Hospital bed, taking his place beside his wife.