Chapter Six

Draco was frozen in the doorway. Hermione realized that he could be a while and stepped into the house and poured herself a glass of scotch in the parlor before realizing that she couldn't drink it and turned it into ginger ale and sat on the couch, waiting for the father of her fetus.

She heard the door close after her first sip and watched Draco stalk into the parlor.

"We only slept with each other last week," he said, almost to himself. "How can you know? Did we even do anything?"

Hermione looked out the window. "Because that spell I gave you wasn't what I said it was," she half-whispered.

Draco looked around the room and slowly found the seat across from her. "I took that spell off when I though it would help our marriage."

The two sat in silence in the room. Neither knew what to do.

"You don't have to do anything," Hermione finally said, standing up. "I just wanted to tell you that if my breasts and feet start to swell that it's your fault."

"Good."

"Good-bye."

Hermione walked out of the house leaving Draco sitting alone on the couch.

Once outside Hermione apparated back to the club where Ron, Harry, Ginny and Mandie were waiting on the sidewalk for their friend who was supposed to be getting their drinks.

"You knew, didn't you?" Hermione asked Ginny and Mandie.

The two girls looked down. Harry, with his arms around Ginny, asked, "knew what?"

Mandie turned around and took Ron and Harry's hands, not looking at either of them. "Maybe we should go back to Hermione's place."

The gang apparated into random rooms back on Meadow Lane. Harry and Ron went to the living room. Mandie was in the kitchen. Ginny ended up in the bedroom and Hermione went to the front hallway where she removed her shoes and earrings and put her hair over her shoulder.

"Marco!" Mandie called, levitating an assorted variety of food onto the table in front of Harry and Ron where Ginny was now on the arm of Harry's chair.

"Polo," Ron said.

Mandie plopped down beside Ron on the couch, leaning into his shoulder and closing her eyes, but leapt to the other side to let Hermione between them.

Hermione moved the food aside and sat on the table and put her hands between her knees. "I'm pregnant."

Harry's hand froze on Ginny's knee and Ron choked on the chip he's snuck when Mandie's back was turned.

"What?"

"I am with the child of my ex-husband," Hermione said as calmly as possible. "The result of a bitter divorce and excessive amount of alcohol and a horrible spell. I am keeping, er, her, or him, and Draco knows but is not doing anything and please I am already regretting it enough but it was a horrible spell and too much alcohol and, ugh," she buried her face in her hands and shook her head, "how could this have happened?"

"It's alright Hermione," Ron said, putting his arm around her.

"You two knew?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Well-"

"How did you know?"

"We've known each other for years," Mandie said.

"And Hermione would never turn down a scotch," Ginny added with a laugh. "Remember when Draco first began to dista-oops."

"No. No. It's okay Gin," Hermione said, looking up and running her fingers through her hair. "I know that was supposed to be an instinct joke. But now no more pitying Hermione. I just want to let the guys know and ask," her voice began to crack and tears filled her eyes, "will you have a sleepover?"

Everyone looked at each other and went over to hug Hermione.

"What do you mean 'he can't see me right now?' I have an appointment!" Mandie Clarke demanded at the receptionist's desk in the front of Draco Malfoy's office building.

"I'm sorry, but he has no meetings today," the leggy woman behind the desk said, "especially with glamour blondes who wear last year's suits."

Mandie rolled her eyes. She was getting nowhere. "I happen to be his e-wife's divorce attorney."

The receptionist bolted upright and pushed a button. "Mr. Malfoy, there is a Miss Grey here to see you. She say-yes. Okay. And will you. Alright." She looked up at Mandie. "Top floor."

Mandie thanked the receptionist and stepped into the elevator. Right before the doors closed she called out, "and I'm a natural dirty blonde."

She smoothed out her straight skirt and fixed her blazer. It had been a week since Hermione's pregnancy scare and a week since she even acknowledged that it had even happened. The doors opened and she stepped into the most elegant lobby she had ever seen in her years of being a private investigator.

"Mr. Malfoy is in the room all the way down the corridor ma'am," another long legged woman, like the receptionist downstairs, said from a few yards away at her own desk.

Mandie walked down the hall and stopped at the last door.

"You know, I think I liked you better with your natural hair color, but I won't tell Aiden," Draco Malfoy said as the doors swing open at his hand. "Please come in."

"She's pregnant?"

Draco was on the phone with Aiden in his office. "What am I going to do? Wait a second, downstairs is beeping me. Mandie is supposed to come over for a meeting. Let me see if it's her."

"Mr. Malfoy, there is a Miss Grey here to see you. She say-"

"Does she have blonde hair?"

"Yes."

"Send her up."

"Okay."

"Thank you."

And will you-"

"No lunch or calls. Thank you."

"Alright."

Draco pushed the button to go back to his call with Aiden. "Mandie's on her way up. Are we meeting for drinks tonight?"

"Unfortunately no," Aiden said happily. "As soon as you're done with Mandie she's off to meet me for dinner."

"Well be safe. Bye."

Draco hung up the phone and opened the door to Mandie. He looked her up and down and let her in.

"You know, I think I liked you better with your natural hair color, but I won't tell Aiden," Draco Malfoy said as the doors swing open at his hand. "Please come in."

Mandie took a seat across from the large desk in the back of the office.

"I would prefer to discuss this away from the windows," Draco said, taking a seat on the side of the room where there were two chairs and a small table. Draco had a small stack of papers and two glasses of wine. "I also would prefer it if I didn't treat my best mate's, er-"

"Unestablished friend"

"Like any other common associate."

Mandie sat down and took a sip of wine. "So what do you have for me?"

"This man is an old associate of mine and dear friend," Draco began. "I think he is cheating on his wife, my aunt."

"Hermione didn't say-"

"I never wanted to tell her. I never told her."

"What happened with you and Hermione?"

"You're friends with her." Draco did not want to have to deal with this, especially not now.

"I didn't meet her until after." Mandie put down her glass. "This is unprofessional. Sorry. Now what exactly do you want me to do? Just the cheating?"

Draco looked around the room hesitantly. "Do your partners-"

"If you deal with me then, unless you say otherwise, "I'm the only one who deals with you," Mandie said.

"Then you can wait until I see that you can get me the information," Draco replied.

The remainder meeting went smoothly. Draco told Mandie that the man, in fact, was exactly what Hermione said he was, but nothing more than background information. The meeting also went quickly, as Draco refused to give Mandie more information than he was willing to give up.

"Okay, so I will check in with you as soon as-"

"How is Hermione?"

Mandie looked up from her papers in a half-rise from her seat. "She's fine," she said, slowly sinking back into her seat. "How are you taking it?"

"My ex-wife is pregnant and our meeting is over," Draco said, standing up. He walked to the windows and looked out at the view. "I will call you for another appointment next week."

Mandie knew that the conversation was over and made sure that she looked exactly as she did when she entered the office.

"Vat do you mean you are pregnant?"

Hermione played with the salad on her plate and looked up at her old friend. Over the years Viktor Krum had developed an old, mature look about him that was still nurturing with a young aura that left Hermione feeling safe to talk to.

"I am pregnant," Hermione repeated slowly.

Viktor took her hand in his. "Who is he?"

Hermione looked from her friend's eyes to her lap. "That's kind of the reason why I asked you to meet me here." She took in a deep breath. "It's, well, I went on a blind date last week and there was this spell and-"

"Hermione."

"Draco's."

Viktor had to muster up all of his strength not to cry out loud. He balled his hand into a fist, but didn't pound the table and instead looked away from Hermione. "Vat?"

Tears filled Hermione's eyes once more. "Draco and I got set up by mistake for a blind date and there was alcohol and the next thing I knew I was waking up naked in bed with him." She began to cry softly. "Please don't hate me."

"Oh Hermione," Viktor put his hand on her shoulder, "I could never hate you."

"Viktor Krum! Oh wow." Hermione and Viktor looked up at a young, blonde woman. "Can I have your autograph?"

"I am vith a friend, but-"

"Oh, well my friend over there," the girl pointed over her shoulder at a slouching man reading the menu on the other side of the restaurant, "he knows you. He said that you guys are old friends from school."

Hermione looked up at the girl, assuming that it was just a first date trying to impress her, but Viktor, who never wanted to be rude, said, "Vell vy not bring him over. I alvays love to see an old classmates."

The girl looked at him excitedly and rushed over to bring the man over and Viktor pulled over two chairs.

"Hello Viktor," a young man said a moment later.

Viktor looked up and his smile nearly turned into a frowning look of disgust and pure hatred. "Malfoy."

Hermione's head whipped up and she looked at the father of her unborn child…on a date. "Malfoy," she half-gasped.

Draco looked down at her with emotionless eyes and said, "Hermione."

"Ve Vere just discussing you, Malfoy," Viktor said. "Take a seat."

The girl looked ecstatic and plopped into the seat beside Viktor.

Draco, on the other hand, looked hesitantly from one former friend to the other and said, "I would love to, but Chelsea and I must be getting back to our meal."

"I insist," Viktor said sternly.

Draco thought for a moment, but slowly sat down in the chair beside Hermione and began to fiddle with his glass. Hermione began to play with her napkin in her lap, refusing to look to her left.

"So, Viktor, how have you been?" Draco asked, dying to break the silence.

"Quite vell, and yourself?"

"Draco's company just made front page of the Daily Prophet," Chelsea excitedly told them. She turned to Hermione. "You were in the Quibbler last week, right?"

Hermione quietly nodded her head. "I assisted in repairing the rift between the minister and the muggle Prime Minister."

"Wow," Chelsea said. "Friends with the ministers, dating the 2007, 2008, and 2010 world Quidditch MVP, you must be-"

"Viktor and I aren't dating," Hermione interrupted. "We're just old friends catching up."

"Well then you must have quite the interesting love life. Are you married?"

"Divorced." Hermione lifted her wine glass, filled with non-alcoholic wine, and took a long sip. "Where is that waiter with our lunches?"

"Oh my." Chelsea placed her hand on her heart. "I am so sorry. He must have been a real arse to have lost you. You seem like such a nice girl."

Viktor eyed Draco over his glass.

"I'm sorry if I seem so nosey. I'm a columnist for the Daily Prophet," Chelsea told Hermione, taking a business card out of her purse and handed it to Hermione. "I would love to do an interview with you. I'm sure that girls everywhere would love to hear your story. Sort of like our own 'Sex and the City.' It would really make a great issue."

Hermione stared at the girl. "Do you even know who my ex is? No offence, but you look like you're not even old enough to remember us filling the tabloids for what felt like forever."

"Mood svings," Viktor half-chuckled under his breath as Chelsea, who did look like she was only just out of school, got flustered up.

"W-well, it doesn't quite matter who-"

"I'm sorry, I have to go." Hermione stood up and headed to the door.

"Please excuse her," Viktor said. "I must-"

"Let me," Draco interrupted, standing up from his seat. "Excuse me."

Draco walked quickly out of the restaurant, bringing Hermione's forgotten purse. He caught up with her at the corner. He grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. "What were you doing with him?" he demanded.

"If you are going to start demanding information that is no-"

"Hermione."

"Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy?" a man cried out. "Smile for the Daily Prophet!"

Hermione and Draco shielded their eyes from the camera flashes and apparated back to Hermione's place. She took a seat on the couch and rubbed her eyes. Draco walked into her kitchen and turned on her stove to boil a kettle of water without looking at her. When he came back with the hot tea, he looked down at her and placed two cups on the table.

"So you're pregnant."

Hermione sighed and took a sip of her tea. "You don't need to help or anything."

"What were you doing having lunch with him?"

"Draco, I am not going to discuss this anymore. Why can't you just believe that?"

"Are you positive you're pregnant?"

"Yes."

"And it's mine?" Draco had begun to pace around in front of her.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's been a dry few weeks." She slouched back in the couch and crossed her arms. Draco groaned into the air. "Please leave."

Draco looked back one time before apparating out of her flat. "My mother wants to see you tomorrow for lunch."

Hermione fiddled with the napkin in her lap, trying hard to think of what to say when her former mother-in-law. She was considering just getting up and leaving when she heard someone call out her name in a happy tone.

"Hermione! Darling! How are you?"

Hermione stood up to greet the woman she once called 'mother' with a kiss on each cheek.

"Come, let's sit. Where is the waiter?"

Hermione didn't know what to say. She'd expected Narcissa to be disappointed and distant. Instead she was wearing a pastel pink robe with her hair flowing around her shoulders like it did in her school pictures.

"Er-"

"Oh don't worry. It's not your fault. Waiter!" Narcissa threw her hand in the air and almost instantly a young man was at their side with a bottle of the restaurant's best wine. "Leave it when you're done."

"Oh, no thank you," Hermione said as the man turned to her. "May I please have a Sunshine Splash?"

The waiter nodded his head and walked back to the kitchen.

Narcissa looked at Hermione. "I see you did your research."

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked politely.

"Your drink," Narcissa said as she took a sip of her wine. "You obviously researched drinks without any alcohol so that you wouldn't be left out when you go out with the gang."

"Well, I usually have to plan a lot of gatherings, so I like to make sure that there are non-alcoholic drinks other than water and juice," Hermione replied, a little nervous about where the conversation was gong. "So how have you been?"

"Oh I have been so giddy ever since Draco told me the news! I'm going to be a nanna!" Narcissa leaned in. "You know, I always liked you Hermione."

Hermione stared at the older woman. "Excuse me?"

"Yes. You were so bright and beautiful. Draco could have done much worse."

"Yes, I remember how you always brought up the name Pansy Parkinson."

"Oh Pansy Parkinson is nothing but an annoying little tart." She took a long sip of her drink.

"Well, with the baby, I told Draco that he doesn't need to do anything, I only wanted him to know," Hermione tried to explain.

"And I respect that decision greatly, but are you so sure? I know that being a single mom is going to be difficult, but are you sure-"

"Yes ma'am. Don't worry, though." Hermione thanked the waiter as he put her drink in front of her, wishing she could down a bottle of vodka. "Besides, I have I strong support system from my friends and-"

"Well that is why I'm here darling. I want you two back together. A child should have two parents; not just a group of aunts and uncles."

Hermione knew this was going to be a long afternoon.