Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Too bad.

Three months flew by with Hermione getting bigger by the day. She had to buy new clothes and was not very happy about it. She was in a pretty bad mood as she stomped into the Leaky Cauldron for her lunch with Draco. Throwing off her cloak, she slid into a chair and slammed her bag down. Draco watched her with a smirk. He was getting used to her changing moods and he was very hopeful that whatever she was mad about didn't involve him. Pregnant witches could do some damage with a good hex.

"Glad you could make it, isn't it a glorious day?" drawled Draco, knowing it would get a rise out of her if he acted cheerful. He had to work at that emotion anyway, it wasn't natural for him.

"Oh back off Malfoy. I'm not in the mood." Hermione sat trying to take deep breaths to calm herself.

"Do you want to talk about it or do I risk a hex by asking?"

"I'm sorry. I just got back from an appointment at St. Mungo's. Apparently they think that I'm under a lot of stress and have decided that I should cut my work load in half. They already owled my boss! Apparently they didn't think I would give them the message."

"Well, if I know you, and I think I do, you wouldn't have given them the message and you would continue to work full time until you were too exhausted to actually give birth. You are too stubborn for your own good." By continuing his lecture, he knew he risked bodily harm but he cared enough about Hermione to give her the facts. "This will give you more time to get the baby's room ready, shop for little baby clothes that you women find so cute and learn how to change a nappy." Draco finished with a grin.

"Ha! For your information I know how to change a nappy, I learned when Teddy Lupin was a baby. As for buying little baby clothes, I don't know where to start. Ginny was going to help me but she's traveling so much with her Quidditch team that we just haven't had the time. I don't want Molly and my mum to know I haven't even started preparing." Hermione was really getting desperate. Part of why she was so upset over cutting down on her work load was because she'd have more time to think. She missed Harry and desperately wanted him to be here. She didn't want to put a nursery together on her own. She slowly looked up at Draco, gave him her best "poor me" look and hoped that he might take the hint and volunteer.

"What? You think I know anything about babies? Oh, no, don't look at me like that. It doesn't work on me." Draco was protesting but it was fake. He knew that by helping her he would get to spend more time with her. He sure didn't mind that. Not one bit. The truth was, that "poor me" look did affect him and she knew it. "Fine, I'll help you but if you tell any of my friends I'll get you good, baby or not."

With her mood lightened, Hermione shot Draco a grin. She knew she had him from the start. She wasn't sure why but she knew that he'd do almost anything for her. The strange thing was that she didn't mind. She enjoyed all the time they spent together. In fact the thing that worried her the most was how much she did enjoy it. She knew it wasn't right to have feelings for someone so soon after Harry died. It was disrespectful to Harry, but she couldn't deny that there was something there. She saw it when she looked Draco in the eyes. She just couldn't let anything go further than friendship. Besides, it took two to have a relationship and she knew that Draco didn't feel anything but friendship toward her.

After a leisurely lunch, Hermione and Draco walked back to the ministry only to get stopped by her boss as soon as they reached the atrium.

"Hermione! I just got an owl from a healer at St. Mungo's and it says that you are under too much stress. He wants you to only work half days for the next couple of months." Mr. Hackley was a good boss and a kind man. Hermione knew that he would take this seriously and that like it or not she would be taking time off.

"Really Mr. Hackley, I'm fine. Maybe in another month or . . ." She was cut off from finishing her sentence by the look of resolve on her boss' face.

"Nonsense! Your part time work starts today, you should go out and get some fresh air, take a nap, relax! You've done more than your share of work over the last several months and you deserve to enjoy this time in your life. We'll see you tomorrow." With a wave Mr. Hackley walked back toward the elevators, leaving Hermione standing there wondering what she was going to do with the rest of her day.

"So, you want to get started on that shopping now?" Hermione was shocked to discover that Draco was still at her side, and offering to go shopping. With a nod of her head they turned and walked back out of the ministry toward muggle London.

After leaving the fifth baby store, Hermione was exhausted, Draco was frustrated and the Potter fortune was a little smaller. Draco led Hermione toward a café so she could rest her feet and they could get a snack.

"I never knew there were so bloody many things for a baby. I thought they just needed a nappy and a crib. What the hell was that "Boppy" thing for anyway?" Draco grumbled as he sipped his tea.

"I have no clue. I just remember my mum mentioned me needing one. Now I've got one and it will probably just take up space."

"Why did you want to shop in muggle London anyway? Isn't there baby stuff in Diagon Alley?" Draco asked.

"Well, a few of the stores carried things like self cleaning bibs and instant bottles, but I just thought that I'd be more comfortable raising this baby with things that were a little more predictable. I saw a crib in a store in Hogsmeade that will cry if the baby cries. Apparently it is a louder cry than the baby so that the parents will come quicker. I'm sure I'll be able to hear my baby without having to comfort a crying crib." Hermione laughed at the thought.

"I have to say I agree with you there." Draco laughed along with her feeling quite content sitting with his former enemy. He really couldn't imagine a better way to spend the day but he'd never admit that to her. "Come on, I'd better get you home. You are supposed to be resting"

Hermione nodded and took Draco's hand that he offered to help pull her up. When her hand clasped his, she felt something, like a charge of electricity shoot up her arm. It wasn't anything like she'd felt before and all she could do was stare at their joined hands. Draco felt it too and it took his breath away. They remained with their hands clasped for what seemed like forever before Draco's mind returned to him and he continued to help Hermione to her feet. "Thanks," mumbled Hermione, blushing, looking down, and removing her hand from his.

"I think we can find an apparition point this way. . ." Draco's voice trailed off and he was clearly shaken. What was happening to him? He had never felt that kind of connection with anyone before. He desperately wanted to feel it again. He could not be falling for Hermione Granger Potter. He just couldn't. It wasn't right. But it was happening whether he liked it or not. He knew that he had better watch his step. Not only was she not going to want to have anything to do with him if he tried anything, but she had a whole mess of loyal Weasleys and friends who were not going to be happy about it.

They reached the apparition point in silence, both consumed by their own conflicting thoughts. Hermione's time was spent berating herself and trying to talk herself out of feeling anything but friendship.

"Do you need me to come back to your house with you?" Draco asked. He really just wanted to go home and have a few drinks.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks for coming with me. It was fun."

"See you next week?"

"I'll be there. Bye Draco." Hermione apparated away but she didn't go home. She headed right for the Burrow, in desperate need of a hug and hopefully a warm meal. Molly would provide both. She wasn't disappointed. At her arrival, Molly enveloped her in a warm hug and quickly ushered her to the table where she brought out a bowl of hot stew and warm bread.

While they ate, Hermione told Molly all about the baby things that she had bought today. Molly was listening but knew that there was something else troubling Hermione. "So what's the problem dear? Not that I'm not thrilled to have you here, but I know there's something bothering you. You don't usually show up on an afternoon in the middle of the week."

Molly's intuition was spot on of course and just as Hermione was going to start talking about her visit with the healer (avoiding the subject of Draco), Ginny rushed in.

"Hi Mum! Hermione! Wait, what are you doing here?" Ginny asked as she flopped down at the table, reaching for the bread.

"Hermione came for a visit, dear but may I ask what you are doing here?" Molly answered for Hermione as she fixed a bowl of stew for her youngest.

"I was hungry of course. Why else would I be here?" This brought a chuckle from Hermione and a glare from Molly. "Sorry Mum, I got off of practice early and thought I'd stop by and see my favorite mother. I also wanted to get a dress that I left here. I wanted to wear it to dinner with Blaise tomorrow. He's taking me somewhere fancy in muggle London."

"A special dinner? Do you think he'll propose?" Molly was practically drooling at the thought of another wedding.

"Mum! I doubt it. We've never really talked about it. I wouldn't mind if he did of course, but I'm sure he's not ready for that." Hemione saw the glint in her friend's eye and knew that Molly had set some interesting thoughts swirling through Ginny's mind.

"So, what about your love life Hermione?" Ginny asked in an attempt to change the subject.

Hermione choked on her stew. "My love life? I hardly have a love life. I'm 7 month's pregnant and I'm a widow. I can't even begin to imagine dating again." That last statement was a lie and Hermione hoped that her eyes wouldn't give her away.

"Hermione, I know that Harry hasn't been gone that long but you need to start thinking about your future. Harry wouldn't want you to be alone for the rest of your life, and he especially wouldn't want you to raise this baby alone. Every child needs a father." Molly spoke the truth but for Hermione the truth hurt.

"I just don't think I'll ever get over Harry. Our lives were so perfect together. It's been so hard these last months and I miss him every day."

"Of course you do, dear. We all miss Harry every day. He was special to all of us, but you don't have to replace him you know. You can enhance your life by sharing it with someone else. Harry will always be there, in your heart and you'll see him in your child every time you look at him or her. I've got a solution anyway."

"What do you mean you have a solution?" Hermione was a little concerned. Molly had some wonderful ideas but she's also had some bad ones in her day.

"Charlie." Molly stated.

"What about Charlie?"

"He's my only single son, well besides George but he has Katie. Charlie needs a wife, you need a father for your baby and I'll get to claim another grandchild."

"Mum, I don't think Charlie is the solution to Hermione's situation. Not that he's not a great catch but he lives in Romania and plays with dragons all day. He's probably not going to want to move back to London and work in an office."

"Molly, it was a good thought, and I'm honored that you would want me to marry one of your sons but Ginny's right. Charlie loves where he lives and what he does. It wouldn't be fair to even ask him because he'd probably agree. I couldn't do that to him, and I can't imagine leaving England. As for the grandchild part, don't you realize that you are going to be this baby's grandmum anyway? You were the only mother Harry ever had, so I'm counting on you to dote on this baby." As Hermione finished, she saw Molly wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Well, we just need to find you someone else then. Too bad Neville's dating Lavender. He'd be a nice reliable husband." Ginny said with a giggle.

"Neville! I don't think so. I'd rather marry Draco." Hermione blushed as she realized her mistake. She had been trying not to mention his name.

"Draco? Hmmm. That would be interesting. You are friends; he's single and very sexy. He'd probably be a good father. Interesting. . . "

"Oh stop Ginny. Yes, Draco and I are friends but that's all we are and that's all we will ever be. I'm not ready to date again anyway."

"But if you were ready to date again, would you consider Draco?" Ginny was not going to let this go.

"He's my friend. That's all. I need to get going. Thanks for dinner Molly" A flustered Hermione rose from her seat, hugged Molly and Ginny and flooed home. As she changed into comfortable clothes and settled down with a book, she had no idea that Ginny and Molly continued to work on finding a father for her baby. In fact, they were making a list, and it appeared that Draco was at the top.

As Molly and Ginny sat drinking their tea, Ron burst in and headed right for the stove. "Hi Mum, hi Gin. I'm starving."

"You are always starving" Ginny mumbled as she concentrated on the list.

"What's going on? What're you writing?" Ron asked between bites.

"It's a list. We are trying to figure out who should marry Hermione and help raise her baby."

"Let me see." Ron pulled the parchment toward him and scanned the list of names, scowling as he saw Malfoy at the top. He saw all familiar names, like Oliver, Seamus, Colin, Lee, and Charlie. "How come I'm not on the list?"

"You are on the list. You are on the back, with the other rejects." Ginny laughed at the expression on Ron's face as he flipped the list over to find a blank parchment.

"Ron, didn't you listen to me? This is a list of people we think would be suitable to marry Hermione and raise Harry's baby."

"I'm the perfect person to raise Harry's baby. He would want me to do it. I'm his best friend." Ron was mad now and not thinking clearly.

"And you are already married! Remember your wife? Remember Luna?"

"Oh, right. Well how come Malfoy made the list? And it looks like he's on the top of the list too."

"He made the top of the list because he is single, handsome, protective of Hermione, and her friend. I actually think that he might be the one."

"If you think I'm going to let him lay one hand on her. . . Oh just the thought makes me want to curse him good." Ron slammed his fist down for emphasis but Ginny knew that it was all for show. Ron really just wanted Hermione to be happy. He may have been happily married to Luna but his love for Hermione would always be there. He'd do anything for her and if Hermione wanted Draco, he'd just have to accept it.

"Ron, relax. Hermione isn't ready for anything anyway. But if she was, and she wanted to be with Draco, you know that you'd be fine with it eventually." Molly watched the conversation between her two youngest and smiled. Sensible Ginny was always able to calm down her hot-headed brother.

In the heart of London, a sleepy Hermione put down her book and closed her eyes. As she slept, her mind was busy, dreaming of a little boy with jet black hair walking hand in hand with a man with white blond hair. The dreams were comforting and she was smiling in her sleep. In another house in London, a very agitated Draco paced and drank, trying to clear his head. He could still feel her hand in his and he couldn't get her out of his mind. As he finally passed out into dreamless sleep, he too had a smile on his face because his last drunken thoughts that night were of Hermione and the baby that he was starting to want as his own.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Keep em' coming! I know this is slow moving but it's getting there. I've got grand ideas and keep waking up in the middle of the night with new ones.