Two years had passed since their relationship had begun. Rushing around Ron's auror business trips and Asteria's visits to her sister. Pretending to go to conventions and meetings. The secrecy was murderous. Ronald always had to ask Hermione why she had roses in the vase on her desk. She always said she picked them up from the market to brighten the place up. Hermione was due to meet Draco again in a few days. Ronald was going away with Harry on some auror tracking thing. Draco said to Asteria he was going to this potion's thing. Sitting at the dining room table was Ron. Hermione could see his flaming hair from the kitchen.
"Honey!" Ron called out, "I have to leave a few days earlier than I expected." Hermione came out of the kitchen.
"Oh?"
"Yes, the Department got a tip off. Apparently they guy we are tracking contacted an old 'friend' and I have to leave tonight." Hermione sat next to Ron at the table and took his hand in hers.
"That's okay, Dear. As long as you'll be okay. Where'd the source come from anyway?"
"Malfoy." Ron snarled. Hermione tried to control her smile on the mention of his name. She conveyed it into shock. "One of his death eater buddies. I never did like that git. The way he treated you at school. Remember what I said in first year? That I'd get him? One bloody day. Fuming when he didn't get put in Azkaban. Still trying to find a way to get him sent down. Don't tell Harry. I've got a lead anyway. Wife says he is acting all suspicious recently." Hermione was trying to contain herself. Asteria noticed and Ronald was still trying to pin something on him. He might catch on. Thinking as fast as she could she came up with an idea.
"Forget him, Dear. He's not worth it. Just work on that death eater you're after. Who cares what Malfoy did to me when we were at school? It was ages ago." In fact Hermione did care slightly. Draco had apologised multiple times and it got annoying. Hermione rested her head on Ronald's shoulder. He could smell her beautiful hair. "Anyway, why don't we make the most of the time you have here?"
Ron looked at her and thought she was right. He began kissing her neck until she got up and lead him upstairs. As he left that night Hermione began writing an owl to Draco. Hopefully he'd be round soon. Waiting impatiently she looked at the roses on her desk. They were a pretty pink indeed. She looked at them for a while thinking about everything going on. She loved Draco but she loved Ronald too. She couldn't go on with both of them anymore. She couldn't particularly leave Ronald but she yearned for Draco too much. Time they talked. The clock said it was 1am. He still hadn't turned up. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Leaping to her feet Hermione rushed to open the door. There, sure enough, was Draco. Half smiling, half in shock. His gray eyes looked petrified.
"Draco? What's wrong? Quick. Sit down before you faint. Talk to me, Draco." Draco fell back onto the sofa. Hermione joined his and grasped his hand. Draco gulped and looked at Hermione. Her brown eyes full of worry. How could he tell her? He felt terrible. He began to stutter out the words. Almost choking on them.
"Asteria. She's...pregnant." Hermione's mouth fell. Her insides were burning. Draco looked at her face and raised a hand to reach her cheek. Her skin was like a sweet drug that made everything better. "Hermione, I-I-I'm sorry." Hanging his head Hermione heard a sort of gentle sob. It pained to see those wonderful eyes crying. Moments passed before she regained the courage to speak.
"That settles it then." Draco looked up in confusion. Sure enough his eyes were filled with warm tears. "We had to end this sometime and there was only two ways. Asteria being pregnant just makes all this so much clearer." Hermione was trying to fight back the tears. Draco heard the pain in her voice. He pulled her in tight. Draco could hear her crying now. Lifting her head up he wiped away the tears.
"Hey! Listen to me now. We had it good, huh? Course I love you more than anything. Don't you ever forget that. You will always remain in my heart." Hermione sniffed.
"Where's the harm in one last night?" Draco chuckled slightly.
"There is none, Sweetheart." Softly he kissed her on the lips. He could feel the tears upon her cheeks.
Hermione awoke to the sound of the morning birds chirping away. Rolling over she discovered that the other side of the bed to be empty and cold. Sadness spread over her face. After getting dressed she went over to her desk. On top was a golden letter with her name on it and a single pink rose. Hermione tore open the letter and read its content.
Sweetheart, I will never forget you. Especially your rosy cheeks. I love you with all my heart.
Draco.
Hermione looked at the rose laying on her desk. Gently she began to cry.
A baby's cry came from the wooden crib. Hermione looked down, reached over and picked up her new daughter. She had Hermione's beautifully brown hair. Wiping the tears from her eyes Hermione began to sing a lullaby. Soon the baby stopped crying and fell to sleep. Hermione rested her back into the crib and kissed her upon the forehead. In a low, hushed voice she spoke to her.
"I hate seeing those beautiful gray eyes cry. Just like daddy's." Memories of Draco crying stun Hermione hard. "Goodnight...Rose."