A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you've all had a fabulous summer and that you're all well and nothing drastic has happened to you. First of all I just want to say that there is no acceptable amount of time that is long enough for me to apologise to you. I am a horrednous updater, I never update quickly, I'm awful I know! I understand how annoying this can be, I am the most impatient person and it cracks me up haha. So yeah, I am extremely sorry.

I've been really ill, unfortunately due to complications as a baby and I've been in and out of hospital again, sigh. Also I've just gone back to school bleh:( I've had so much work it's actually unreal so trying to fit time to finish chapters and update has been very difficult.

So once more I'm really really really sorry I cannot apologise enough. Also just thank you so much for the support and for sticking with the story. Also to the person who told me to keep writing, just not this story; how lovely of you, don't like it don't read it ok yeah bye.

There ain't no need to cry no more

When you break my heart into twenty four

I'll pick up the pieces you left

If you think I'm coming back,

Well don't hold your breath

- R U Crazy, Conor Maynard

A Rebel With A Tainted Heart Chapter 15

Hermione let out a breath she didn't even realise she had been holding as she followed the two older Malfoys through the door and into the large room where Draco had been assigned. It was a relief to see him sitting up and laughing at something his grandfather, who was beside his bed, had obviously said. He didn't look like someone who had just been through an excessive amount of trauma – his face was pale, but no paler than usual, his hair was still messy but clean and organised in his own way and he no longer had blood covering his body from head to toe.

Draco looked up, smiling softly and gesturing for her to come and sit beside him, which she did so at an almost inhuman speed. Sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed, Hermione made to hug Draco before he pulled her properly onto the bed and his chest, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. The brunette wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck, holding onto him firmly before relaxing and sitting back with his arm around her waist.

In the meantime, Abraxas had been standing up tall across the room, initiating what appeared to be a staring contest with his son, Lucius. Narcissa was standing beside the pair, swaying back and forward on the spot in her expensive heels and looking very unsure as to what to do.

Abraxas Malfoy was not what Hermione expected at all. He was considerably tall (Lucius was just as tall as Abraxas but compared to Draco both were rather small) with mid length dirty blond hair that waved out at the ends and brilliant blue eyes on a still rather handsome face. Hermione had to admit that although they were Purebloods, the Malfoys did have rather fabulous genes.

"Lucius." His voice was smooth but crisp and his accent was much like a posh London one, but the brunette expected nothing less.

"Father," Lucius said coldly, eyes narrowed a little at the man before him who had raised him.

"I had expected you to be in Azkaban with the rest of... them," Abraxas sneered, staring down his nose at his son.

"I was with them, but as you know my son was too busy dying for me to be kept in there," Lucius half-snarled, clenching his fists.

"Ah yes, although I do believe he is n this whole mess due to your life choices Lucius."

"As I recall you were the one that was always so fascinated with Dark Magic and the Death Eaters Abraxas. I only seem to ever remember you pushing Lucius to join them, on your behalf," Narcissa interrupted coolly, jumping to the defence of her husband who looked like he could hardly stand from exhaustion, hunger and subjection to torture accumulated from his time in Azkaban.

"Narcissa. I would say it is a pleasure but I'd rather not have to lie," Abraxas sneered, running a hand through his floppy hair.

"Never stopped you before," Narcissa mutteed, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood beside Lucius, ready to support him.

"And you, you must be the Granger girl, hm," Abraxas turned to Hermione, a hint of disgust evident in his tone.

"Hermione Granger," She began politely, sticking out a hand which the older man ignored.

"Charming I'm sure. Now why are you associating with a Mudblood?" He asked curiously, contempt and malice readable in his unusually dark eyes.

Hermione wasn't sure what it was that surprised her the most. The fact that Abraxas Malfoy had called her the one word she abhorred, the word that had been magically etched onto her arm forever or whether it was the reactions of the three other Malfoys present in the room. Within seconds Lucius, Narcissa and Draco had all drawn their wands and pointed them menacingly at Abraxas' pale throat. Hermione couldn't decide which shocked her more – the fact that Draco would willingly stand up against his grandfather for her, or the fact that Narcissa and even Lucius Malfoy would stand up for her. My my, things have really changed, she thought to herself, smiling a little.

"You know Mr Malfoy, I'm afraid that word doesn't quite have the same effect after having been called it quite a few times. It is rather derogatory however, and it does only reinforce my previous assumption that you are a very old fashioned prejudiced pureblood wizard with no interest in the modernisation of society and indeed the world. Times have moved on, and us Mudbloods, as you so put it, are doing just as well, if not better than any other Pureblood or Half-blood in the Wizarding World. So I'm sorry if you think that you can try and offend me and force me to leave but it isn't happening," Hermione remarked, arms crossed over her chest.

"We are associating with Miss Granger because she and Draco will end up married. She will be our family and we must respect that. Blood lineage no longer matters Father, surely you know that better than anyone," Lucius glared at the man before him, who looked very shocked about the outcome of the situation.

"We cannot allow the name to be sullied because of her!" Abraxas snarled, stepping forward towards Hermione, but not reaching her as Draco jumped in front of her, towering over his grandfather.

"I will not allow you to speak to and about her like that. I think it would be better if you just leave Abraxas," Draco spoke coolly but his silver eyes were narrowed and showed anger.

"If that is what you want, Draco," Abraxas' face softened, and for the first time he looked ashamed and rather apologetic about his behaviour. Draco was his favourite grandson and he did not want to disappoint him and yet, here he was, looking back at him with disgust clearly written on his face.

"It is."

With an apologetic last glance at them, Abraxas swiftly left the room, slamming the door shut behind them, making Hermione jump a little, grabbing onto Draco who looked like he was having a hard time not bursting into laughter at her.

"I have never met someone so jumpy in my life, calm down Hermione," He muttered, running a pale hand through his messy white blond hair.

"Sorry I'm a little nervous because of the fact that you nearly died you asshat!" Hermione hissed at him, waving her hands around the air.

"Well rather me than Pansy."

"I'd rather it happened to neither of you!" The brunette shook her head at her boyfriend who seemed relatively calm for having nearly died mere hours ago.

"Oh Granger cares."

"Of course I do."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because isn't an answer Hermione," Draco smirked, enjoying how much Hermione was glaring at him.

"I'll punch you again," Hermione threatened, only succeeding in making the blond's smirk widen.

"Try it," Draco teased and Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"You're so infuriating."

"I know," He murmured, still grinning at her.

The two older Malfoys were watching the pair's interaction – they were bizarre together but it somehow worked. They taunted and teased each other but to anyone watching it became obvious how much they loved each other, whether they were aware of it or not.

"Perhaps we should leave you two to it, it seems you have plenty to discuss. We shall go and find the others and inform them of the situatuion. I think they have spent enough time here now to be able to go home." Lucius took his wife's hand, leading her out the door with one last fleeting look at the pair standing in the middle of the room, side by side at the foot of the bed.

As soon as the door shut, Hermione stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms tightly around Draco's neck, burying her face in his shoulder as he pulled her tightly to him so their hips were touching. They stood like that for what seemed like forever but in reality was probably onl five minutes. Hermione felt like she was happy, but wanted to cry, but wanted to laugh, but also wanted to scream. Bloody hormones already, she thought, willing herself not to cry.

"You're a complete arse Draco Malfoy!" Hermione murmured into his neck, feeling him shake slightly as he chuckled at her.

"I know, I know and I'm sorry, okay? I mean it."

"Wow, Draco Malfoy apologises to a Muggleborn and means it, never thought I'd see the day," Hermione teased, stepping back so they could sit down on the bed.

"I was a little douche wasn't I?" Draco chuckled, running a hand through his hair, a habit that became more frequent as the days went on. Perhaps its because of the stress, Hermione thought to herself.

But Draco was remembering what his uncle had said that awful night when the Golden Trio were imprisoned in Malfoy Manor. He had been forced to stay in the room, to stand with the other Death Eaters, to watch as Bellatrix Lestrange tortured Hermione Granger and the Death Eaters jeered and whistled.

"This is what they deserve, their kind. They think they're equal, even better. But watch. Watch the fire leave her eyes. They'll never be anything but filthy mudbloods. It's time they learned their place," Rodolphus had sneered whilst Draco grimaced and tried to break free of his uncles grasp.

"Watch Draco," He hissed, his fingers tightening around his nephew.

"See, this is what you got yourself into. This trash, this nothing, they're all the same. Don't try to help them, you stupid, foolish boy."

The War had been over for months now and whilst the people on the winning side, the Light side, were still a little tortured with nightmares and visions of what had been, it was apparent that the victims of the Dark side had it a lot worse. The children of the Death Eaters, those born into the family, children who had lost their parents because of Voldemort, those forced into loyalty like Draco, Blaise, Theo and Pansy, they still were struggling to even sleep. The things they'd seen, things they'd been forced to do, would haunt them forever.

For Draco it was the memories of being forced to take the Dark Mark to preserve his family name and safety, being forced to help the Death Eaters achieve entrance to Hogwarts, and of course the night in the Astronomy Tower, standing defenceless as his godfather blasted Dumbledore over the edge of the balcony.

He would never be able to forget the fear in the older man's eyes and the regret in Snape's - although the plan was all arranged, the emotions conveyed from each were involuntary. Snape could cover his emotions well, and it was from him that he had learned how to do so, but that night, Draco's perfect poker face fell apart. How could he remain calm and collected when he had just witnessed the death and fall of Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts Headmaster, the man who had been nothing but nice to him for the past six years, who had given him a second home, an escape from his real home, from his father, Bellatrix and the Dark Arts?

That had been the last straw for the young Malfoy. He had seen too much darkness and he didn't like any of it. He didn't want to be like that, and if he had children he didn't want them to have a horrible childhood like he had, or to live in fear of their father.

"What are you thinking about?" Hermione asked softly, breaking through his reverie.

"Just the past. Things I can't ever forget," Draco half smiled sadly, clearing his throat before sitting back against the bed.

"Do you think we'll ever forget the War? Not historically, I mean personally?" Hermione asked, thinking aloud.

"No," Draco hesitated, "I think we will try to but it will always be in the back of our minds, the things we've seen and done."

Hermione was silent for a moment - he was absolutely right. She had tried for so long to forget the terrible things that she had witnessed but all that had succeeded in doing was drawing them to the forefront of her mind. Maybe she just needed to concentrate on the now, and worry about the rest later.

"Malfoy, I need to tell you something."

Her voice came out as it usually did but inside Hermione was quaking and shaking like a leaf. How the hell was she going to tell Draco Malfoy that she was pregnant with his half blood child? Sure Narcissa and Lucius had accepted it quick enough, strange but still, but would Malfoy?

Had he even liked Hermione or was she just a quick fuck? Something to take his mind off school, home life, the war? She prayed to God she wasn't because as strong as Hermione seemed, in reality she was almost the opposite. She could never be a single mother, especially not at her age, and knowing it was Malfoy's baby how would Ron, Ginny and Harry react? Hermione knew Blaise would probably be pleased, and would begin spouting off about anointing himself as the chosen godfather and naming the baby after him - at least the brunette knew she would have someone to turn to if it all went to shit.

"Granger?"

They always resorted to surnames with each other. As hard as they tried to use each others first names the surnames always crept back into conversation. Perhaps it was habit, or perhaps it reminded them of how it was beforehand, how much they teased each other and it would show how they had matured and moved on.

"Well, um." Hermione didn't know how to continue, did she explain or just say ... it? Oh what the hell, she thought.

"I'm pregnant. And I know it's yours. And your mum and dad know, and both were surprisingly happy about it. Bizarre right? I understand if you don't want to stay with me or don't want me to have the baby but I'll go and live somewhere else if you want you don't have to hear from me or send me money or anything it'll be fine. And you can just get on with your life right. Because you don't want a half blood baby I mean why would you, your whole family is based around blood purity and I'm like the polar opposite of that I mean-"

"Hermione," Draco cut in, a perfect pale eyebrow raised curiously at her.

"Relax and breathe."

~O-O~

"Do you think Draco will be okay?" Pansy asked Ron, worry etched onto her usually calm face.

"I'm sure he will be fine. I'm not really that bothered about him to be honest, I'm more worried about you. What the hell happened?" Ron demanded, trying not to sound too angry at the petite girl.

"I don't know I guess it was the rest of the ex Death Eaters. I was at the house with Mum, talking about what I'd just, er, discovered and I got one of the usual visions but by then it was too late and they had blown the windows out. One of them tried to stun me but I avoided it and ducked down. Then suddenly Blaise and Draco apparated in out of nowhere and took most of them out. Mum wasn't quick enough she basically got torn apart by one of their spells I don't know which one but it was like a dark blue almost black flame that zipped across her chest diagonally. She crumpled to the ground and everything went black for me that's all I remember," Pansy explained, voice cracking a little at the ends, eyes watering as she remembered watching her mother go down. She may not have been the best parent in the world, but Rose Parkinson had still made the effort with Pansy, much like Narcissa had tried with Draco.

"I think I've heard or seen that spell before but I have a feeling it was purple rather than dark blue, I dunno," Ron mused, sitting down on the chair beside Pansy in one of the side rooms. The rest of the Weasleys aside from Ron and Ginny along with Harry had returned to Malfoy Manor, all that remained now were Lucius, Narcissa, Kingsley, Ron, Pansy, Ginny, Blaise, Hermione and Draco.

"I still don't know what the actual incantation of it is, or what it does fully, but it, it, it killed her!" Pansy was full out sobbing by now, face buried in her small hands, rocking back and forth on the chair. Ron wrapped his arms around her small frame, pulling her closer to him until she was almost on his lap. He rubbed her back gently, whispering in her ear, trying to calm her down and comfort her without seeming like he was unaffected. In reality, it hurt him so much to see her like this, he loved her. Ron Weasley loved Pansy Parkinson. If someone had told his third year self that he would have laughed right in their face – it hardly seemed likely. And yet here they were.

"Ron I don't know how you're going to take this but, I'm pregnant, three months pregnant with twins to be precise," Pansy blurted out, wiping the tear trails from her face.

"Oh my god, I'm going to be a dad?" Ron shouted excitedly, jumping up off the seat and lifting Pansy off her feet by her waist.

"This is amazing, I can't believe it!"

"You know I am so relieved, I was so nervous about how you were going to react," Pansy admitted hesitantly.

"I am so happy! And I am so glad you're alright! Do you think it'll be twin girls, twin boys or a mix?" Ron asked, grinning widely.

"Ron, it's a little early to predict," Pansy giggled, hugging him tightly.

"Nonsense Pans! They're our little ones, we've got to look after them now!"

~O-O~

"Me? I'm going to be a father?" Draco couldn't wrap his head around that fact. What if he was an awful father? What if his child or children hated him the way he had despised how Lucius had treated him?

"Yes Draco Malfoy." Ooh full names are out maybe I should stop, he thought to himself.

"This is insane."

"I know."

"We are going to be parents."

"I know."

"We hated each other."

"I know."

"We are going to have a child or children."

"I know."

"Harry Potter is an asshat."

"I kn- wait a minute, oh you're such a jerk Malfoy."

"But you love me," He sang, wiggling his eyebrows at her. Hermione shook her head fondly at him, smiling happily. For the first time in a long time, she was happy. And who would have thought that the root of her happiness would be Draco Malfoy? Are you crazy Hermione, she thought to herself. What the hell had happened in the world?