A/N: Hey everyone! I'm publishing within in the month! :D *pats self on back awkwardly* Please read the AN at the bottom. Please read and review! Thank you! xx

Chapter 18: Complications

It was now early March and Hermione's baby bump was beginning to show – though it was all still speculation, of course. The press had a field day when they spotted the engagement ring on Hermione's finger. Hermione didn't plan to release an official statement – she'd informed her Department Head and the Minister, as well as her close friends and family, but that was all for now. She was sure it would be quite obvious soon, as she had just purchased her first pair of maternity jeans the other day.

She was bringing Draco to Muggle London to visit her parents, who despite deciding to stay in Australia, still loved their daughter dearly. In spite of all they'd been through, the recognised that Hermione had done it because she loved them. She would be bringing along Scorpius at a later date, as they had yet to meet him. They didn't know of his existence actually!

She'd told Draco not to worry, as she was sure her parents would love him. Draco believed otherwise, thought – he hadn't asked for permission to marry Hermione – so he knew that winning over Mr. Granger would be hard, at least. Merlin help him.

"Oh Hermione dear, you're absolutely glowing!" Mrs. Granger stood up to hug her daughter.

"It's so good to see you, Mum!" Hermione gushed, giving both her parents a hug. "Mum, Dad, meet Draco."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr and Mrs Granger," Draco greeted rather stiffly.

"No need for formalities – call me Jean!" Mrs. Granger pulled Draco in for a hug. He was taken aback by her display of affection, but quickly recovered and returned the hug. One parent down, one to go, he thought dreadfully. And by the looks of it, Mr. Granger would not be so easily swayed.

"Daddy, are you mute?" scolded Hermione. The wrinkles by the side of his mouth smoothed a little as he looked at Hermione affectionately, but turned to Draco and growled, "So you're the boy who proposed to my Hermione without asking for permission."

Draco stood straight, though mentally, he was agape. Well that was to the point, he thought. "I, uh, I-" Draco stuttered uncharacteristically.

"Charles! Don't be so rude!" Jean scolded. "At least Draco's been able to make Hermione settle down!" she joked. "I didn't think you'd ever marry after that debacle with Andrew."

Draco noticeably tensed.

Hermione laughed nervously before changing the subject. "The food smells absolutely delicious, mum!"

"I made mushroom soup, your favourite!" Mrs. Granger gushed. "Come on, let's go eat. Charles."

Dinner was an odd affair, what with Hermione and Jean catching up while Draco and Charles ate stoically.

"Draco, do you like the potatoes?" Jean asked suddenly.

Draco choked on a bite of said potatoes, before saying, "It's absolutely delicious! I love the rosemary and sea salt," he complimented.

"I should teach Hermione how to cook them then," Jean said with a wink.

"Mum!" Hermione protested.

"That would be much appreciated, Jean," Draco bantered. He reached for Hermione's hand and gave it a squeeze. She smiled back and gave him a quick peck. He heard a choke from across the table and a quick whack in reply.

Once they had all finished eating, Draco and Charles moved to the living room, where Charles pulled out a bottle of whiskey and turned on the telly.

"D'you like football, son?" Charles said gruffly.

"Yes, sir," replied Draco.

"What team?"

"Liverpool."

"Good choice."

Draco settled next to Mr. Granger on the couch, as they watched the match together. It seemed that from those few words, a sort of understanding had come between them. It seemed like they were both in for the long haul, after all.

Meanwhile, Hermione and her mum were clearing the dishes – they'd left the two men in the same room, hoping they'd attempt to get along.

"How's the baby, Hermione?" asked Jean. She'd been sent a few sonograms since Hermione found out, but she had yet to see, or feel, the bump herself.

"Peanut is good," replied Hermione contently.

"Do you know the gender yet?"

"No, we were going to at the last appointment, but the baby was in an awkward position."

"Ah," sighed Jean understandingly. "You were such a difficult child," Jean reminisced.

"Thanks mum!"

"I kid Hermione. You were definitely an easy child – it was the pregnancy that wasn't easy. Had a few scares with Braxton-Hicks and what not. But hopefully yours will go easily – your morning sickness is better than mine!"

Hermione laughed. "It was quite dreadful at first, but definitely subsided quickly! Draco's had to go shopping rather frequently, though – my cravings are insane!"

The two women settled into a comfortable silence. "I can't believe I'm going to be a grandmum…"

"Y'know, I think you should check on Dad and Draco to see if they're both alive. Draco might have a wand, but Dad can be pretty paralysing when he needs be. I'm more concerned for Draco!" joked Hermione.

"Well, it's nice to know you care about me." Draco walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter where they were working. "Jean, I can take over putting away the dishes," he offered.

"Oh that's too kind! I'll just leave you two alone then."

"So, who is this Andrew that your mom mentioned earlier?" asked Draco, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

"Oh, it's just a former beau," replied Hermione, trying to be equally nonchalant, as she put away the dishes after dinner.

"Oh, really? What kind of 'debacle' did you have with him, then?" Draco's voice had taken a sharp edge to it.

"It's nothing, Draco. It's in the past, okay?" Hermione continued scrubbing the plates.

"I don't think it's nothing."

Hermione didn't reply for a while. "I don't want to talk about it," she said a bit later.

"Dammit, Hermione! I thought we were at a point where we could be honest with each other!" Draco slammed his fist down on the countertop.

Hermione flinched and a look of fear presented in her eyes, as she turned towards him. Draco had never seen that look on her face before. "I- I'm sorry," she stuttered, avoiding eye contact with Draco. She turned back to the sink and viciously scrubbed the plates, as the room fell silent and the air felt heavy with unspoken words.

"Shit!" Hermione exclaimed, as a clatter sounded. Draco flew to her side by the sink, where a porcelain plate lay broken. Hermione's hand was dripping with blood that was staining the bubbles in the sink a sickly red.

Draco's eyes went wide. "I dunno any healing spells… we should take you to St. Mungo's!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "There's a bottle of dittany at home in the potions cabinet." Draco nodded before disapparating away, as Jean and Charles ran into the kitchen.

"Hermione! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine mum, it's just a cut." Hermione winced as she ran the wound under water to clean it out.

"What happened?"

"I was clumsy and broke a plate," answered Hermione. Draco appeared a few minutes later, bottle in hand. He quickly pipetted some dittany onto the wound, while Jean and Charles looked on in amazement ad the wound began stitching itself up.

"I'll finish up the plates," Jean offered, as Draco led Hermione to the living room. Charles kept Jean company in the kitchen.

"Are you sure you're okay, Hermione?" asked Draco, concern evident in his voice.

'I'm fine. I told you, I don't want to talk about it." Hermione's voice sounded strained, and she was unwilling to make eye contact, instead staring resolutely at the new pinkish skin on the palm.

The mood for the rest of the evening was noticeably awkward, and when the clock struck 10PM, Hermione rose to leave.

"Leaving so soon, Hermione?" asked Mrs. Granger.

"I'm really tired, Mum."

"Alright, let me just pack up some of the leftovers for you."

"Mum, you don't have to!"

"You know your father and I won't be able to eat it all. Don't try to stop me dear – you may be magical, but I'm still your mother and that trumps any tricks you can do."

"I'll get it, Hermione," Draco offered. She just nodded.

Draco strolled up to the counter where Mrs. Granger was packaging some of the leftovers – mince pies, the rosemary potatoes, a large slice of the lemon-raspberry meringue cake.

"This is too much, Jean."

"Nonsense! Shush and take it Draco. You'll thank me later when you don't have to cook."

Draco raised his hands in surrender and took the box. "…if you don't mind me asking… who is Andrew?"

Jean's eyes grew wide and she stopped. "I think that's something you should ask Hermione about. It's not my place to tell."

"I tried to but she didn't want to talk about it."

"She'll talk about it eventually, don't worry too much, Draco," Jean said reassuringly, patting him on the back. "She may be stubborn like her father, but she's still a logical girl."

They made their way to the foyer where Hermione and Mr. Granger stood, waiting.

"Goodbye dear," said Jean, giving Hermione a hug. "And good luck."

A/N: In other news, I'm finally a second semester senior! Which means no more college apps (though I have scholarship apps ;u;) and less homework sort of. Less caring, anyways. It's good news for you guys, because I'll hopefully have more time to write! I'm feeling this story wrapping up around 25-30 chapters, just so you guys know. Please go vote on my poll for my next project, or PM me! Ideas very much appreciated, and I'll dedicate the story to you if I end up using your suggestion. :)