A/N: Sorry for missing the month of March in terms of uploading, but I hope this chapter makes up for it! I will do my best to post another at the end of the month, so you'll get two for April! :) But also writer's block SUCKS. Please read and review!

Chapter 20

Hermione roused in an unfamiliar environment. The pastel pattern on the wall was oddly familiar though – and looking down at the IV in her arm, she realised she was at St. Mungo's. Beside her, Ginny was sleeping on a chair. The clock read 3:37AM.

"Hello?" her voice was hoarse. Ginny shot up in her chair.

"Oh good, you're awake! Do you want water? I'll get you some water." Ginny was oddly energetic.

Hermione nodded mutely. "…Is Harry here?" she asked softly. Ginny looked at her sadly. "No, he's not. Draco and Scorpius are outside though! I mean, it's past visiting hours, and only one person can be in here at a time, but I think they might've sweet-talked the nurses or something." Hermione gratefully took a drink of water.

The doctors walked in, followed closely behind by Draco and Scorpius.

"I'm Dr. Pendleton, the head doctor for your case. How are you feeling, Miss Granger?"

"I'm alright, just a little groggy."

"Any pain anywhere?"

"Umm… my back feels slightly sore, and my stomach slightly?"

"Do you remember what happened, Miss Granger?"

"I – I tried to run after Harry, and I just remember feeling a pain in my abdomen. That's all I can recall…"

The doctors exchanged looks that Hermione could only read to be bad.

"Miss Granger, according to your friend Mrs. Potter, you passed out and nearly fell to the ground. Do you know how long you've been here?"

"About 8 hours?"

"Correct. That's an awfully long time for someone who claims to be 'alright'."

"What are you implying, dear sir?" asked Hermione sassily.

"Miss Granger, were you aware of any pre-existing conditions before you entered your pregnancy?" No response. "I'm afraid you have many adhesions to your uterus, which is what may have caused your pain before you blacked out."

"I'm sorry Doctor, but what does that mean?" Draco spoke for the first time since entering the room.

"Dr Avery?" Dr. Pendleton indicated for a younger-looking doctor to speak.

"Pelvic adhesions are typically caused by infections, secondary infertility, endometriosis, or trauma in the area. Because Miss Granger has not had a child before, we do not believe it to be secondary infertility. From pelvic examination, it is not endometriosis, so it's most likely to be a result of either infection or trauma."

The silence in the room was heavy.

Dr. Pendleton cleared his throat. "In any case, Miss Granger, we are prescribing you with a pain medication in case you feel any abdominal pain. We are also requiring that you spend the next two weeks on bedrest and the months leading up to your due date with a lighter workload. No heavy lifting of anything, obviously, but also a mental workload. Any excess stress will not be good for you or your baby, especially with your condition. Do you have any questions?"

Hermione shook her head. "Thank you for taking care of me Dr. Pendleton. I'll heed your advice."

"Though I'm not sure how successful you'll be with the lighter mental workload," Draco quipped from the corner. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"We just want to keep you here for another 12 hours for observation," Dr. Pendleton said.

Hermione nodded as the healers filed out the door.

"You should get some sleep, love," Draco said softly, kissing Hermione on the forehead.

Draco stood with Ginny outside the door.

"Do you know what the healers might be alluding to with Hermione's adhesions?" he asked.

"No, I haven't a clue. I had no idea Hermione had anything of the sort," replied Ginny.

"Don't play dumb with me, Potterette. Has Hermione ever had infection or trauma that would've caused adhesions to form?"

"I'm not sure," Ginny said hesitantly. She broke eye contact with Draco, who thought it slightly suspicious, but then looked up with a smile on her face. "Harry!" She flew towards him and gave him a chaste kiss. "Where have you been?"

"At the Ministry," Harry grumbled. "How did Hermione end up in St. Mungo's?"

"She collapsed," Ginny said. "Something about pain in her uterus from adhesions?"

Harry crinkled his nose. Something about women and body parts just didn't sit well with him – to think that there was some sprog in there that was the result of Hermione and Draco's coupling was just unsettling, to say the least.

"Can I see her?"

"She's sleeping," said Draco. Scorpius was doing the same on the bench outside Hermione's room. "I ought to take him back home so he can sleep on a bed," he mused.

"Oh, don't have Scorpius sleep all alone. I'll take him to the Burrow. A bunch of the children are sleeping there tonight, since Ron took over his kids and James and Albus."

Draco nodded his thanks to Ginny as Ginny roused Scorpius gently, before leading him away to the floo points.

"Malfoy, can we talk?" Harry asked. His voice was strong and firm, and Draco knew it was something serious.

Draco nodded.

"I need your help locating a certain Andrew. There aren't too many Andrews in the Wizarding World, at least not very many who live near enough to London."

"Do you know his last name?" asked Draco.

"No… I could snoop around Hermione's apartment but I feel like that'd be a violation, and I'd need a search warrant."

"Hermione's flat is my flat," declared Draco. "I'll go look."

"I just hope she doesn't think it an invasion of privacy," mumbled Harry.

"Oh, she probably will. But it's for her good, and if she never finds out…" Draco's voice trailed off. "Say, Potter. How do you know about Andrew?"

"I overheard Hermione talking to Ginny this afternoon. I still can't believe he dared lay a hand on Hermione—" Harry was fuming, but it was nothing compared to what Draco felt.

"WHAT?! Are you saying this arsehole of an ex-boyfriend dared to hurt Hermione?!" Harry had never seen Draco this angry, not even when they were on the mission together and Rabastan was taunting Draco. "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch, I swear to Merlin."He turned to Harry, emanating waves of pure unadulterated rage. "Let's go now."

Draco burst into his flat, Harry close on his heels.

"Where would Hermione keep any information…" he wondered aloud.

"She probably would've ridded herself of any correspondence," Harry added. The duo scanned the flat, trying to come up with an idea. "Her diaries!"

"What?" asked Draco.

"Hermione was always an avid writer and would write nearly everyday in her diary. There has to be something there."

Once Harry said that, it wasn't hard to find Hermione's journals – they were organised chronologically on a bottom bookshelf in their study. Harry pulled a few out and handed some to Draco. They settled on the couch and began to read.

About half-an-hour had passed when Harry said, "I found it." His voice was soft. "Andrew Winchester. He's a muggle barrister who lives in Radlett. It's 25km outside of London."

Draco's head popped up to see Harry's shoulders shaking, though his eyes were frozen on the page, unable to stop devouring the words Hermione had written.

"Goddamit!" Harry threw the journal onto the floor and began pacing and tearing his hair. "I couldn't protect her – how couldn't I notice? She never came around anymore, and when she did, she just wasn't the same…I thought it was because of Ron…how could I be so dumb?!" Harry only wanted to punish himself. But first, he needed to punish Andrew Winchester.

A/N: Wow life is passing by so quickly what the hell. Since I last posted, I got rejected from a bunch of schools, but also I got into college! (YAY IM NOT A HOBO) Also, I turned 18 a few days ago so now I'm an adult? It doesn't feel any differen . Emma's birthday is coming up in 3 days!