A/N: Please read and review! I could really use some positivity in my life right now.

Chapter 22

Hermione Granger was never one for patience, so when both her best friend and fiancé disappeared for afternoons on end, she couldn't help but feel agitated. Blaise was only good company for so long.

She'd been sitting on the chaise, reading Pride and Prejudice, when she heard the floo activate. Draco and Harry stumbled out, still dressed in their clothes from work.

"You two have gotten awfully close," she said, breaking the silence and causing both men to turn around in surprise.

"Hello, love! How nice to see you!" Draco was the first to break out of the shock.

"I do live here, you know," Hermione said without lifting her eyes from the escapades of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. A flash crossed her face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"How're you feeling, love?" asked Draco.

"Fine." But the answer didn't appear to satisfy Draco. Harry crept quietly out of the room, leaving the couple together. It seemed Draco would be taking the plunge, though he'd imagine Hermione's wrath would be fearsome. Granted, though, pregnancy always changed those hormones around.

"Hermione, you don't have to hide your emotions from me. I'm here for you, and I always will be." Hermione smiled at Draco's words. "I'll never intentionally hurt you – that I promise. I can't say the same for Andrew, but know that I love you no matter what."

Hermione froze in his arms.

"What did you just say?" she bit out icily. Her eyes were locked straight ahead, no longer looking at Draco.

"I know what happened with Andrew Winchester."

Hermione turned and glared at him accusingly. "How did you find out?! You had no business snooping around my past!"

Draco raised his hands, as if to defend himself. "Hermione, love, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Her voice was rising in pitch. "How did you find out?! Tell me!"

"I – I, Harry came to talk to me, and we looked in your diary." Draco sounded resigned and guilty, and hoped that perhaps Hermione would be slightly acquiesced. It seemed to achieve the opposite, though.

"I cannot believe you, Draco Malfoy! That is my private business and you had no right to go snooping around!"

At this, Draco lost his temper. "Are you kidding me? It damn well is my business because my fiancée is flinching from me and she won't tell me why!"

It was a battle between the two – Hermione glaring and fuming, while Draco stared, impassioned. "I just want to understand, Hermione."

"You should've just asked." Hermione's face flickered.

"I did ask! You always said you didn't want to talk about it!"

"I was getting ready to tell you!"

"How the fuck was I suppose to know that?!"

The door banged open as Ginny flew in. "You keep your voice down, Malfoy!" She threatened, pointing her wand in his direction. "I still do a mean Bat-Bogey Hex so I kindly suggest you leave Hermione alone!"

Draco backed away slowly. It seemed that his attempts to reconcile with Hermione had only backfired. And in these sorts of situations, he could only count on one person to help him.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" asked Narcissa, as Draco entered the room.

"I've fucked up big time, Mother." Draco looked distraught.

"Language, Draco." Draco rolled his eyes.

Narcissa only raised a perfectly-manicured brow in response.

He opened his mouth in an attempt to break it to Narcissa delicately, but there was no stopping the flood of words that came out of his mouth. Narcissa could only barely keep up.

"Stop, darling," interrupted Narcissa. "So what you're telling me is that Mrs. Granger mentioned an ex-boyfriend, Andrew, whom Hermione said was no big deal, yet you pressured her to tell you, yes?" Draco nodded. "When she didn't, you began to get suspicious because she had an adverse reaction-"

"She flinched, as if I were going to hit her."

"- and wasn't telling you. Then Harry found out and told you, and the both of you did some snooping even though you knew it was violating Hermione's trust."

"Yes, but I thought it was what's best for her!"

"Draco Lucius Malfoy! I did not raise you to continually interrupt your mother, nor did I raise you to snoop and pry!"

"No, Father and Lord Voldemort did the latter," Draco drawled.

Narcissa's nostrils flared. "Young man, do not sass me!"

"Mum!" Draco whined.

"You came to me for advice, so shut up and listen to it." Narcissa paused until Draco had finally stopped looking like he was going to pounce. "I understand Hermione's point of view. And I understand yours too. It was by no means right for you to go snooping, though I understand your concern. Hermione had…what's the term? Buried the hatchet, and you only unearthed it for her. I can't imagine how painful that must be, so it's understandable that she needed time to collect herself."

"But Mum, why didn't she tell me earlier?"

"I can imagine it'd be a hard topic to bring up. How you say something along the lines of, 'Oh by the way, I used to be in an abusive relationship!' It's just unfathomable. I'm sure it's just that it never came up – you can't blame her for that."

Draco looked at the floor, ashamed. "I just wish she would've confided in me. I would've –"

"You would've what, Draco? There's nothing you can do but support her. It's not something she wanted to relive – imagine if you could only recall horrible moments from the war, and relive them over and over again!" Draco grimaced. "I know you might feel betrayed, or something of the sort, but with these sorts of victims, they often have the mindset that they're to blame. That it's something to be ashamed of and that they're 'tainted goods.' It's sad, but true." Following the war, Narcissa had worked with PTSD patients, and unfortunately, victims of sexual violence often presented with some overlapping symptoms and mindsets.

"Mother, but what should I do next?"

"Give her some time, darling. I think her pregnancy is difficult enough as is – all this added stress is probably horrid for her and the baby's health."

"That reminds me. Mum, do you have any experience with adhesions?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think the Healer called it pelvic adhesions? They can be caused by infection, secondary infertility, endo…something, and trauma."

Draco saw an emotion on Narcissa's face that was a rare sight – remorse.

"I'm all too familiar with adhesions, Draco. You know that you were the only of three children to be successful pregnancies… Sometimes, especially with purebloods, the uterus rejects the fetus because the magics are incompatible. Othertimes, the genes are too similar and genetic defects that are often fatal can develop. When these sorts of freak miscarriages happen, it's possible for adhesions to occur. Unfortunately, these "freak miscarriages" are very common among purebloods, but not unheard of in others." Narcissa paused as she watched Draco take in the information.

She opened her mouth and addressed the million-dollar question. "Did Hermione have a miscarriage?"

A/N: Happy Birthday Harry Potter and to our queen, JKR. Here's my birthday present to the fandom. Sorry I haven't updated recently. I've been in a terrible place and writer's block has been horrid. Feedback would be appreciated! xx