Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe, nor do the characters. They belong to J.K Rowling. However I do own the plot, because it was my idea.

Summary: Hermione's now 24 years old, and has a six year daughter named Liela Anastasia. Her father, Ron, abandoned her when she was born to run away to another country with London's richest hooker, Madison Malfoy. What happens when a changed Draco tries to help a broken family because of his stupid cousin's mistake?

Chapter 6: Chances

Draco appearated to the address Harry gave him, except instead of being apperated to the house, he was apperated to the alley nearby. "Magical barriers," he murmured to himself as he walked down the sidewalk, passing Muggle flats one by one. Draco finally came to the flat number 26589 that he was given by Harry. He stood at the small gate that separated him from going into her yard, staring at the house. He could smell a fire burning from the flat's smoking chimney outside, and the scent had a tad of vanilla and cinnamon mixed in with it; that's what Hermione had smelt of when he'd been with her.

He stood there a few moments longer, giving more thought into what he was going to say, before he opened the gate and walked up to the door, giving it a quiet knock. From the outside he could hear faint thuds echoing across the floor before the door opened up.

"Liela, don't open that door until I get in there," Hermione's voice echoed through the flat. Liela looked up at Draco with a smile and waved. "Hi there, come in . MUM! MR. MALFOY IS HERE!" Liela yelled, and skipped back down the hall to her room. Fear suddenly flooded through Draco's veins as he awaited Hermione's reaction, which didn't take but a second as she came out of her bedroom.

She stood at her bedroom door down the hall, her body barely covered by the robe she wore. She wore a bra and a pair of panties underneath. Her hair had been let down, and was in the curly mess Draco had always known. Her chocolate eyes were surrounded in blackness from where her make up had been smeared from tears.

Hermione walked slowly down the hall, her eyes not breaking from Draco's as she opened the door to Liela's room. Luna sat on the bed, reading her a story. "Luna, could you please..," was all she said, and with a nod, Luna apperated away with Liela. Her eyes focused back on Draco. She said only one word to him as she walked down the hall. "Leave."

"Hermione, please, I'm sorry. Just give me a second to-" he paused, taking a few steps into the living room as he spoke, "explain. I didn't know my mum was-"

"LEAVE! GET THE BLOODY HELL OUT OF MY FLAT, MALFOY!" She bellowed, and ran down the hallway, shoving Draco up against the door. "Get out of my house, and never, never look for me again," she said in a faint, deadly whisper. Their eyes met for the briefest second before she started pounding on his chest with her fists, and slapping whatever part of him she could reach. "YOU BLOODY, HEARTLESS BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU HAVE EMBARRASSED ME IN SUCH A WAY?"

"OW! Hermione! Ouch! No! Stop it!" Draco grunted with every hit, his arms covering his face as he tried to push her off of him. She'd pulled away for just a second and he'd taken that chance to grab her by the wrists and to pin her against the door. His pale face now bore a few bleeding scratches and red spots that would be bruises by morning. "Now listen to me, and shut up for one bloody second so I can explain to you what happened."

"Let me go, dammit! I don't need any explanations from you. I thought you had changed, but you're the same Voldemort following ferret you were back in school! A façade, that's what I've been seeing this whole time. I don't know what ever let me think that you could ever be something good. That you could actually care and feel something for someone other than yourself!" She snapped, tears flooding from her eyes. "Instead, you take me to your manor and attempt having sex with me, just to let your family embarrass me throughout the act. Ron… especially Ron…"

"Are you mad? Do you think I planned my mum to walk in? And what does that red headed arse hole have anything to do with this? I've changed Hermione, I have. If I wasn't changed, do you think I'd be here in your flat at this very second?" Moments of silence, sobs, and heavy breathing followed. Draco just shook his head. "You of all people should be able to tell when someone is telling the truth, but no. You're putting your wall up again. You've been hurt in the past, so you're trying to push me away so you won't get hurt again. I'm not Weasley, Hermione. I would never hurt you…"

"Hurt me? You spent seven years at Hogwarts hurting me! From your constant foul remarks and threats... you've even wished death on me! How could I ever believe you?" She asked, her sobs had her completely choked up.

"If you never believed that I was a different person, then why have you had anything to do with me?" Draco asked, his face a mask of pain and seriousness. Never in his life has he ever felt this way. It was a strange feeling, like there was a hole forming in his chest and he was falling into it. "Am I dying?" He thought to himself.

"I-I-I… I don't know. I wanted to think you'd changed. The day I s-saw you at The Three Broomsticks you seemed so full of light, happy, joyful. I've never seen you like that, so I just assumed that you were a different person…"

"Assumption. You assumed that. If you assumed such a think, then why haven't you given me the chance to show it to you?" He took a step forward, breaking the space between them. His eyes were fixated on hers, and at that moment he wished he could have had the power to read her thoughts. He lifted his hand to her face, brushing his thumb gently across her cheek as he tried to remove her ruined make-up. "A chance, is all I ask for."

A new set of tears grew in her eyes as he wiped away the black mess on her face. "I don't want to be hurt again. I'm not even completely healed…"

"Then let me fix you." He brought his other hand up, and cupped her cheeks in his hands. His gray eyes full of unexplainable emotions. "Let me put the pieces together. I'm not perfect, it'll take time, but I'm determined to do it. If you'll only give me the chance."

"Why?" The word was barely audible, a faint whisper better said. But Draco understood.

He was quite for a few moments, but then heaved a sigh. "I really don't know, Hermione. I don't know what it is. Something just keeps pushing me towards you. You haven't been out of mind since the night at The Three Broomsticks." She rolled her eyes, but he shook his head and pulled her closer to him. "I'm serious."

They're eyes immediately locked when he spaced between them was closed, and flood emotions erupted from each of their bodies and began feel the other. Fear, pain, sadness, love, jealousy, past memories, and even more pain began to feel the other, and when they looked at each other, it was a if they were one.

"I see nothing but…" his hand slipped up to her chin, they're gazes locked, "you," they're voices harmonized before their lips slowly locked together.

It didn't take but a couple of seconds before things got hot, for the both of them. Garments began to shed off their skin, falling to the floor. They're breath was heavy, they're bodies were connected, as if they'd been glued together. Draco was starting to lose control over his emotions. Just as he was about to take the next step he paused.

All movements stopped and he pulled himself away from Hermione. Oh how it hurt him, but he had too. "Draco, Draco what's the matter? I thought- I thought you wanted this," Hermione said, her voice heavy, but the sound of hurt tinged within it.

He shook his head. "I do want this. I want you. Do you think I really wanted to pull away? No I didn't. I want this to be right. I don't to be like other guys. I want it to be slow. I want things to slowly progress." Draco stared at her, his gray orbs were beaming. "I want the day that I make love to you, to be the day that I tell you I love you."

Two solo tears fell from each of Hermione's eyes. No one had ever treated her so special. No one had ever made her felt this wanted. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, her face burring in his chest as quiet sobs sounded from her mouth.

"Let's go lay down," he whispered to her. She nodded, and lead him down the hall to her room.

A/N: And it's been a while since I've updated, but my life has been upside down for a while. I'm trying to work on all my stories, plus trying to be the best mother of 3 boys and fiancé as I possibly can. I haven't forgotten you guys, promise. If you ever want to PM me about anything, or about when I might update you can do so or you can contact me on Facebook, the links on my profile. Hope you guys like it. J