I really have nothing witty to say today, so I'll leave it at this - thank you, thank you, thank you so much for liking this story as much as you all do! I kind of feel bad for the way I write Ron because I personally do love him. He and Hermione are just so not right for each other. One day I'll find a way to redeem him.

Chapter 6
Hermione sat at the least dirty table the Leaky Cauldron had to offer as she awaited the arrival of Harry and Ginny Potter. She and Ron were supposed to tell them together about the pregnancy, but a work emergency kept him from attending. And so she was alone when her friends arrived.

Harry reached her first and pulled her up to embrace her. "You look good," he noted, stepping away to take a seat.

"It's been too long," she replied, reclaiming her seat across from him. Ginny sat by her husband's side and offered her a grin. The two women had kept in contact over the weeks following the divorce, but Hermione never let slip her secret.

"So, what's going on?" Ginny inquired, not hesitating to get straight to the point. "Your floo call sounded pretty urgent."

Looking anywhere but at Harry, she explained her current situation. When she finished, she looked first at Ginny. The redhead's smile grew, but faltered when her husband spoke. "You'll come live with us," he decided, his tone clipped. "Does Ron know? I assume he knows, otherwise you wouldn't bother telling us."

"Of course Ron knows," she replied, disgusted that he would think otherwise. "And I didn't ask you here in hopes of receiving a Harry Potter hand out. I can and will take care of this baby and myself on my own." Grabbing her purse, she rose from her seat and bade Ginny goodbye.

Rushing out into the afternoon chill, Hermione found the first vacant alley and Disapparated back to work. "I may kill him," she seethed, noticing for the first time that she landed in Draco's office.

The stunned blond stared at her for a moment before smiling. "Please say Potter. Please say Potter," he begged. Taking a seat in front of his desk, she told him exactly what her friend had said. "You know I'm loathe to agree with Potter, but maybe you shouldn't be on your own."

Shooting him a dangerous glare, Hermione rose from her seat and exited his office. She hadn't gotten far when he caught up with her at the end of the hall. "Let me go," she seethed as his hand closed around her upper arm.

"Not until you hear me out," he stated calmly. Moving his hand down her arm, he clasped his hand around hers and led her back to his office. Shutting the door behind them, Draco leaned against it and squeezed her hand. "I know how strong you are. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met. But I can't help but worry about you being alone and pregnant. What if something happened to the baby and you can't get to the floo in time to get to St. Mungo's? It just seems prudent to take Potter up on his offer."

Staring down at their joined hands, Hermione took a step closer and wrapped her free arm around his waist. "Had it been an offer, I would have," she admitted. "I don't like being commanded, though."

A low chuckle vibrated in his chest as he unhook their hands and wound his arms around her. "How about a compromise then?" he suggested. Hermione pulled back just enough to flash him a curious eyebrow raise. "Those coins you used in school, the ones you charmed so your little army could communicate, I want one. If something happens, and you can't get to Potter or the Weasleys or the hospital on your own, I want you to contact me."

"Is that a command?" she inquired, a smile settling on her lips despite her best effort to sound firm.

Draco shook his head and rubbed her back with one hand. "It's not a command, it's concern," he replied. "You know I care about you."

"I do know that," she confirmed, her voice just above a whisper. "How is it possible that in a few short weeks we've managed to put so many years of hatred behind us?"

Shrugging his shoulders, he softly caressed her cheek. "You needed a friend, and I was the only one here on a Saturday. What a sorry lot we make," he joked.

"Indeed," she mumbled.

Thinking back to the day she first found out she was pregnant, she wondered if she would have anyone had she not come into work. With Draco's offer on the table, she knew she would not be alone. She was strangely comforted by the fact that her childhood foe was the one person she knew she could count on now. He offered unflagging support, but she wondered how long that would last. Perhaps he expected Ron to eventually step up and assume responsibility for his child at some point. With Ron in the picture, though, she feared she may lose Draco.

"What's got you so quiet?" he wondered, smiling when she returned her gaze to him.

"Just thinking," she replied.

"About what?"

A blush brightened her cheeks when she answered, "You."

If her response shocked him, Draco didn't allow it to show. She had been on his mind more and more recently. Knowing he shouldn't think of her as often as he did only made him wonder about her more. He wondered what her child would look and act like. He wondered if the Weasleys would embrace Hermione again once the baby came. Mostly, he wondered if she and Ron would ever get back together again. What would Draco's role be in her life if that happened?

Shaking his head, he decided he wouldn't think about that unless it happened. When her hand rested on his cheek, he returned his attention to the smiling witch in front of him. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, moving her hand down to his shoulder.

"You," he replied easily.

It seemed to be the right answer. With a determined glint in her brown eyes, Hermione moved closer, rose onto her toes, and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that didn't last nearly long enough for either of them. With an embarrassed blush on her cheeks, Hermione returned to her normal height and stepped away.

"Sorry, must be the hormones," she spoke, brushing a hand over her warm cheek. "I should, um, go."

She was gone before Draco could stop her, but his smile reached from ear to ear the rest of the day.

Hormones indeed.