Hermione was thinking again, sitting in the garden while the boys taught Draco the game of cards, she escaped saying she wanted fresh air. Draco seemed suspicious to her, suddenly everything she had been thinking came crashing down…Draco Black! Narcissa Black nee Malfoy, Draconis, blond haired silver eyed, breeder…Not only had once prince escaped the relationship but both had. It was just a theory right now but if seemed to fit… the hands, the manners, the inability to fight or do anything for himself, but he could be telling the truth. The Malfoy kingdom was the only kingdom known for producing breeders unless married through the line…she just had to get solid proof before she went off pointing fingers.

She had some ideas on how he might react, she would casually bring up his passed and see if the story changed at all, Hermione wasn't called the smart one for nothing, she would get to the bottom of this, but if it were true and the to-be married lovers were the royals each other was intended for she promised herself a long and hardy laugh.

The days passed and the warm summer grew into a cool fall, the leaves were bright reds, oranges, yellows and deep browns and the air was filled with a strong woodland smell. The two wolves had grown quite a bit in the long months and were now fully grown and hunting along side the two older boys.

Hermione had been the first aside from Harry to notice Draco's signs and together they talked long into the night on names for the baby. A lengthy list had been made and presented to Harry although they were still in debate over them.

Ron in this hushed excitement found out by spying on Draco and Hermione's conversation and then loudly proceeded to congratulate the soon to be new parents at supper, quickly becoming victim to one of Draco's mood swings and the dodging of a fork.

Draco was four months along with the baby and it seemed the birth would take place in late march or early April. Harry and Ron worked their days hunting with the wolves to stalk up provisions for the upcoming winter. While Hermione and Draco worked in the gardens and stayed mostly on the farm, all the while Draco grew restless, he knew he needed to take it easy, to relax but he was still yearning for adventure and once again confined to the home for fear of miscarriage.

"It doesn't seem fair," Draco spoke suddenly while he and Hermione were pulling up carrots to store away for winter.

Hermione looked up confused for a moment, then realization dawned "you want to be out with the boys?"

Draco nodded "it would have been far easier to be a woman…."

"Ha," laughed Hermione sarcastically "its never easy for us, were expected to be the perfect wives, most men these days would prefer no brain in a woman's head, just…just."

"Obedient, loving, delicate, oh believe me Mione I know a lot better then you assume," argued Draco "women and breeders are meant to keep home, and stay there, were expected to look after and raise the children while the fathers are off HUNTING," Draco voice grew louder with every word, he was angry and Hermione knew better then to push with his delicate state.

"And don't you even think it," growled Draco "everyone's been walking on egg shells around me ever since they found out….I'M NOT FUCKING DELICATE," angrily he stormed back into the house and locked himself in his and Harry's room, no matter how happy he was about the baby he couldn't help but resent it. Everything had been going wondrous, he was training, learning to be a man and the part of that should have belonged to a woman took that all away. Harry had even forbidden him to ride Syfron anymore, more worrying about miscarriage.

He loved Harry though and he loved the baby but he was scared, he wasn't ready to become a mother, not now, not when there is so much more to do.

Fall swiftly grew colder with the passing month. Draco grew larger and became depressed. Outside everything was dying and as every moment passed he believed his internal fire, the passion for adventure and fun was extinguishing.

More then once had he considered leaving. Nothing but the weather and himself changed, Harry was still as vibrant as ever with his hunting buddy by his side, and Hermione seemed truly content enough to curl up in a chair by the fire and reread her favourite novels again and again.

It was surprisingly Ron who noticed his signs; Draco brushed it off at the many siblings he possessed and being able to read ones body language better.

"Still not feeling the best?" asked Ron sitting beside Draco at the parlours horse-shoe shaped window seat.

Wearily Draco pulled his eyes away from the same plentiful farm, "Pardon?"

"You've been moping about for days… well actually weeks. Ever since you started showing," replied Ron lightly "what's wrong?"

"You could never understand. I've never met another soul that could," Draco spoke lightly turning his head away from the red haired boy.

"Try me," challenged Ron with a smile.

"Could you ever imagine being who you are, an adventurer, a hunter by love of the sports and the freedom it comes with; that is my soul. But I will always be different from other boys and men because I can bear children and therefore my spirit has always been controlled. A woman is taught by birth that they are mothers, sisters, meant to be delicate, beautiful, and smart. It is well known that they cannot participate in mans sport, at leased not until a king gets into power that can see just how strong they are. But I'm getting off track, I like these women am trapped to a life where I could be like any other boy but I can't because of this." Draco angrily pointed at his slightly rounded belly, tears of anger and sorrow glittered near the corners of his metallic eyes.

Ron sympathized with him, he would never understand what he was going through but he would try and help. Pulling the tearing blond into a hug he soothed him with whispers like his mum had done with him.

"Were all here for you Draco, Harry especially. You know he swore to me that he would always be there for you," replied Ron.

"Thank you," replied Draco leaning back up.

"For what?" questioned Ron.

"For being here, being a friend. I would be so lonely without you and Mione. Harry would be away so often to hunt," Draco smiled brightly; his contagious smile brought a grin and light blush to Ron's face.

Draco brightened up that day as he playfully teased Ron about him turning the color of an apple.

"Come on Draco lets make a treat I won't tell anyone," smiled Ron and together the new friends snuck into the kitchen and made apple tarts. Draco was surprised that Ron was a better cook then he was.

"I thought I was meant to keep house," joked Draco his mood greatly improved.

"Well what mum always told me, if a man can't help out around the house what use is he?" they both laughed.

"Ron," Draco asked as they were watching the tarts bake, "do you love Hermione?"

"More then anything," replied Ron "why?"

"Do you have a ring?" questioned Draco and Ron shook his head.

"I'm working up for it," he admitted.

"Wait here," smiled Draco as he headed towards his trunk and dug around his treasure bag, pulling out a sapphire ring, it wasn't too big but certainly out of Ron's price range even if he worked nonstop for twenty years as a hunter. "Now I want you to except this no matter what, don't say no just say thank you," Draco handed the ring to Ron whose eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"I can't take…" he stopped at Draco's look "thank you, I'll find someway to pay you back."

"Just look after Harry for me and be a good husband to Hermione," replied Draco feeling unusually light and happy at his good deed. "I think the tarts are ready now."