Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hermione was walking down to the Great Hall with Draco when she heard someone calling her name down the hall; turning around, Hermione saw Thomas Gaunt walking down the hall towards her. She was about to call out a greeting when he froze, looking up at Draco, Hermione saw that his face had contorted into a mask of pure hate. Frowning, Hermione tugged on his arm, "What's wrong Malfoy?" she asked quietly.

A low growl built up in the back of his throat as he opened his mouth to reply; narrowing his eyes, he looked down and Hermione and squeezed her hand, "Maybe you should just go to breakfast, I'll catch up in a moment."

Hermione cocked her head, she was about to argue, but the look in his eyes made her turn back towards the stairs and looked over her shoulder; Thomas was walking purposefully towards Draco, and she saw the muscles across his shoulders ripple as Draco stepped to meet him. Hermione felt a shudder go through her as she walked down the stairs towards the Great Hall, fearful of what she might see if she looked back again.

Draco took a step towards Thomas as Hermione was walking down the stairs, he didn't know what was going to happen but he didn't want her to be anywhere near it. As Thomas neared him, he saw the anger splashed across his face, "Well Draco, I didn't expect to be seeing you here." He said in a disgusted tone.

"Can't say the same, Tom," Draco spat back, "Did you really think I'd let you near her."

Thomas smirked, "You didn't really think I wouldn't have another plan, did you Draco? I was merely waiting to see how long it would take before you told her. But it seems as though one of our dear friends saw to it to give you the perfect opportunity."

Draco growled, "The Mountain Lion; I'd assume it was you, but of course you're too evil to be a mere cat. Who was it then…"

With a low chuckle, Thomas nodded behind Draco, "Her of course." He said quietly.

Draco narrowed his eyes and turned around, pulling out his wand he laughed, "I should of known…" he muttered looking at Astoria, "Bit of a nasty gash you got there," he said pointing and the bandages wrapped around her torso, "Took you by surprise didn't I. Thought you'd get her unawares," He snarled, "Even you should of known better Greengrass, Malfoys have always been over protective of their young."

Astoria let out a high-pitched laugh, "and you should have known better Draco," she purred, "I don't give up easily." She cooed, whipping her wand out and sending a curse at Draco.

Jumping out of the way, Draco sent one flying back; pressing himself up against a wall, he flung another jinx at a nearby statue, making it spring to life. Sending it behind him, Draco set the statue on Thomas; turning back to Astoria, Draco sent a body-binding curse towards her, only to receive a jelly-legs jinx in return.

He heard a loud smash behind him and was about to turn around when he saw a bright red beam of light go streaking over his head; whipping his head towards the source, Draco saw Andromeda standing in a doorway with her wand out stretched, "I may not be a Malfoy," she spat, "But I am fiercely protective of family." Spinning her wand over her head, she sent another jet of red light at Astoria, before racing over to join Draco.

Draco frowned slightly before hearing a whoosh next to his ear; whipping around, he saw that Thomas was getting back to his feet. Draco held up his wand and was about to send a Bat-bogey hex his way, when he started laughing, "This isn't over Malfoy." he snarled before twirling his wand over his head and disappearing out a nearby window. Draco startled slightly before turning around, Astoria had disappeared too; leaning his head against the wall, Draco slid down on to the floor and closed his eyes.

Draco sat silently for a few moments before turning his head towards his aunt and opening his eyes slightly. Andromeda had made her way over to where Draco was sitting and was resting up against the wall looking out across the hall. Draco arched his eyebrows, "You're not surprised, are you?" he asked skeptically.

Andromeda let out a shaky sigh, "I had my suspicions, yes," she said sitting down next to him, "But I wasn't positive until I saw the way he reacted to you being with Ms. Granger."

Draco groaned, "I should probably go find her," he started, standing up and running a hand through his hair, "I wouldn't put it past her to have the whole school up in arms over this."

Andromeda chuckled and nodded, "Go, Draco," she said smiling, "I'll clean up here." She said smirking.

Draco nodded and ran off down the stairs; coming around the corner into the Great Hall he saw Hermione in a deep discussion with Professor McGonagall. She looked up and smiled when he walked up to the table, she was about to get up when she froze; Draco frowned, "What?" he asked, tensing.

Hermione raised her eyebrows and pointed at his chest, "You're covered in rubbish," she said smirking, "What were you doing? Rolling around in the dungeons?"

Draco relaxed, and cleaned himself up with his wand; after he'd finished he grinned up at Hermione and put his wand away, "There," he said shrugging, "All gone."

Hermione huffed, "It most certainly is not," she said crossing her arms, "What were you doing?"

Draco sighed and went and sat down next to her, taking a deep breath he looked over up at her and blinked, "When you hear the name Gaunt, what do you think of?"

Hermione furrowed her brow in thought and pressed her lips together, "Well," she said slowly, "Thomas-" she started, freezing, widening her eyes she looked quickly over at Draco, "No!" she squeaked, "I thought he was gone!" she exclaimed, hugging herself, "I can't believe I went out with him…" she muttered quietly, beginning to shake.

Draco sighed and put an arm around her, drawing her into his lap; resting his cheek on her head, Draco rubbed his hand on her arm. Looking over at McGonagall, he angled his head slightly towards the doors and mouth Andromeda. Nodding, she got up from the table and briskly made her way towards the staircase.

As Draco watched her leave, he felt Hermione start shaking and a warm liquid spill into his lap; frowning, he looked down at her, "Granger," he said slowly, "Did you just piss on me?"

Hermione whipped her head around to look at him with an exasperated look on her face, "Absolutely not Draco Malfoy!" she shrieked, "How dare you accuse-" Hermione spluttered when she looked down at her lap; her hand went instinctively to her swollen belly and looked up at Draco.

He was about to smirk when he noticed the look of fear in her eyes, "What's wrong?" he asked slowly.

Hermione squeaked and jumped out of his lap clutching frantically at her stomach, "My water just broke you prat!" she shrieked, "And you sit there asking if I pissed on you."

Draco tensed and stood up, "Okayokayokayokay…" he muttered frantically, grabbing at his pockets for his wand. Finally finding it, he held out his free hand for Hermione, "Well let's go then!" he exclaimed, pulling her out of the Great Hall. Pausing by the stair case he swung his head between the front doors and the hall leading to the Hospital Wing, "Gah!" he shrieked, turning to Hermione.

Taking deep breaths, Hermione was holding her belly with her empty hand, "What's wrong now!" she squeaked.

Closing his eyes, Draco tried to calm down, "How do you feel?" he asked cocking his head. Hermione shot him a bewildered look and opened her mouth, cutting her off Draco quickly explained, "Are you having any cramps?"

Hermione shook her head, "What are you on about Malfoy?" she said slowly, narrowing her eyes.

Draco squeezed her hand reassuringly, "Just trying to figure out if you can make it to St. Mungo's."

Hermione let out a shaking breath and grinned up at him, "Well let's go then."

Draco smiled back at her before looking up at the staircase, "Andromeda!" he hollered, craning his head to look around, relaxing when he saw her head poke over the railing.

"Yes Draco?" she called down, frowning slightly.

"Granger's water just broke!" he yelled back, grinning. Draco heard an excited squeak come from behind his aunt and chuckled when he saw Professor McGonagall come racing down the stairs.

"Well come on then." She shrieked, running out the front door. Draco pulled a laughing Hermione behind him as he followed the excited professor across the courtyard, "We'll need to go a ways through the grounds before we can apparate," she called behind her as she neared the steps leading to the grounds.

Racing towards the Hogsmeade station, Hermione started lagging behind; freezing, Draco spun around with a worried look on his face. Hermione laughed, "Don't look so scared Malfoy," she cooed, "I'm pregnant, and I can't run that fast." Relaxing, Draco smiled at her before reaching an arm around her back and picking her up. Squeaking, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

Hermione was starting to cramp by the time they made it past the wards; McGonagall turned towards her and Draco with a huge grin on her face, "Andromeda sent an owl ahead to warn your doctor of our arrival." She said quickly before grabbing hold of Draco's arm and spinning them into a lung crushing darkness.

Apparating into the waiting room of St. Mungo's, Draco set her down in a muggle wheelchair and sat down on a nearby chair. Professor McGonagall had rushed to the counter where a chatty Pavarti greeted her. A few moments later, she came back, "She called up to Dr. Finnigan and was told to send you up." She gushed excitedly. Hermione smiled up at her, as Draco pushed her towards the lifts; pushing the button for the sixth floor.

As it dinged out their floor, Hermione felt another wave of cramps pass over her; Draco steered her towards another waiting room. The receptionist in that room then directed them into room two where she said Dr. Finnigan would be right with them. Grasping her protruding stomach, she doubled over feeling yet another set of cramps attack her. When she'd recovered enough to look back up she was startled to see Seamus Finnigan drawing his wand and snarling at Draco.