Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and all that.

A/N: Thank you all for the reviews. I love them they help keep me going. Love yas. And yes I know there are still alot of people alive who initially shouldn't be. But it's my story, my fantasy. SO ;-P. Hugs!

And once again Flames are welcome but not needed! They will just keep me warm when my heat isn't. Haha.

Special thanks to: Obsgurl: Yes thank you.. its Weasel not weasle. I appreciate you correcting me.

IGOTEAMEDWARD: I thought a little humor would help out. So yeah they got caught again.

Emb56: No sweety, the twist is not going to take them apart, well forever anyway.

FlowerChild67: You will find out who took the picture today.

As well as everyone else who has sent me great reviews. I am going to try to address the reviews as much as possible. For those of you whom like twists: HAPPY READING!!!!

And thank Obsgurl for the twist it was her idea. Thanks sissy!

Chapter 5:

Twists

The Next Morning

Hermione had spent most of last night trying to figure out who had taken the picture of her and Draco. and Why.

She sat up in her bed and muddled over who would do that and not give any notice to them that it would be airing so soon in the school paper. But when she really got to it. No one had mentioned it except Ginny. Which was odd in itself. She figured Ron and Harry would be first to mention it, not the youngest Weasley. But Ron was going through his own ordeal with Pansy.

Since they had been 'mated', Pansy had let the world know she had been having thoughts about the young Weasley boy for a few years now. And since the war was over, she saw no harm in letting the world know. She constantly followed Ron everywhere. She tried to sit with him at meals and classes. Ron was in hell, so to speak. Harry was in his own world spending quite a bit of time with Luna. They were becoming more friendly by the day. Which was acceptable since they have been friends since Harry's fifth year.

Finally having found out that it was Collin Creevey (a/n yes he's alive and well and taking pictures without anyone's notice) that took the picture, Hermoine was determined to find out what on Earth he was thinking taking such a personal picture and then showing it for all of Hogwarts to see.

She got up and started getting ready for breakfast. Dressing in her Hogwarts attire, and grabbing her bag, she decided she might as well head downstairs.

Harry caught her coming out of her room and had quite a puzzled look on his face.

"Oi, 'Mione. Um, I know this is going to sound strange. But what were you doing kissing Malfoy in the Library, and why did you let someone take a picture of it?"

Hermione blushed, she felt it creep from her hairline to her toes. She was red as a beet, as she answered Harry's question, "Well Harry, I didn't know we were being photographed, and to be honest, it wasn't my fault."

Harry looked at her disbelieving. "You aren't serious? It's right there in black and white. Moving and all. Magical pictures don't lie."

Hermoine sighed, "Harry I know how it looks, but he just started kissing me, and I'm sorry but it wasn't horrible. Besides he is my mate or whatever, and I figure if we are kissing, we aren't arguing."

Harry chuckled a little, "Well I suppose you are right, but geez, can you imagine how Ron will react?"

Hermione got defensive at that. Ron could carry on with Lavender Brown the way he had, and then with numerous others since then, and she wasn't allowed a good snogging session with someone, even if that someone happened to be the 'Draco Malfoy'. She thought not.

And answered, "I would think Ronald would be a little more worried about his own situation. What with Pansy hanging from his arm like a lost puppy."

Harry seemed to acknoledge this, and just got silent.

"Shall we go to breakfast," was all Hermione said after that.

Harry nodded and together they went to the Great Hall to break their fast.

"Draco."

He wasn't hearing anything, having only seen Hogwarts paper this morning himself. He was lost in his own thoughts.

"Draco!"

Still not responding to his best friend since childhood.

"DRACO!"

That brought him out of his silent thoughts of the kiss shown before him, and the witch being embraced.

"What Blaise?" He responded angrily.

"What the hell man? Sorry to break you from your thoughts. But KISSING HERMIONE GRANGER?!!!!" Blaise responded none to quiet.

Everyone in the Hall turned to listen and look.

"Yes, I bloody kissed her. Yes, it was obviously photographed. And, YES I ENJOYED IT!" Draco responded and then realized his voice had been escalating with each sentence. He tried to shrink inside himself.

Blaise watched in awe, as his once so arrogant and haughty friend tried to hide from everyone's eyes.

"Draco, I mean, its just that well she's a --- well she's -- dammit she's a mudblood." Blaise responded.

Draco just nodded in responce. What could he really say? He couldn't explain it but he wanted to defend his 'mate' against the horrible name she was just called. But he was a Malfoy and Blaise would think different of him. Reputation to hold-up and all that.

"I know she was muggle-born." Draco added emphasis on muggle. "It's just the ministry matched us for more than one reason, and you have to admit she is sorta beautiful."

Blaise just looked on at his friend like he'd grown horns.

About that time the mail arrived.

Draco wasn't expecting anything. His mother had been so distraught since his father's death, she hadn't really had time for Draco.

But apparently she had found time to pen him a letter. Because the owl dropped it very close to his bowl of oatmeal. Picking it up, Draco eyed it apprehensively. He had felt off since this morning. A sense of dread or something bad to come. But the war was over, was it not? So what did he really have to fear?

Opening the letter, it was indeed from his mother, written in her beautiful cursive. It read:

My Dearest Draco,

I know you are having a difficult time with the Ministry passing it's Marriage Law.

I feel there is something you must know.

It may help with your feelings toward the Muggle-born witch you have been matched with.

I have arranged for you to meet me in the Head Mistress's office today during your free period.

Please meet me there on time.

I feel I have waited far to long to devulge this information.

Now that your father isn't here to make life more horrible,

I can tell you without much guilt.

All My Love,

Mommy

N.M.

P.S.

Do bring your betrothed dear. I would love to meet her.

This was in fact the oddest letter he had ever recieved from his mother. Something she must devulge? My father won't make life horrible? What the hell was she talking about?

Draco just sat staring into his bowl of oatmeal. The dread he had felt earlier got worse with his mother's letter.


Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table:

Ginny sat quietly as if contemplating the meaning of eggs. Ron sat stiff and was alarmed by every tiny sound around him. Harry smiled blissfully as if he hadn't a care in the world. Hermione sat looking at her three closest friends wondering what in the hell they were all going to do.

Ron spoke first, but he had a mouth full of sausage, so it came out more like,"Ses fippin 'uts. Cat do nuffn witut er fowwo'in ee."

In Hermoine's disgust she replied, "Ronald chew then speak. We can't understand a bloody thing you're saying."

He oblidged her request and then repeated, "She's flipping nuts. Can't do nothing without her following me. Blimey I don't know what her problem is."

Harry chuckled. Earning a very put off look from Ron. Who continued. "Harry you have no idea what it's like. She's mean and rude and well not very nice. And she follows me, tries to sit with me, better on top of me, everywhere we are together. She bloody mad I tell ya."

Harry again chuckled at Ron's ramblings, and Hermoine smiled but tried to hide it behind her cup of pumpkin juice.

"Ron, what are you complaining about. Atleast your betrothed doesn't look at you like you have an incurable disease." This of course was Ginny speaking. Who was still quite upset about how Blaise had treated her.

"Ginny, I promise today I will try to find a moment to speak with Draco about this." All heads turned toward Hermione. And then she realized she had used his first name. What the bloody hell was wrong with her? She didn't call him Draco, what was making her now?

Ginny just nodded and pushed her scrambled eggs around on her plate, "Thanks, 'Mione." Thats all she replied.

Hermione was determined to find out just what the hell Blaise's problem was and if Draco wouldn't help her. She would find out herself. There was no way she could let Ginny continue on in this mood. She had half a mind to let him know what she thought of him treating poor Ginny so ruthlessly.

Having finished not finishing his oatmeal, he decided to approach Hermione and find out if she had free period today when he did. Mother wasn't to be crossed if you could help it. She wasn't evil so to speak but cross her you did not. And if she wanted something Draco would do his damnedest to get it for her. Hadn't she been through enough over the years?

Approaching Gryffindor table, lots of them stopped to stare at the seventh year Slytherin who dare come to their table.

"Oi, Hermione, may I have a word with you for a moment." He asked rather politely. Lots of said Gryffindor's where in shock.

As well as Hermione, he's talking to me? And using my first name? Is he mad or cursed? "Um- yes, sure."

With a shrug and wave to her friends she got up, grab her books and left the Great Hall along side her betrothed.


"Look Malfoy, I had no idea Collin was taking that picture of us in the library, but I guarantee---" He cut her off.

"That's not what I wanted to talk about. The picture matters not to me. I got a letter from my mum this morning and she has something she wants to tell me, something about gloom and doom. Anyway, she requested that you be there as well, she wants to meet my mate." Hermione's face lost all color.

Draco continued, "Oh Granger, don't look so frightened. I thought you were a Gryffindor, anyway, she knows you are muggle born. Not a big deal to her. Father was the one who thought if you weren't pure you were below."

Hermione didn't relax completely, but she asked, "Why does she want to meet me? And what do you mean gloom and doom?"

Draco was half with her, half lost in thought. "Have no idea, and she wants to meet you because one day you will be Mistress Malfoy."

Hermoine groaned inwardly. She hated to think someone her age would be required to marry already. Then she straightened herself. "Well fine, when is the meeting?"

Absently he responded, "During my free period, in McGonagall's office."

Hermione stood waiting to hear when his free period was, but when he didn't offer the information she decided she'd better ask. "Well what time? We may not have it available at the same time."

Draco looked up as if she hadn't been standing there, and was just noticing her.

She repeated herself, "What time Malfoy?"

"Huh? Oh! What time, of course. Um two o'clock." He responded.

She groaned again, same as hers. "Well I guess I'll be there then."


They arrived outside the entrance to the Head Mistress's office about the same time. Draco seemed lost in thought and Hermione was so nervous and wound as tight as a bow string.

She waited for Draco to say the password and when he didn't she did.

"Sugar drops"

The Headmistress had decided to keep tradition of muggle candies as passwords.

Draco followed her onto the winding staircase that took them to the door just outside her office.

"Come in."

The door swung open and the two entered together.

Narcissa Malfoy was seated in a chair opposite the professor's desk. She stood when she saw her son.

"Draco!" she walked quickly to him and enveloped him in a hug. Hermione was quiet surprised to see such affection from a woman who was married to one of the worst deatheaters to ever walk the wizarding world.

"Mum." was all Draco said as he hugged his mother back.

Narcissa turned to Hermione. "This must be the wonderful witch the Ministry has matched you with. Oh and look how beautiful she is."

Hermoine stood shocked. Her beautiful, maybe ole Mrs. Malfoy needed spectacles.

And then Narcissa surprised her more and enveloped Hermoine in a hug. Hermione was shocked all she could do was pat her back and hope she let go soon. And when she didn't she looked to Draco for help.

Seeing the pleading look in Hermione's eyes, he said, "Well mum, what's with all this gloom and doom you mentioned?"

"Oh please Draco, it's not all bad, but your father wouldn't let me speak of it while he was alive. Said it would ruin his reputation. And right he was. I loved your father but somethings he just couldn't give me." She said.

Draco looked quizzically at his mother, "Would you care to explain that extremely cryptic statement?"

"Oh please sit, this will come as quite a shock I'm afraid." And with that McGonagall conjured two more chairs close together.

After the two students had sat down and a few more minutes passed Narcissa spoke to tell her story.

"It was many years ago, of course before you were born. Your father and I had been trying for a baby for quite some time. And you see well it just wasn't taking. We went to all the most respected Wizarding Healers and no one could find a reason as to why your father and I couldn't concieve a child."

Draco grabbed hold of Hermoine's hand, sensing that what his mother was about to tell him could very well change the rest of his life. She sensing that he needed the emotional and physical support of holding her hand gripped it back.

Narcissa continued, "When we had exhausted all things magical, we decided to try muggle. And yet that still didn't work. Your father couldn't conceive children. He was sterile."

Draco interrupted," Well obviously not. I'm here." He said it with such smugness. And then his face fell when Narcissa shook her head.

"No child. It's true your father could not conceive, and therefore never did."

He leapt from his seat, "But I don't understand, you say he couldn't have children but yet I'm living proof! Mother have you gone mad?!"

Headmistress McGonagall broke in, "Draco, please just listen, this is very hard on your mother."

Hermione still didn't understand why she had to be here for this, but when Draco reached for her hand again upon setting back down, she sort of did.

Narcissa again continued. "Please Drakie, don't interrupt until I have told you the whole of the story."

Draco nodded.

"Like I said, he never did. He and I made a pact that we would never speak of it, unless he were to procede me in death and then if I felt you needed to know, I could tell you the truth of your birth."

Draco sat staring at his mother, is she saying that my father wasn't my father?

Seeing that she would have to continue she did, "We decided in order to carry on the Malfoy name I would indeed have to get with child, and so your father hired a man to help me do so. It didn't take long, thank goodness. It was breaking my husband in two. Knowing he couldn't conceive and then having to share his wife with another man in order to carry on his legacy, to have an heir." By now Mrs. Malfoy had begun to cry. Remembering, knowing how hurt and shamed her husband was.

"Don't get me wrong Draco, your father loved you. Like you were his own. But he couldn't conceive so he found someone who could. He had many of your father's features, light blonde hair, eyes so blue they were almost silver. Tall and lean. Many wouldn't have noticed the differences between you such as you took after me as much as you did. And Lucious was so proud of you. His son. His child."

Draco was reeling. Did my mother just tell me I'm not my father's child? That some stranger helped conceive me?

Am I even a pure-blood?

With that last thought Draco decided to ask, "Mother?"

She looked at him with tears streaming down his face, "Yes my child?"

"You say another man helped create me? Was he a wizard?" Draco asked straight out.

Narcissa didn't respond right away, she looked at the floor, then to McGonagall, and then finally at Hermione.

Hermione couldn't help but feel for the elder woman. She looked to be in such emotional pain. She nodded for her to answer, almost mentally prodding her to answer her son's question.

When she didn't answer and just kept looking around, Draco asked again this time with much authority and disdain in his voice, "Mother I asked you, was he a wizard? Am I a pure-blood? Am I part muggle?" Still she wouldn't answer.

"MOTHER ANSWER ME! You think you have a right to tell me the man I thought my father wasn't then you don't tell me what I wish to know! ANSWER ME!" He was screaming.

She straightened herself. Looked her son in the face. Then answered him:

"No son. He was not a wizard. You are not a pure-blood. You are half-blood. I am sorry."

Draco ran from McGonagall's office. Narcissa crumpled to the floor in front of Hermoine and McGonagall's eyes.

Then Mrs. Malfoy looked to Hermoine and spoke, "You will help him. I know he will hold it in and not speak about it. That's why I asked you to be here. You were chosen as his mate for a reason. Please help my son understand. Please."

Hermione was over-whelmed.

Draco wasn't a pure-blood, and here his mother sat crumpled on the floor asking for her to help her son.

What was she going to do?!


Please review. Hope you liked the twist. Hugs!