I do not own Harry Potter or make money off this fic. All rights to J.K. Rowling.
AN: To my lovely reviewers- thank you. And to one in particular: you are so right and I should just quit while I'm ahead, right? Too bad there are already sixteen chapters of this thing written. Seems a waste to not finish it now.
Draco walked ahead of Snape down the hallways and opened the door of his professor's office before moving inside to take a seat. He crossed his arms and waited. He hadn't spoken to Snape since the man had forced him from the great hall and he didn't much feel like talking now, except to perhaps cuff the man a good one.
Severus followed him inside and shut the door quietly, gazing over at his pupil strangely.
"I won't apologize, if that's what you want," he spoke to Draco reprovingly. "I had no idea-"
"That my mother would effectively tip off the entire school to the situation? Is that what you were going to say? Because if it's not, I don't need to hear it." Draco leaned forward in his seat and glowered at the other man. "I don't think you realize just how delicate this situation is- she doesn't even trust me yet! Now I'm going to have to start at the bottom with her and work twice as fast, no thanks to your big mouth. And Mother?" He groaned and sat back again, staring moodily into a corner. "What the bloody hell am I supposed to tell her now?"
Snape had the good grace to look a little bit sorry before he replied. "Narcissa will…understand."
Draco looked up and glared. "You heard the howler just like everyone else- how will that translate to understanding?"
The older wizard cleared his throat and looked away, tenting his fingers together delicately. "Er," he responded.
Draco's eyebrows rose. "You- you planned that? Together?" When Snape said nothing, he laughed and his shoulders visibly relaxed. "Well, well. That changes quite a bit, doesn't it? I suppose it makes sense for things to happen this way. It gives her an element of protection. And the shock in her voice was real enough. Let me guess- you simply weren't expecting her to announce it in quite that fashion."
Snape snorted. "That, or she is a better actress than I thought and is genuinely upset at the turn of events."
"But you didn't tell her everything."
"Of course not," Severus replied, rising from his chair. "Now, you'd better get up to the headmaster's office- I'll contact Minerva and see if she's found Miss Granger yet. We'll have to have an emergency meeting about this evening's spectacle." The wizard stopped Draco before he left his office, one hand on the boy's shoulder. "Do you think you can salvage your budding relationship with the girl?"
Draco shook off his hand easily and smirked. "Well, it won't be simple, but knowing that this stunt with Mother was planned puts a different outlook on things. Don't worry about me, Snape. I can manage- you should know that."
With that, he was out the door. Severus stared after him a moment before picking up some powder to floo Minerva as promised, schooling his features into unconcerned passivity once more.
Ron caught up to Ginny and Hermione just before he headed out to the Quidditch pitch. He left Lavender at a watering fountain and jogged up to them quickly.
Ginny watched her brother, one eyebrow crooked upwards in a suspicious expression. "Yes, Ron?" she sighed.
Hermione looked up from her letter guiltily and met his eyes as he looked from one to the other. She noticed the concerned look on his face, the flush of red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears and stood up, shoving the letter into a pocket.
"What is it?" she asked, suddenly very worried. She noticed Harry moving up behind Ron a few meters away and lowered her voice. "Spit it out, Ron, Harry's coming!"
"Er-" he lowered his voice as well and leaned in, "the cat is out of the bag?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione was confused.
"Which cat, Ron?" Ginny hissed. "The Malfoy cat or the Weasley cat?"
"Malfoy-" he began to respond, his anger rising to match Ginny's indifference.
"Hermione!" Harry called out, overtaking the small group. "You will not believe what Malfoy's bloody mother just said about you and that arse!"
The trio turned to welcome Harry's presence, trying not to look too guilty. Hermione stepped forward.
"Ron was just saying something about it- can you tell me what happened? Whatever it was, it can't have been that bad-"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Would you stop defending the prat? His mother- Merlin, I'm so angry I could really kill him this time!"
Ginny frowned and looked at Hermione significantly. "Well, whatever it is will have to wait unless you two can get your tongues untied," she snapped. "We have practice in less than five minutes."
Harry fumed a bit and Ron found his voice again. He turned back to Hermione, the look on his face apologetic, but no less upset. "What Harry is trying to say is that the woman sent the ferret a howler- he opened it shortly after you'd left. She made some awful accusations against you, Hermione," he finished just as Lavender waltzed up to them.
The blond witch leaned into the conversation. "Oh my God, yes," she muttered. "Malfoy's mum accused him of getting you preggers, can you believe it? Where in hell would she get that idea from? Sounds completely mental!"
At the sound of her sniggering laugh, Harry cast a sympathetic glance at Hermione and then spun away, heading back out towards the field. He raised a hand in farewell and shouted over his shoulder at them. "I can't take this right now- I'm going to warm up!"
Hermione watched him go, a sad look on her face. Lavender tugged on Ron's arm and he unwillingly let her lead him away in the direction of the pitch as well. "I'll see you later! We'll talk then-" he called as he was dragged away.
When they were both gone, Ginny looked at Hermione, watching her friend carefully. "Well, your mum doesn't sound as angry as you thought she might be, at least. That's something, right?" When her friend didn't answer right away, she took her hand.
"Will you be okay on your own for a bit, Hermione? Perhaps you'd better go see Professor McGonagall to check on this new story."
Hermione nodded and squeezed Ginny's hand tightly. "I'll be fine. It's not like we didn't expect this to get all over, anyhow. I just didn't expect it to be so…"
"Soon, Miss Granger?" came an authoritative voice from behind them. The girls spun about to see Minerva McGonagall standing over them. "Neither did we, but it's happened. We're going to have a small chat with Headmaster Dumbledore about it now, hmm?" She looked pointedly at Ginny. "Don't you have somewhere to be, Miss Weasley? While your concern for your friend is most admirable, I would hate for our house's chances at the Quidditch Cup to be ruined by your preoccupation with matters that have nothing to do with you."
Ginny arched a brow at her professor and didn't mince words as she replied. "I'm glad you find my concern so admirable, Professor. But while I take my position on the team seriously, the situation Hermione is in hardly has nothing to do with me, don't you think?" Then she smiled sweetly and flounced off towards the field, though not before giving Hermione a hug and whispering that she would meet her after practice.
The other witch finally turned to McGonagall and smiled. "So we're to have another meeting?"
Minerva raised an eyebrow and turned away, holding a hand out in front of her. "If you please, Miss Granger. By the way, I've taken the liberty of having your set of rooms prepared for you already and we can have the house elves move your things as soon as you wish. Preferably before curfew tonight, as your being settled in separate rooms before we get a flurry of mail from distressed parents will help a great deal in the negotiations with the Governors."
Hermione made a small scoffing noise. "Professor," she said firmly, "I hardly think that having the house elves move my things will do anybody any good. Besides, there's not much to move. I can get Ginny to help me carry my trunk- possibly even Draco."
Minerva gave her a tight lipped smile. "Ah, how could I forget- you direct S.P.E.W. Well, if they will help you, then you'd better get on it as soon as this meeting is taken care of. Now, up you go, my dear." She followed Hermione up the stairs to the headmaster's office and shut the door behind them.
Draco and Snape were already there, settled into chairs. When he saw her, Draco jumped from his seat, a guilty look upon his face, and offered his chair to her. She smiled at him tentatively.
"Thank you- you know, I'm not upset with you, Draco," she murmured hesitantly. I know you wouldn't have told your mother without discussing it with me. Besides, whatever awful things she said about me, I didn't hear them. I was out of the hall, chasing down Ginny."
Draco looked as if he actually sighed with relief and then he knelt beside her chair, lowering his voice. "I'm so glad you believe it wasn't me- Mother is furious, though. I'll have to write her immediately."
"Should I include a letter myself, do you think?" she asked him, eager to help. After all, though she wasn't aware of his reasons, this arrangement was their mutual best shot at surviving the war intact. Hermione wanted it to work out, no matter how distasteful some of the arising situations might be.
Draco shook his head. "No, that would probably only have the opposite effect-" he was cut off by the entry of Dumbledore.
"Well?" Albus asked the quartet. "What has been done so far?"
"Why don't you ask these two?" Draco asked him, nodding in the direction of their professors. "They're the ones who are managing our lives so well."
Minerva scowled at him and stepped forward. "Hermione has received word from her parents, as have you, Albus. She'll be moving to her new quarters tonight, presumably with the help of Mister Malfoy, here."
"Me? Why don't the house elves-" Draco stopped as he caught Snape's eyes rolling. "Oh," he muttered, then let out a small laugh. "Spew."
"No, not spew-" Hermione began, but Dumbledore waved a hand and interrupted her.
"Never mind, Miss Granger. While your work with the house elves is most admirable, it is not the topic of our brief meeting this evening. Now, Severus?" he asked the other wizard.
Snape smiled mildly. "Draco will be in touch with his mother shortly. Miss Granger's parents, Minerva, are arriving for a conference when, tomorrow?"
"Two in the afternoon."
"And Mrs. Malfoy will arrive in time for it, although I'm sure you will want to speak to both parties separately. And, having received letters from the parents which neither myself or Minerva has been privy to, I think that is the extent of our knowledge and only the beginning of yours. Are you going to share with us, Albus?" he asked quietly.
"No," the wizened man replied steadily, "as the missive I received from Narcissa Malfoy was a howler, the same as young Draco's. As for the Grangers, they are anxious about their daughter's health and safety and her father, I imagine, wishes to behead her deflowerer. However, I know nothing beyond these few things. Can either Draco or Hermione enlighten us?"
When both pupils shook their heads, he clapped his hands together. "Well, splendid. So it begins. I trust you will find your new living quarters satisfactory, Miss Granger. Mister Malfoy, if you run into too much trouble with your own house, let me know and we will arrange for separate quarters for you as well. That is all. Good night, everyone!" he finished cheerily waving his hands at them and waiting for them to vacate his office.
Draco and Hermione stared at their respective house heads for some reassurance that things would be alright, eventually. When none came, they made their way from the office to the staircase and down it, walking together dejectedly.
"That was encouraging," Draco remarked lightly. Hermione snorted.
"And I'm good at Divination," she replied, earning a small smile from her companion and fellow conspirator.
"So," he stared, looked over to her, "what's this about me helping you move your trunk?"
She blushed and looked at the floor. "Oh, well. I don't want the house elves doing a job I can easily do myself. It would go against my principals, wouldn't it?"
"Are you asking me or telling me, Granger?"
"Telling you, I suppose," she replied evenly. "So are you up for it? I would have asked Ginny, but she's at practice right now. And by the time she gets back she'll be too worn out to move anything anywhere, I imagine."
"So I'm the obvious choice."
"Well," Hermione responded, looking over to him, "you did get me pregnant, after all. The least you could do is carry my luggage."
He smirked. "Like you don't know several perfectly good levitation spells."
"It would be nice to have a bit of company, though," she said quietly. "I've only ever been surrounded by my classmates and other members of my house. It will be strange to live alone in this place."
He glanced at her strangely. "Does it frighten you?"
She paused in her movement and chewed on her lips a little before starting forward again. "You know, I think it does, a little. For some of the students- like Harry- it's their true home. They love this place as though it's the only spot they've ever truly belonged. For me, I've never felt I really belonged."
Draco started to make noises of pat disapproval, but she waved a hand. "Don't bother trying to console me, Draco." She lifted her eyes to his in a look of resignation. "Regardless of what you think of me now or what your motives are, you've always been on the side that makes me feel out of place and you know it. I don't need your mollycoddling. I've never needed it; there's always been someone to make me feel welcome and a part of things. I know I'm a brilliant witch and good at my classes, but when it comes down to it, it's my friends that I belong with, never really Hogwarts…though I do love this place. I guess…maybe I'm just scared of the change. There've been so many in such a short period of time…"
Draco nodded as he listened. Yes, he understood what she meant- every word of it. "So perhaps living on your own may simply take some getting used to?"
She smiled at him, glad he understood. "Yes, I think that's it." She stopped suddenly and he looked up, surprised. Were they really at Gryffindor Tower already? Why on earth had he followed her so far? He wasn't really going to help her with her move, was he?
"Well, here we are," she muttered. She turned to him. "If you don't want to help or be hounded with multiple questions, you'd better leave now. People will think it's strange enough that you walked me to the portrait without sneering once."
He carefully arranged his face into a look of utter disdain and distaste. "Will this do?" he asked. Yes, he told himself, apparently you are going to help her. And furthermore, the voice in his head continued, I think you empathize with her- you like her. He told himself to shut it and the sneer on face deepened.
She tried to hide her grin and shook her head. "Why don't you wait here for me and make rude remarks to the Fat Lady? That ought to confuse people some more." With that, she quickly spoke the password and dashed into the Gryffindor common room.
He sighed and turned around to lean against the wall, ready to wait. Why had he stayed? There was no need; Hermione could manage perfectly well on her own. So for what? A bit of company? Perhaps to be invited into her new single abode for a nightcap? He smirked to himself and was aware of the portrait next to him sizing him up.
"So you and the bright, pretty one, eh?" she asked him, ogling him openly. He looked over at her, and was suddenly very uncomfortable. He didn't think a portrait had ever undressed him with her eyes before. It was most unsettling.
What did one say to a portrait other than bugger off? "That's right," he managed to reply smoothly.
The Fat Lady's eyes went wide. "Ooooh, uuuummmm," she murmured lewdly. He glared at her.
"If you like, I can get Sirius Black in here for you," he responded. The Fat Lady shrieked and dove behind a tree. Apparently no one had told her that Black was dead. He grinned and leant against the wall once again, hoping that no one of note passed by. While it was all well and good to spread rumors, it wasn't good to be caught unprepared. And whatever had happened tonight, regardless of the best laid plans of witches and wizards, regardless of how he may or may not feel about Hermione, they were most certainly not prepared for it.
No one expects the Dark Lord's return! he thought to himself, amused. Just then, there was a massive clunking sound against the portrait and the Fat Lady continued to shudder and moan behind her tree.
"Is it him? Have you brought him already?" she hissed before she swung open to reveal a large, dark green trunk.
Draco eyed Hermione over the top of the floating luggage and raised one eyebrow. "Green? I was somehow expecting red and gold."
She frowned and her face grew pink as she pushed the trunk out of the entry way and shut the portrait behind her. The Fat Lady shrieked again and she turned to look at her with alarm before pushing the trunk past Draco.
"I like green," she muttered to him as she walked by. "Loads of people like the color green- it doesn't mean anything." When he didn't respond, simply walked alongside her, smirking, she rolled her eyes. "Whatever it is you're thinking, I don't want to know! It can't be much worse than what half the school thinks of me already and I have already had sex on school grounds and gotten myself pregnant, so I really don't think you can come up with much worse."
"Not even that you're a closet Slytherin?"
She frowned. "I'm sure that's what everybody thinks already, with all the chats in broom closets we've been having lately."
Draco looked up thoughtfully. "That's very true. Still, with a trunk this color-"
"Oh, stuff it!" she growled at him. "Now are you actually going to help me or do I have to do everything myself?"
He sneered at her again for good measure, but did tug his wand from his pocket and began directing the floating trunk.
That evening, a very few eyes were privy to the sight of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger making their way through a seldom used part of the castle, directing a trunk of belongings ahead of themselves.
The group of Hufflepuffs that were so fortunate to see them dissolved into whispers as the duo passed.
"I told you! Melanie said herself that she saw them just today-"
"I know! And you were at dinner, you heard that howler, too…"
When Draco cast an arch glance in their direction, they immediately stood up straight and were quiet. Hermione frowned at him.
"You're only making it worse!" she murmured in low tones. She was torn between her responsibility to the thing inside her and her desire for privacy.
Draco glanced down at her and gave her the largest, most predatory smile he could manage. The Hufflepuff girls behind them burst into giggles and more rushed whispers.
"My dear Granger," he replied, "isn't that the point?"
At that, all Hermione could do was stare straight ahead and ignore the fact that she was swiftly becoming the talk of the entire school…and that it was probably going to lose her a friendship with Harry and also cause Ron to implode.
Not that Ron's implosion was a bad idea, all around. And with that thought, she smiled up at Draco in return. "You know," she responded, tucking an arm under his, "I think you may be right."