Chapter Thirty-Two

"Herrrrrmmmmmiiiiooonnneeee?"

"Sorry, I must have dozed off a moment – what was it?"

Ginny stared at her friend carefully: Something was up – she could tell; But what, she wasn't sure. Deciding to blame it on Draco Malfoy, like everything else, Ginny brushed the incident aside.

"It wasn't important. All I asked was if you were excited to start school up again," Ginny answered, gently rocking baby Teddy in his bassinet with her hand. The child was fast asleep – and Hermione could not take her eyes off of him. The longer she watched him, the less sure of herself she felt.

"Oh, most definitely," Hermione answered, feigning a convincing smile and tearing her eyes away from the sleeping child. "I do wonder, though – what kind of state do you think the castle will be in?"

"I've heard there are going to be parts of it shut off. McGonagall's Headmistress, too – just like we thought. I'm not sure if they've found a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor yet, either. At least, the last I HEARD they hadn't. But that was a week ago…"

Hermione's mind floated out of the conversation again. Yes, school had always delighted her, and she dearly loved to learn… but right then, she could almost care less whether she ever went back to Hogwarts again.

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. Teddy woke up and began to cry. "Oh drat," Ginny cursed. "I'll be right back to calm this one down. Once he's asleep again, you are going to tell me EXACTLY what is on your mind."

Hermione took Ginny's threat very seriously. As soon as the redhead had left the room, she began to wrack her mind for something… a lie. Anything but the truth would suffice.

How very Slytherin of me, she thought.

How fitting then. The newest Mrs. Malfoy WAS developing some snake-like qualities, after all…

Hermione felt her stomach twist into a knot and her mind immediately jumped to the baby supposedly growing inside her. She knew it was far too early to tell if there really was any sign of life in there (a peal of thunder from outside only confirmed this notion) – but all the same, she because visibly more nervous.

Ginny returned fifteen minutes later, without the baby. "Talk," she ordered.

"I miss my grandmother," Hermione replied almost instantly. It was true – though it wasn't what was bothering her the most. "I think I really offended her, Gin. She never even said good-bye to me."

Ginny frowned, almost as though she could see the lie, but didn't think Hermione capable of such a thing. Hermione felt like dirt. "If I know my Great Aunt Dora," Ginny murmured, "she'll forgive you for nearly anything. I mean, most of the other purebloods viewed us Weasleys as all blood-traitors – but Aunt Dora never stopped talking to Mum. She even came to Fred's funeral…"

An uneasy silence enveloped the pair: Fred's death was still an uncomfortable thing. It was so fresh in mind. Hermione had gone, of course – she could still see the long coffin, draped in black being lowered into the ground. George had set off the last of the fireworks he and Fred had created together and stayed longer than everyone else.

Ginny bit her lip, "I know you've been miserable, Hermione, but…"

"Don't say it," Hermione pleaded, already knowing: Ginny was going to tell her how miserable everyone still was. Hermione pulled Ginny into a hug, feeling wretched. So that was what everyone thought of her now: The most afflicted in a time of lingering misery. The hug was bittersweet; She was giving comfort, when comfort was the one thing she, herself wanted the most at that moment.

"Oh, 'Mione," Ginny sighed, "whatever happened to the world?" Tears hinted the corners of her eyes.

Hermione couldn't answer – she was unsure if there was one to give.

.

.

When Hermione arrived home that night, she was utterly exhausted. Resolving not to even speak so much as a word to Draco, provided she saw him at all, she apparated directly into the bedroom, desiring nothing but a nice hot shower and bed.

A house elf was in the room, tidying up, and immediately bowed and left: They had learned very quickly that Hermione didn't really want to see them. They, too were wary of her, and suspicious of the fact that she'd offered them all clothes.

The armchair in front of the desk spun around to face her, a surprised Draco seated there.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

Hermione snorted, unable to help it: They were married and expecting, and he STILL wanted to know what on earth she was doing in their house! What a guy…

"I've just got back from Harry and Ginny's," she answered tersely, realizing she'd just botched her plan not to speak to him.

"Oh," he answered simply. "They're living together now?"

The question caught Hermione off guard, most likely because it was so un-Draco-like. "Yeah, I guess so. I mean, they're acting as guardians to Teddy…"

"Who?"

Hermione was painfully reminded of how little Draco actually knew about her life. "Teddy Lupin," she explained with a pained expression, "his parents were killed."

"Lupin," Draco repeated, "as in, that professor who taught us in third year? Wasn't he a werewolf?"

"Yeah," Hermione answered curtly, "he was. And a very good man."

"I didn't know he had a kid."

"Yes."

There was a long silence. Hermione went to collect her things for a shower, when Draco spoke again, "Do you resent me?"

The question caught her so by-surprise that she paused and looked up at him, "What?"

"Nothing," he answered, "don't worry about it."

Hermione stared at him, "Do I resent you…?" She'd never thought about it before, but she most likely did. "I suppose I do. Do you resent me?"

"I do," he replied, looking away from her. Hermione couldn't see Draco's face, but she had an odd suspicion that he was crying. When he looked up however, his face was dry and stony. "I told my father you were pregnant." Draco seemed to wince as he said the word 'pregnant', as if it caused him physical pain.

"I bet he was pleased."

"I guess so."

"School term starts in two days," Hermione announced.

"I'm probably not going," Draco answered.

Hermione found that she didn't even care at his statement. In fact, she was somewhat relieved at it. "I'm not fancying going back to school pregnant."

Draco winced again, but said nothing. A minute-long silence filled the room from wall to wall. It seemed an eternity before Hermione broke the quiet.

"How did you and your mother communicate yesterday?" she wheedled. "She just touched her wrist and called your name, and you were there."

"It's a pureblood thing," he explained. "We're bound by our blood. Did you think that whole business about being better than everyone else was just for show?"

"Interesting. So you admit you were a pompous asshole?"

Draco seemed taken aback. "Will you admit that you're fight-mongering?"

She didn't reply and pursed her lips, grabbing all her things for a shower and storming into the next room, leaving Draco alone – and extremely glad for it.

"What could she be mad about, anyway?" he asked himself. After all, she was living in a comfortable home, she was a pureblood, she was married, and he wasn't a controlling bastard like his father. In fact, he left her alone half the time, to her own business.

Sure, she was pregnant. But they'd never had sex before, and she could always use a concealment charm to hide her condition from her fellow students.

"Maybe she was telling the truth," he reasoned with himself. What if Hermione had, in fact, truly been a virgin before the summer? The idea was foreign to him. Sure, HE hadn't gotten any since his sixth year, but he wasn't worthy of virgin status by any means, either.

But if she had been… if she really HAD been… well, that just made that Muggle who raped her even more of an asshole.

And really, who would she have HAD sex with? Weasley? The thought made him sick a little. But then… he remembered the Yule Ball in their fourth year. She went with Victor Krum. VICTOR KRUM! An international Quidditch player, ridiculously renowned across the world! How had she even scored him in the first place...?

But still, if she was telling the truth – she was pregnant now without ever having experienced sex before… he supposed he could see why she was upset, after all.

.

.

Author's Note: Thanks loads to InvisibleLilacNights, gitgit, margaritama, Shaiya Star-Gazer, CherryKatt202, tfobmv18, MyLookOfDenial., sureynot, Joe-nasGirl, RIPJameSiriusLupinTrueMarauder, and Liz for the reviews! And extra thanks to those who left constructive criticism - I got more than I thought I did. It was interesting, though... no one's criticism overlapped! How strange. I suppose that kind of thing IS altered a bit by individual preference, but I did get some very valid pointers. Thanks to everyone for those! If you feel there are any more points you'd like to make, drop me a review or a message. I love them.

sureynot - Yes, Hermione and Draco DO end up together in this fic. It doesn't seem like it yet, but I promise things are as happy as is possible for this couple once everything is over and done with.

RIPJameSiriusLupinTrueMarauder - Possibly I did rush the spell. I guess I just don't consider it that important of a part in the story, but... that's only because I know what happens next! ^_^ Thanks for letting me know your opinion. I'll put a few more details in for ya.