A/N: BIT OF A SHORTY. But, I was really wanting to get it out! So, yeah... I hope you all enjoy and don't hate me for not making Rita eat her own words... Whoops. Bit of a spoiler there wasn't it... Hmmm. I love you all! Thank you all for the reviews! =)

Chapter 18

"What did Potter say to you?"

Hermione sighed and just shook her head as they walked up to the portrait, moving away from him as she opened her mouth to speak the password. But she didn't get out a word as Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her to face him. She looked down at his shoes, hardly seeing them in the dark corridor.

"What did the bastard say, Hermione?"

The light touch of his finger beneath her chin made her look up and she found him frowning down at her in worry. She shook her head and shrugged. It wasn't like Harry had said anything bad. But the situation, itself, was hard. She kept looking into his eyes as his hand moved up to cup the side of her face gently and she turned her head into the touch, lightly kissing his palm. Almost out of instinct and catching herself.

Her eyes widened briefly and she looked to see him staring at her, a small hint of a smile on his lips. His lips... She stared at them for the longest of time, wishing to feel them against her own once more. Slowly she backed away and turned back to the portrait. Her cheeks were warm as they flushed and once again she was glad that where she stood was dimly lit.

"Hermione..." his tone was questioning, concerned and her heart ached. She wanted to kiss him so badly, but she didn't want to get hurt. Even when she knew he would never hurt her, she was still scared. "Hermione," this time he placed his hand on her shoulder and she spun around so fast she didn't even think as she pressed her lips to his quickly.

"Ow," he said when she pulled back. He looked mildly stunned and touched his fingers to his lips.

"Oh Merlin..." she shook her head, placing her hands over her face in embarrassment. While she'd wanted it to be soft and smooth, she more or less attacked him.

"Hey, now," she heard him, his tone so gentle she couldn't really believe it, and felt his hands rest over hers, gently pulling them away from her face. She couldn't look at him, too mortified to look into those beautiful eyes of his. "I'm not bleeding, I promise."

Hermione snorted very unladylike which made her blush intensify. She heard him chuckle and only looked up at him when his arms wrapped around her waist and his hands clasped at her lower back, leaving not but an inch between them. His smirk was positively evil and she managed an eye roll.

"I didn't know you wanted a snog..."

"Shut up," she said, but the demand was very weak and her flushed cheeks weren't helping. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder and sighed. "He asked why I didn't tell him," she felt his body go stiff at her sudden change of topic. "About my parents," she clarified. "And I told him how I truly felt. How he hurt me and let me down..."

They were both silent for a long moment, the only noise was the rustling of the painting, who was very uncomfortable with the tender moment before her. "By the way he looked when we left, I say that he finally gets the message."

"You think?" she asked pulling away slightly to look up at his face, smiling when he brushed a stray hair behind her ear.

"Yeah," he nodded and then ever so lightly brushed his lips against hers.

Hermione stiffened for a moment, relaxing when his lips moved for a second time and then a third. So soft and sweet, making her melt in his embrace as she leaned against him and grasped the lapels of his jacket. It wasn't as passionate as the first time, but she still felt this jolt through her body that reached all the way down to her toes.

It was Draco who pulled away first, resting his forehead against hers as they caught their breath and she smiled when she felt his fingers brush through her hair.

"That was nice," she said quietly, glad that this corridor and part of the castle was empty now.

She felt the warm breathes against her lips when he laughed and she pulled back to look. Giving him a wide smile when he placed a chaste kiss on her lips and then turned her towards the stern looking portrait.

"Goodnight, Hermione."

"Goodnight, Draco."

/-/-/-/

January 5th, 1997

Christmas and New Years passed since Harry arrived back at Hogwarts, he'd been quite annoying. Always trying to get her attention, although at meals he always went over to the Gryffindor table to sit with Ron, he still gave her looks from across the room. It was starting to unnerve her a bit. It was like he was holding on by a string, trying to keep their friendship alive, telling her he was sorry every time they passed in the halls or when he caught her alone in the library. While she gave Harry credit for trying, Ron just glared at her every time he saw her and she returned the favor.

During the Holidays she stayed at Hogwarts with the four Slytherins. Ginny, Neville, and Luna, of course, going back home to see their families. Theo had been a wreck without Ginny around, but Hermione did her best to keep him company and make him laugh, much to Draco's chagrin.

She laughed whenever she caught Draco frowning when he saw her showing the tawny haired boy affection. And Theo would joke around and pull her closer. Well, as close as he could with her growing belly between them.

Not a lot had changed over the Holidays, aside from the fact that her and Draco were growing to like snogging each other very much. Hermione even learn to enjoy the stokes of his tongue in her mouth, more so when she was the one exploring. She did have her moments, still. Stopping abruptly when a particular memory made itself present. There were times when she wished she could obliviate herself. She'd even asked Madam Pomfrey once or twice during an appointment to which she only received a pitiful look.

She was currently sitting in her rooms, enjoying a book and hiding away from an ever prominent pain in her backside; Harry. It wasn't a moment that she turned the page when the sudden appearance of a book on her table startled her and she looked around suspiciously. She knew no one was in her dorm, but still. She leaned over, placing a hand on the side of her stomach and frowning when she saw the cover.

'How To Love Your Child' A True Story and Self-Help Book by Feidlimid Redbrush.

Very slowly she set her Charms text aside and picked up the book. For some time now, when she was alone she thought about when the child was born and how she would feel towards it. Lately she'd been so absorbed into the ruse her and Draco were pulling off, she forgot that the baby she carried wasn't his.

With a sigh she leaned back into the plush couch and gripped the book between her hands, wondering who banished it to her room and why... Of course, the why was more obvious. She had doubted her ability to love the child within her and with another beat she opened the book to find a note written on the blankness of the first page.

Dear,

Miss Granger

I thought this book would help you accept what is happening. I know it is not my place to think such a thing, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone. Many other witches have been in your shoes, and I just so happen to be one of them. My story, while not as horrific as yours, left me broken for years. And I just wanted to let you know that there is no moving on from what happened, there's no forgetting either. This might not seem encouraging, but I am not yet finished.

You will find love. You will find someone who makes you laugh and gives you butterflies. Someone who might help you carry the pain and lift the burden on your shoulders. Don't think you can't be happy, and don't allow yourself to think that you shouldn't be happy when you laugh or when you find yourself enjoying a moment. While you have to live with what happened, it will not continue to rule your life forever. While their is no moving on from it, their is always a way to look it over and be happy.

This book is about a witch who went through the same thing we have. She was left destroyed and pregnant, disowned by her family, and was brave enough to love the child that was conceived in such a vile act. I myself was not able to keep my child, but I still see him everyday. And I love him for the man he has become. He is courageous and smart, and while a Slytherin like his sperm donor, he is much different from him which pleases me to no end. He doesn't know I am his mother. And I don't think I will ever tell him. Because while I had wanted him raised in a good family, he had not been. Call me selfish, but I don't want him to hate me.

Just know, you can love that child you carry no matter its biological father.

Sincerely,

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Hermione wiped the tears from her cheeks, only noticing she was crying when a fat teardrop fell and splattered on the page. It took a while to compose herself, gently running her finger around the note McGonagall left her. To know that one of her teachers had been through the same predicament was overwhelming. She wondered briefly who her son was, but easily gave up when she read the note over again. It didn't matter. The woman loved her child anyway. And Hermione wasn't going to ever mention or ask the older woman about it.

When she finally stopped sniffling, Hermione turned to the second page and began reading. Captured from the first sentence, she didn't put the book down until dinner. The book was sad and terrifying. Every single moment had been in full detail. Feidlimid had been only sixteen. She had livid in Ireland and was born in the mid 1800s. Her family was of Pureblood, but she had never cared over such things. She liked to run around and be free, and if not outside she liked to loose herself in books, something that reminded Hermione of herself. One night Feidlimid had been taking a walk with a book in her hand when she was attacked. Hermione cringed and cried openly as she went from page to page through the attack, reminded of her own at some points.

The book had spoke about her parents finding her and keeping her locked away until they found she was pregnant and then she was cast out of the house. Given only a rucksack and a wad of money to get by. She later worked at a tavern as a barmaid to earn extra money. She had found friendship with the bar owner and only figured she loved him after her baby was born. A daughter, that she confesses her love over profusely.

That's how she was found, tears dripping down her cheeks and staring down at the Author's picture waving at her as she hugged a young girl. The words 'You won't believe how easy it is...' staring up at her.

'Hermione..." She looked up when she heard Draco's voice and she burrowed her face into his chest when he sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. His hand was comforting in her hair, his lips spreading a warmth over her scalp as he kissed her bushy curls. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, and for a moment she didn't speak. "This book-" she finally said, not moving away from Draco, but pulling the book closer to settle on Draco's thigh. She watched as he reached out and grabbed the spine of the book, flipping it over to it's face-cover. The title was a whisper on his lips and she tilted her head to look up at him. Finding him looking right back at her. Abandoning the book, his hand wiped away her tears and he gently pressed his lips to hers. "It's so sad," she said, when he pulled away. "You know, I've always known others have gone through this, but to actually read... To actually hear someone else's story..." she blinked back her tears, leaning her face into Draco's hand. "I feel like I'm not alone. Does that sound horrible?"

Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears, but she couldn't help it.

"No," his tone was soft and sincere, she knew he wasn't lying. But, when had Draco ever lied to her? At least lately? Never. She leaned up and kissed him softly, without seeing any haunting memories. They sat there for a while, enjoying each other and kissing tenderly.

When they parted, Draco smiled at her and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Let's get you and junior something to eat, huh?"

"Junior?" Hermione asked, it was really the first time they had ever mentioned the baby as it being both of theirs, when truthfully it wasn't. But, she felt her heart fluttering all the same.

He seemed sheepish for a split second before he magically schooled his features. "Well, I will be it's father, so, yes. Junior."

She smiled at him as he stood up, setting the book on the coffee table. She took his hand when he held it out to her and kissed him soundly before letting him lead her to the Great Hall for dinner.

/-/-/-/

January 6th, 1997

Hermione was the first one to enter Transfigurations and when she did, she couldn't help going right up to her Professor and wrapping her arms around the older woman. She felt her tense, but then warm arms wrapped right back around her, McGonagall's body relaxing as they stood their for a moment. They parted only when they heard the sound of the other students coming into the room, both of them having to wipe away stray tears, before Hermione walked away and took her seat. Smiling calming at Draco when he sat next to her.

"Are you all right?" he asked, reaching up and feeling her damp cheek.

"I'm perfect," she replied, kissing his jaw.

"Miss Granger, please refrain from showing such affection in my classroom," came the stern voice of their Professor. When she looked at the woman she saw that the command was half-hearted.

They shared a secret smile that was sad and soft.

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall."

TBC