It's short, but I hope that's okay. After all, I'm short and I'm okay with it. By the way, does anyone know anything about laptops and why the sound on mine is so bad?

Chapter 13
Draco paced outside of an exam room as Hermione redressed. Her appointment with the maternity healer had gone well, and they were assured that they would be able to determine the baby's gender at their next meeting. His fears had ebbed in the last few weeks since Hermione's return to their home, but each new development set him on edge.

"Malfoy?"

He turned to see who had called out to him and groaned as Ron Weasley approached.

"What are you doing here?" Weasley wondered.

Draco glanced back at the still closed door. "Just waiting for someone," he replied. "Um, why...why are you here?"

The door behind him opened, and Hermione stopped short. "Ron, hi," she said quickly. "We were just leaving."

If the redhead heard her, he said nothing. Blue eyes trained on her stomach. At five months, she had a large enough swell that made it obvious that she was pregnant. "What's going on?" he asked, finally finding his voice. "Is...is it mine? Why didn't you tell me? I had a right to know that I'm going to be a father!"

Sensing that a scene was soon to unfold, Hermione held up a hand. "It's not yours, Ron. Calm down," she said gently. That seemed to put him at ease, but only slightly. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this."

"You didn't tell him?" Draco asked. "Any of them?"

Hermione shrugged, feeling an embarrassed blush warm her cheeks. "It never felt like the right time," she mumbled from the side of her mouth.

"Whose is it?" Ron asked, arms crossed over his chest as he sized up Draco. The small glance she shot Draco's way said it all. "Figures."

He began to walk away, making his way to the far end of the hall, when he heard footsteps behind him. His speed increased, and so did his pursuer's. Reaching the door that led to the stairs, he stopped and turned. Hermione struggled to keep up, his longer gait getting the better of her. "Oh thank god," she muttered when she finally reached him.

"Look, I don't want apologies or explanations," he stated.

She glared at him. "Good, I wasn't offering any," she retorted. "I don't think I owe you either anyway."

Ron let out an impatient sigh. "Then what do you want?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know," she replied, trying to remain as calm as she could. "We've been friends since we were children. I've missed you. It would be nice to have my friend back."

He peered over her shoulder to where Draco waited near the exam room she had just exited. "I'd say you're well covered in the friends department," he commented. "What's that saying? Who needs friends when they have enemies."

"Draco is not the enemy," she stated as her face warmed with anger. "And I don't know why I bother wasting my time defending him to you. You always said I was the stubborn one. Well, I have another saying for you - that's like the pot calling the kettle black. I wish I could change your mind. I wish you could understand the relationship Draco and I have. But you won't because you choose to believe the worst."

She turned on her heel, intent on walking away, when he reached out to grab her arm. "Wait," he said, slackening his hold on her when he was sure she wouldn't leave. "I just...I've never been able to understand it. He was horrible to us when we were at school, and when you came back from seventh year, he's all you talked about. I mean, did it never occur to you that the rest of us might not be so willing to forgive him the way you did?"

"The war has been over for ten years, Ron," she replied sadly. "I never expected any of you to befriend him right away. I know what he was like. But it's been ten years, Ron. I thought by now you might be able to forgive him."

Ron sighed. Perhaps she was right. As much as he hated to admit it, Hermione might be right. Draco had been nothing but good to her during their ten year friendship. He knew Malfoy's was the shoulder she cried on, the one she turned to for advice, the man who had replaced him and Harry as her best friend.

"I guess, maybe, I've been a bit hard on him," he begrudgingly admitted. "He's been good to you, right? I mean, he didn't Imperio you or anything, and take advantage of you?"

One step forward, two steps back, Hermione thought to herself. "No, Ron," she replied with a roll of her eyes. "You know how long I've wanted a baby, and it feels so right to be doing this with him."

"What about his marriage plans?" Ron wondered.

"You mean his Pureblood arranged marriage?" she asked. "It's over. His parents haven't even tried to enforce it since we told them I was pregnant. And we're together now, so it doesn't matter."

He smiled at her. "I'm just glad that you're happy," he told her. "Listen, Fleur just had the baby, so that's what I'm doing here. You should stop by. Everyone would be really happy to see you."

Hermione turned to glance back at Draco, who waited patiently for her. "We have plans, but I'll try to come back tomorrow," she replied. "I'm glad I ran into you."

Leaning down, Ron kissed her cheek. "Yeah, me too," he said. "We'll talk soon. Congratulations...on this, by the way." He awkwardly waved at her stomach as if trying to decide whether or not it would be appropriate to touch her.

Taking a step back, she laughed nervously and returned to Draco. "You're smiling," he observed. She stepped up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. "You can't kiss me like that after talking to your ex," he stated, pulling back ever so slightly.

"We had a good talk," she told him, lowering herself from the tips of her toes. "And there was something about that conversation that made me really glad that I'm with you now."

"No second thoughts?" he asked as he led her to the exit hand in hand.

She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "None here," she replied. "You?"

He pushed open the door and led her outside as a gentle wind swept through their hair. "I'm the happiest I've ever been."