AN- No I don't own the characters

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Chapter 6

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Merlin, what was happening?

Draco sighed heavily as he carried his weight towards the window. He grabbed a nearby chair and sat, letting the cool wind caress his now sweaty face.

This couldn't be happening. The Mudblood couldn't be pregnant with his child? There was no way he could bring a half-blood child into this family - into this horrible world. He just wasn't ready...

"DRACO!"

He whirled around in time to see his door burst open, revealing a stricken-looking Astoria and...wait, what the fuck?

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley?

The weasel looked around the room before spotting Draco, his eyes narrowing to slits as he charged towards Draco. Luckily, Harry grabbed Ron by the back of his shirt, preventing him from attacking.

"Ron, calm down-"

"NO, HARRY!"

"Stop it, please!" Astoria cried. "Tell me what's happening, I don't-"

Ron turned around and glared at her. "Don't tell me you don't know what's happened, Greengrass?"

Astoria frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Ron let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head as he turned back to Draco. "Unbelievable."

"What your problem, Weasel?" Draco snarled. "Lost your way?"

Without warning, Ron lunged towards Draco. The moment he felt skin under his fingers, Ron used his nails to pierce Draco's skin. Ignoring Draco's cries, Ron then balled his hand into a fist, which he then slammed into his Draco's face, not caring about the gruesome crack he heard.

"Take that, Malfoy!" Ron roared. "That's for Hermione!"

"Stop it! PLEASE!" Draco could hear his mother's voice cry out. "Where my wand, Astoria? Stop it! Mr. Weasley, don't! Please, Potter sto - Give me my WAND!"

For some reason, his mother's panicked cries scared him.

Draco's eyes widened as he saw Ron's fist coming towards his face again. He grunted in pain as he felt several more strikes to his ribs and face.

"Stop," Draco whispered weakly, feeling numb and tired. "Weasley-"

"Ron, I think that's enough," Harry sighed, his energy draining from him. "We can't kill him, you know."

"Just one more, Harry," Ron growled, giving Draco another painful kick.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

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Hermione gasped at the scene before her.

She just couldn't believethat her two best friends would stoop so low as to team up on Draco. Yes, of course the damn ferret deserved it, but that didn't mean Harry and Ron should lower themselves to his level.

"Harry! Ron!" she groaned, staring at her two best friends now frozen in place. She let out an annoyed sigh, calming her nerves. "I'm going to undo the spell, alright? And when I do, I expect all of you to listen to me - Yes, Malfoy, that includes even you! Understand?"

By the look in their eyes, she could tell they were pissed.

Muttering the spell to release them, she watched as they groaned and glared at each other before turning back to Hermione.

"What the fuck was that for!" Ron shouted. "Hermione-"

"Ronald Weasley, you should know better!" Hermione growled. "Merlin knows I really appreciate you and Harry standing up for me, but please, I don't want anything to happen to you guys."

"To us or to Malfoy?" Ron spat, nodding towards Draco.

Astoria chose that moment to rush towards the blond and try to help him up. "Draco, are you alright?"

He glared at the woman and scoffed, "Brilliant."

''What's happening here?" Astoria asked, letting Draco lean against her. "What's going on, Hermione?"

Hermione gave her a pitying look. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't be sorry for him, Hermione!" Harry shouted. "You have nothing to be sorry for!"

"Harry stop it!" Hermione snapped. "I mean it! This is between Malfoy and I! No! Don't even say anything, you two!"

Harry's jaw clenched in defeat when Hermione shushed him. He got up and roughly helped Ron to stand as they both glared at Draco.

"What's going on?" Astoria asked again, nervously.

Hermione sighed. "I-"

"It's nothing," Draco interrupted, shooting Hermione a warning look. "Really, Astoria. It was all a big misunderstanding. It's nothing, I promise you."

Ron laughed, "Oh, please." He strode towards Hermione and pointed at the weak bruise forming on her face. "You think this is nothing?"

"Ron," Hermione whispered weakly, lowering his face so that her hair covered her cheeks.

Astoria frowned. "I don't understand."

Hermione bit her bottom lip as she looked up. Astoria had the right to know, didn't she? It would be unfair to hide everything.

"Tell her, Hermione," Harry said softly, coming to her side and wrapping a comforting arm around her. "Tell her what Malfoy did."

Draco scoffed, "Don't be-"

"Silencio!" Harry snapped, keeping his wand on Draco. "Well, go on Hermione."

Ignoring Draco's warnings, Hermione nodded. "We got into an argument and things started to get out of control. He was shouting, I was shouting, it was just a mess. And um...next thing I knew, he hit me."

Silence.

Finally, Hermione thought. Oh Merlin, it felt so good to let that out.

Astoria's breathing was getting heavier and heavier by the second. She was clutching onto Draco tightly as he stared at Hermione, her jaw agape.

"Will someone say something?" Hermione whispered, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Astoria blinked and let go of Draco. "What? I don't-what?" She whirled around to face her fiancè and whispered, "Draco, is it true? Did you really? Tell me!"

Noticing that the silencing spell had been lifted, Draco stared at the floor stubbornly. "Astoria, you're going to believe them over your future husband?"

"Don't listen to him!" Ron shouted, charging towards him, stopping only when Harry grabbed his arm.

Astoria shook her head, her eyes still set on Draco. "Did you hit her, Draco?"

Draco shook his head. "Believe me, love. Why would I even waste my energy on a mudblood?"

"Stop it," Astoria said harshly. "I don't ever want you to go near her again, understand?"

Draco scoffed in disbelief. "Don't tell me you believe them!"

Astoria hesitated. "I don't know who to believe, Draco."

"Just stay away from her alright?" Ron growled, giving Draco a dangerous look.

"Fuck off, Weasel," Draco snarled back, wincing as he felt the pain of his broken nose.

"Maybe you should go, Hermione," Astoria said softly. "Too much stress is not good for you. Especially in your condition."

Hermione gave her a small smile and nodded. "You're right."

Ron and Harry was instantly by her side, apparating with her out of the Manor. Once they were gone, Astoria rounded back on Draco.

"Now, what really happened?" she asked, using her wand to heal his nose.

"Ouch!" Draco growled, wincing and lightly touching the freshly-healed skin. "You know Granger has a tendency to be melodramatic, Astoria. Plus she's pregnant."

"Yes, she is," Astoria snapped. "You shouldn't have messed with her-"

"Bloody hell," Draco interrupted with a sigh. "I meant that her hormones are just messing with her. She can be fine one minute and then turn completely mad in the next!"

Astoria sighed, feeling a headache forming. "Just please stop fighting with her, alright? We have more issues to deal with; like planning our wedding!"

"How can I forget with you always reminding me?" Draco rolled his eyes. "Let's go. The mudblood kept my mother out when she apparated here. Stupid filth."

Astoria fought the urge to hit him.

If he really hated Hermione Granger, then why did he keep mentioning her and getting into trouble with her?

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A few weeks later...

Feeling her feet starting to ache in protest, Hermione found a nearby bench and sat down. Her stomach was already protruding and it was starting to cause her some difficulty. She could barely see her own feet for Merlin's sake!

"Hi!"

Startled, Hermione looked up to see a little girl with dark skin smiling at her.

"Hello," Hermione responded politely.

"You're pretty. What's your name?" The little girl climbed on the bench and sat beside Hermione. "My name is Anne."

Hermione smiled. "Why hello, Anne. My name is Hermione."

Anne grinned. "Pretty!"

Hermione couldn't help but blush. It had been a while since someone had complimented her. She couldn't help but feel flattered that a little girl thought she was pretty. "Thank you, Anne. You're pretty, too."

"Anne! Come on Anne, where are you?"

Anne turned towards the person calling for her and waved enthusiastically. "Over here Blaise! I'm right here!"

Hermione gasped.

Wait, Blaise? As in Blaise Zabini?

Sure enough, one of the former infamous members of Slytherin house was rushing towards them. Once his eyes landed on little Anne, he let out a groan.

"Honestly, Anne. Don't walk away like that without telling me where you're going!" Blaise snapped. "Your mother would have my head if I didn't return you home."

Anne giggled and nodded towards Hermione. "Look, Blaise, I made a new friend!"

Blaise glanced at Hermione and smiled. "Sorry my little cousin bothered you, Miss."

"It's no trouble at all," Hermione murmured back, hoping he wouldn't recognize her.

Blaise frowned at the woman in front of him. She looked oddly familiar...but from where?

"Her name is Hermione!" Anne exclaimed, poking the woman's arm. "She's pretty, don't you think?"

Blaise nodded, but his mind was busy elsewhere. Hermione...that name sounded so familiar. He tried to rack his memories to see if he remembered anyone named Hermione. Hermione... smart... bushy hair...

His eyes widened with sudden recognition.

"Hermione?" Blaise asked, stepping towards her. "Hermione Granger?"

Damn. He remembered.

She sighed and forced a smile as she fully turned to face him. "Hello, Blaise Zabini. Long time, no see."

Blaise's gaze dropped down to her stomach before going immediately back to her face. "Oh, er...congratulations are in order, I see?"

Hermione bit her bottom lip before responding, "Thanks."

"Who are you here with?"

She shook her head, "Nobody."

Anne gasped excitedly. "Can you come to the shop then? I haven't had someone to play with in a long time!"

"Anne, my dear, sweet, annoying, little cousin," Blaise sighed, "I think she has other things to do. Don't you, Granger?"

Hermione shook her head, laughing. "No, it's no trouble really. I would be happy to play with you, Anne."

"Yay!" Anne squealed, making both of the young adults wince.

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"So tell me," Blaise said, "How is it that I never read anything about you getting married or engaged?"

Hermione suddenly dropped the doll she was holding from her hand and cleared her throat as she bent down to pick it up. "That's because I'm not."

Blaise looked taken aback. "Well, well, well. Miss Know-It-All, Gryffindor princess got herself knocked up before marriage? Who's the father?"

"It's none of your business," Hermione snapped, roughly brushing the doll's hair with a plastic comb.

"Don't be rude, Granger," Blaise scoffed. "I'm just trying to make conversation here."

"Well don't," she snapped again, feeling angry.

Blaise lifted both of his hands and backed away. "Geeze, Granger. No need to get your knickers in a twist."

"Blaise? Hermione?"

Blaise's whole demeanor changed at the sound of that voice. However, he failed to notice when Hermione stiffened beside him.

He whirled around and grinned, "Astoria! What brings you here back to my shop?"

Astoria grinned back, "I was actually on my way to order a cake. I thought I would stop by here, is all. To see good old friends."

Blaise smirked, "Right. Good old friends."

Astoria then noticed Hermione talking to Blaise's cousin. "What's she doing here?"

Blaise glanced at Hermione before turning back to Astoria. "Oh, Anne met her in the park. She invited her over to play."

"How sweet," Astoria smiled. "Hello, Hermione. How are you?"

Hermione wanted to disappear. Right when she was having a good time, Astoria had to show up and remind her of stupid Draco Malfoy. However, she turned around to face Astoria, a fake smile glued to her face.

"I'm doing well, Astoria, thank you. And you?"

Astoria beamed when she saw Hermione's extended abdomen. "Merlin, look at you! You're getting bigger!"

Hermione scowled.

"No!" Astoria laughed. "I don't mean it like that...I mean your baby."

"Speaking of babies," Blaise started, "Granger was about to tell me who the father is."

"What?" Hermione snapped. "No, I was not!"

"It's Ron, of course." Astoria scoffed at the man's lack of information.

"Ron?" Blaise frowned. "Ron Weasley? I didn't know you two were still together."

Blaise could have sworn he saw the red head with some random girl a few days ago in a fancy restaurant-fancy for a Weasley, at least-having a really good time. But he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

"Congratulations," he said, instead.

Hermione gave him a stiff nod. "Thanks."

The whole time Hermione and Astoria conversed, simultaneously playing with Anne, Blaise was still in deep thought over Ron Weasley. If they were together like Hermione said they were, then why had he seen Ron with another girl the other day?

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Meanwhile...

"I had a really great time, Hermione," Ron grinned boyishly, shoving his hand inside his pockets.

Hermione smirked knowingly. "I'm sure you did, Ronald. Did you ask her for another date?"

"No!" Ron groaned. "Damn it, I forgot! Should I call her now or wait or-"

"Why do I get the feeling you never go on dates?" Hermione laughed, watching Ron turn red.

"Because he doesn't," Ginny grinned. "He's only dated you, that's it. Honestly Ron, this was your third date with her, wasn't it? Just ask her for another and make it official!"

"Official?" Ron asked, confused. "Make what official?"

Ginny rolled her eyes impatiently, "You're hopeless."

"Officially ask her out as your girlfriend, silly," Hermione smiled, playfully punching Ron on the shoulder.

"Fine, fine," Ron groaned. "I'll ask her if she wants to have dinner with me on Friday."

Before the girls could reply, he rushed to his bedroom and prepared his owl.

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Hermione placed her hand on the bookshelves and let her fingers glide across the books. She stopped on a random book and grabbed it. She eagerly opened it, closing her eyes in comfort as the smell of fresh pages hit her nostrils.

Mmm, it smelled so divine and homey. The scent brought her back to Hogwarts, where her only comfort, besides the library, had been between the pages and the words that brought pictures to her mind of the outside world.

When times were harsh, like when Malfoy was taunting her because of her blood, she remembered running to the library to fill her mind with something other than his vicious words.

"You've gotta be kidding me."

Hermione stiffened. It seemed as if the Fates just loved to play games with her, didn't they?

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione sighed, not even bothering to look at him.

Draco let out a dry laugh. "Well, I wanted some peace and quiet to clear my mind, which is why I came here. But, of course, surprise surprise, you're here, as well."

"Fine," Hermione snapped, gently closing her book as she stood up. "I was about to leave anyway."

"Good," he retorted back, making sure his shoulder bumped hers roughly.

She stumbled, but quickly caught herself. "So mature."

"I know. Now fuck off, mudblood," Draco smirked, taking the comfortable spot Hermione had just vacated.

Not wanting to cause any more trouble, Hermione rolled her eyes and walked towards the witch behind the counter to pay for her book.

"Hello, dear," the older witch smiled. "This all for you?"

"Yes, please," Hermione smiled back. Her eye caught a chocolate frog on a shelf nearby and she nodded towards it. "Throw in a chocolate frog, too, please? I'm craving something sweet right now."

The witch grinned knowingly and placed the chocolate on the counter along with the book. "Two Galleons, eight Sickles, and five Knuts, Dearie."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Oh, wow. That much?"

She flipped the book around to check the price. Sure enough, the book was rather costly. She took out her wallet and counted the money she had. She sighed, looking at the older witch.

"How much would it be without the chocolate frog?"

"One Galleon, 15 Sickles, and two Knuts."

Hermione inwardly groaned. She couldn't even afford the book at the moment. It was humiliating to not have enough money to buy two simple things.

"Nevermind," she murmured with a sigh as she shoved her wallet back inside her bag. "I'll come back tomorrow."

The witch gave her a sad smile, "Alright, dear. See you soon."

Hermione was about to turn around, but felt a strong hand grab her arm.

"Wait."

She turned around in confusion and gasped, seeing Draco shaking his head at her.

"You're unbelievable, Granger," he sighed heavily, releasing his hold.

Hermione gawked at him, "Excuse me?"

Rudely ignoring her, he turned to the witch behind the counter. ''How much was the book and the candy?"

"What?" Hermione frowned.

"Shut up, Granger. Was I talking to you? No," Draco said rudely before turning back to the older witch. "How much?"

"It was two Galleons and eight Sickles," The witch said. "I'll drop the Knuts."

Draco raised an eyebrow at Hermione, "That's it?"

He opened his robe and grabbed his wallet from inside of a hidden pocket.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?"

As usual, he ignored her as he took out some currency and placed it on the counter. "There you go. Keep the change."

"What a nice young man," the witch smiled warmly, placing the book and the chocolate inside of a bag and handing it towards him.

"Thank you," Draco smirked.

Hermione wanted to gag.

"What was that?" she snapped, staring at the bag in his hand.

It wasn't fair! She has wanted those things! Draco had just thought it would be hilarious to rub it in her face that he could afford a damn book and a piece of chocolate when she couldn't.

Ferret.

Draco grabbed her arm again, leading her outside where they would be free from nosy people. He took the bag and shoved it into her hands as if the book and candy were poisonous. "Here."

Wait, what? He was giving it to her? But...why?

"I don't understand," Hermione frowned. "Why are you giving me this?"

Draco glared at her, "Do you not want it?"

"I do," she said automatically. "But this is just like last time! I am not going to sleep with you again!"

"As if I want to shag you again," Draco scoffed, turning around to walk away. "Bye, mudblood!"

It was no surprise to her that he continued ignoring her angry cries demanding an an explanation. He simply rolled his eyes, shot her a glare, and apparated away, leaving her even more confused and angry.

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THANKS TO MAEGHAN AKA OCCUPYMALFOYSBED ON TUMBLR WHO IS JUST SO AMAZING ON HELPING ME WITH FIXING THIS CHAPTER UP!

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