A/n: Thanks to my beta Hunter's Heir! **Not yet edited!

Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we have learned.

~Marianne Williamson

Dearest Daughter~

Despite everything Hermione, I knew I was going to receive a letter like this. Becoming a Siren is a scary, mind-boggling thing and your emotions and thoughts are so scattered throughout the process that it's sometimes hard to remain in control. When I was younger, I made the same too-fast mistake. That's indeed why you were born so early in our marriage dear, because we didn't use the full year to our advantage. We put ourselves through school with you as our daughter. It was trying, but it worked out.

I had hoped this would take a bit longer to happen, Hermione. You're traits will diminish the closer you come to having the child, because they translate into the baby. Honey, I can't completely explain this process because I never completely understood it. The bracelet that you took with you, please use it. It will let you know about whether or not you are pregnant and whether no not the child will have Siren traits. I'm not sure how long after conception that you have to wait though for results to show. Getting a basic pregnancy test done would probably be the best option honey.

Do some research darling, I don't know what would happen if you had a boy, and if he would have traits. I don't think that bracelet even reveals the gender of your baby. Like I told you before, I never used it.

Please Hermione, be ever so careful. That boy you brought home, Draco, he said you were in danger of something but that he was going to do everything he could to protect you. I'm not sure why you didn't just tell us that, but I wish you had. Now that you're probably with child I don't know if that increases or decreases the dangers.

Come home. Please. Your father and I… we made our mistakes trying to have you without any idea what was happening. We did everything on a whim and it was scary. Considering that we never knew if you were born with my traits or not, we decided to never have any more children. Please do not make the mistakes we did. Come home and we can share everything that we know. Maybe we didn't go about things right in the beginning, keeping everything from you and such. But I promise that we're trying to make up for it now. I've told him, and he's just as on edge about the situation as I am. We want to help however we can.

Hermione, you have to tell Draco. He needs to know. I'm sure the two of you know whether or not this makes things more or less dangerous. Honey those protective genes that the mates receive… they never really go away. While I was pregnant your father was afraid to let me touch a flower. The traits are particularly dominate, and perhaps there at the school someone can give you something to help him control the urge to protect you from everything. Trust me dear, it's a strong urge too.

You have to tell him, and get things out in the open. Taking a pregnancy test is advised first of course, though I'm sure you already knew that. I know it's almost indefinite that you are but… best to be sure. Then you can tell him, and the two of you can work this out together.

Please, let us be a part of it. I know we made our mistakes honey, but we want desperately to make up for them. And having a child is a big deal, even without this extra Siren baggage. Please owl me as soon as you have the results. I'm eagerly awaiting the news.

Love,

Mum and Dad

I glance at Draco when I finish reading the note. He's headed into the shower, having just woke up. But I barely slept a wink last night, tossing and turning thinking about the note, Ginny and pretty much everything else. Draco knows about my restless sleep, and this morning he actually has nothing to say to me. Maybe he thinks I want some time to myself.

Time alone is the last thing I want right now. It gives me time to consider the note, the fact that this pregnancy is probably very real and lets me worry about everything else in my head. I might just get an ulcer from all of this.

I can't even explain what I'm doing with my life right now. My mother's right, this whole process is terrifying and pretty overwhelming. I haven't quite been myself, letting things overpower me and just frankly scare me to death. I've really let this situation rule me, instead of driving it myself. I have to put an end to that now if I'm going to go take a pregnancy test.

I hide the note in my pocket, the picture of perfection as I join Draco in the shower. I just hope that I don't lose my nerve and remove it after getting dressed. I can't put anything off anymore.

We are scheduled to go visit Draco's childhood home the day we get out of school, which is just under nine days away. That means that I have that much time to decide exactly what to do when I find out about my pregnancy and what I should tell my parents. Now visiting them for Christmas seems like a scary idea.

And then there's the biggest dilemma of all, the one that I still can't hardly think about. It makes me nervous about what we will do next, what it will change in our relationship and especially, how he's going to take it.

I still have to tell Draco I'm probably pregnant. I'm not looking forward to it.

"Don't be so glum darling," he says as he helps me pack later. We're still three days away from leaving, but we've begun packing early. As the Heads, we're expected to do some additional things before leaving for the holiday. So we should be finished packing by the time that we're supposed to leave on the last day of school.

"I'm just a little uneasy is all," I reply, stuffing some of my clothing into a suitcase. I went to see Pompfrey a few days ago, and she has since given me the results of my test. It still makes my stomach do little flips.

The plan was to tell Draco tonight, but I don't think I can. I keep getting nervous and backing out entirely. I've known the results since yesterday.

I haven't put that bracelet on yet, and I've barely responded to my mother's letter. In response to her lengthy, heartfelt letter I sent back a three sentence reply apologizing for the shortness, approving that I am pregnant and tell her that I will have to let her know later about when I'll be around. She hasn't replied yet.

Dumbledore knows I'm pregnant too. I got to go up to his office yesterday and talk to him about what this meant, and what I should do with myself now.

"Pompfrey says you're three weeks along. Congratulations Miss Granger."

"Yeah."

"You aren't happy? You should be. Being a mother is one of the most touching things a person can ever experience."

"I'm not ready, that's the thing. I didn't realize I would have to be."

"Sometimes we have to adjust to be ready for the things we weren't expecting," he replies, a twinkle in his eye. "I know you were not ready to take on this added responsibility, but it is something that has happened. And not only will you have to consider Mr. Malfoy's reactions, but your friends and families as well."

"My parents pretty much already know," I grunted.

"Then that is just one less set of people to tell. There will also be the tabloids to talk to. You will have to decide what to tell them in regards to what has happened."

"Heavens, don't remind me. I can't even think about that right now."

"I understand Miss Granger. By the time your child is born, you will be graduated. You might not have to halt your education for this."

"I won't. I will at least finish this before I'm a mother. But I can't talk about this right now. There's too much going on in my head and it's way too much to take in."

"Very well. But remember Hermione, I am here if you ever need someone to talk to."

Well, at least he's not kicking me out of school for this. I just have to worry about a world of reactions. That's something else I don't need to add to my stress levels right now.

"You've been uneasy for a few days now. Is something wrong? There aren't any more threats or anything are there?"

"No, no nothing like that," I say, hugging myself. "Do you think we'll have some time to ourselves when we arrive at the Manor?"

"Well once my parents finish screaming at us I'm sure they'll leave us be for a while. We should be able to have some time alone, yes. Why? What's going on Hermione?"

"Nothing," I reply, shooting him a smile. He grunts in response, but I can see it in his face that he doesn't believe me. He can tell something is going on, and he knows that I'm keeping something from him. Hopefully he won't dig too deeply, at least not for right now.

"What's going on with Ginny and Nott?" I ask, changing the subject. He sighs, knowing I'm doing this on purpose. Someday he's going to make me talk about it, but after our long night of patrols he's not really too eager to push anything.

"They're still in custody. No word on anything yet. Weasley hasn't said anything?"

"Ron is kind of silent at the moment. I don't really think he knows what to make of things. Ginny always seemed so… innocent, you know? She doesn't seem like the type to go along with such a devious plan."

He shrugs. "Well, her mind was obliviated so we don't really know what was going on with her, but from the sound of things he sweetened the deal and held off on telling her who they were after until she was pretty far in. And by then she had a hard time getting out."

"She should've never gotten tangled up with him," I sigh. "She was happy with Harry. I don't know what would've made her go for it. The only thing I can even fathom is that time with Voldemort."

"Beg pardon?"

I groan, sitting down on my sofa. Draco follows, obviously interested now. "When Ginny was in her first year, when we were in our second and there was that incident with the Chamber of Secrets, she found Tom Riddle's diary from when he was a student here and it compelled her to do some rather awful things."

"He had a diary? Wow, and people actually thought he was a hard-arse."

"That's not the point Draco, though I'm not surprised you never knew any of this. I only know because Harry found her that year in the Chamber of Secrets, after finding it himself."

"You know… I think I'll just ask for the details later love. So what is the point then?"

"The point is he was practically inside her head that year, persuading and forcing her into doing those awful things. Maybe his essence never really left her."

"So… you think that she thought that maybe that feeling of evil never really left her? She still feels like it's on her or something?"

"Maybe… it's complicated really to explain what I mean. I guess my point is that maybe Nott found out a secret like that about her, maybe one I don't even know about, and he's using it against her. Maybe that's why she was swayed to help him. She wanted to make that feeling go away."

"Maybe. I don't know how Nott would happen across a secret like that though."

"Me either. It's a bit… extreme, but not impossible. It could happen."

"I know."

"So… what about Nott? Has anything happened with him yet, Draco? Did they finally decide he's the mastermind behind everything?"

"They've done some interrogations. Since he made threats to your life it's legal to use veritaserum on him, but they haven't yet. Or maybe they have, and we just don't know yet. Honestly everything about him is locked up pretty tight. But if he admits something that might be a danger to you the Aurors are required by law to let us know. Apparently that hasn't happened yet."

"Apparently not. I don't understand how though. If they used veritaserum then he shouldn't be able to lie about anything. They should know everything by now."

"Unless Nott was never the mastermind," he muttered. "But that wouldn't make sense either. Unless he told someone everything that was happening to you, it had to be a Hogwarts student. You came into your traits here Hermione. Weird things began happening after the school year started up."

I nod. "That's the problem though, it just has to be Nott. I only wish I knew who the third person was. The sooner they're locked up the better I'll feel."

"As will I," he replies, squeezing my hand. "Come on, let's finish packing. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can get to bed. I'm practically sleeping on my feet."

"I know," I say, stroking his cheek. He went down to the Slytherin common rooms last night and didn't come up until the wee hours of the morning. He went down to see Blaise, someone he hasn't spoken to all that much in the past weeks. They spent far too long catching up, and the lack of sleep has worn on him. "Come on, we still have a few days. Let's just go to sleep."

We leave what's left to do out, slipping beneath my covers. As we've come to do, he slips his arms around me from behind, our favorite sleeping position. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. This space has become the safest place I know.

In his arms I'm a bit more at ease, even if none of my problems have gone away. But I feel protected, and even loved, behind held close to his sleeping body. My eyes droop shut before I can think about much else.

The day to go to the Manor arrives all too quickly, and I'm so not prepared. I spend the morning with my friends, explaining that my absence from the Burrow has nothing to do with Ginny. I won't be heading over there during the break because I have too many other things to handle.

Once I've told Draco about the child I'll figure out who to explain, well, everything to my friends. I want them to fully understand what's going on before the newspapers find out. I would hate for any of them to learn the fine details of the situation all because of the Daily Prophet. I'd be pretty upset with my friends too if they did something like that.

But it can wait until after break, when maybe I will have gotten some things sorted out.

When I go back up to get my bags, I find Draco already in my room. It's a little odd, since I didn't think he'd be up here for another twenty minutes. And it's even stranger since he's pacing. As soon as he notices my presence he stops and sighs.

"I was wondering when you would escape your friends," he grunts, rubbing his temples. He looks stressed, and the way he's constantly glancing out the window doesn't make me feel any better.

"What's wrong?" I ask, folding my arms over my chest. My tummy hasn't started showing yet, and I'm insanely thankful I'm not far along yet.

He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. "The Ministry send us each a letter. It's about what Nott had to say. He admitted his third person, due to the veritaserum potion."

"Really? That's great news! Who is it?"

Draco cringes. "His father, who just got out of Azkaban. And unsurprisingly, he's disappeared over the past few days. They can't even track his wand right now- he did something to it."

I pale at that, my excitement deflating. So the last person who poses a threat can't even be found? Well that's just… great. "They can't find him at all?"

"Not a trace," he says, stepping up to my side. He rests a hand against my cheek and I lean into his touch. "It worries me."

"It worries me too. He could pop up anywhere. But Draco, isn't the Manor warded?"

"Yes, it is. I'll have to be sure to tell my parents to not allow Nott senior into the house under any circumstances. They might not like you, but I don't think they're going to try to get you killed either. It's the very first thing I'm going to do when we arrive."

"Were your parents good friends with him?"

"We were all Death Eaters, if that's what you mean. But no, they didn't adore him. They simply knew one another. And I'm sure they know he's out of Azkaban by now. The Aurors assured me- and you, if you care to read the letter- that they'll put up the red flag warning for his arrest. If luck's on our side, hopefully he'll be caught quickly and our problems will be solved. If he's arrested and his eternal hate for you isn't revealed then no one else will come after you."

"And if it is then every other mentally unstable person might try to kill me. I bet his son found out what was happening and let him in on the details. That's how things got back to him, I'll bet you."

"I agree Hermione. But right now we should just worry about getting on the train. I don't think Atticus will be anywhere nearby when we arrive at my Manor. Let's just worry about getting there and meeting my parents for the time being."

"Right, one step at a time…"

He nods, grinning at me. We loop our arms together and he grabs my bags, shrinking them down to size and hiding them in his pocket. People have grown accustomed to seeing us together these days, even if no one really understands it. Together we leave my common room.

Just one step at a time… if only it were that simple. Once we hit Draco's, we're going to end up taking five steps at a time.

A/n: I hope you enjoyed! There aren't too many chapters left, so keep those reviews coming. I still enjoy the feedback :) Hope you enjoyed.