Chapter 28
A week after their sexcapdes, Dumbledore granted them leave so they could visit Narcissa. Hermione held onto Draco as he used the floo powered and spoke his destination. When they appeared in the fireplace Narcissa was there to greet them, she wrapped her arms around the pair and hugged them tightly "Mother, if you hug us any tighter you'll squish the baby" Hermione giggled as she let them go, she looked around the room taking in the rubble walls and marble flooring, it was something you'd expect to see in a film.
"Quite grand isn't it" Narcissa asked, all Hermione could do was nod "Please, sit" Narcissa gestured "Is there anything you'd particularly like?" Narcissa asked and Hermione just shook her head as she took her seat "Oh, I know how cravings are, surely there's something you want?" Draco looked over at Hermione, she hadn't mentioned any cravings to him "I wouldn't mind some apple pie" as soon as she said it the food appeared on the table.
"Oh how I use to nag Lucius throughout my pregnancy for the strangest of things; the poor sod always did get me what I wanted. Does Draco do the same for you?" Narcissa asked, before Hermione could reply Draco interjected "She has never told me about her cravings mother" Narcissa took a slice of cake and handed to Hermione "Well aren't you lucky then? To have a woman this wonderful not nagging at you for foods she desperately desires" Draco shot an accusing look at Hermione "Oh don't look at me like that! I didn't want to bother you, it's only food, I am perfectly capable with going without the cravings" Narcissa laughed at the pair, she knew how overprotective and overbearing Draco could be "So how far along are you?" she queried "22 weeks" Hermione announced, Narcissa's eyes widened at the revelation and Draco grinned proudly.
"How come you look so thin for someone halfway through their second trimester?" she asked, bewildered "It's an illusion mother" Draco looked towards Hermione and Narcissa followed his gaze "A friend and I created concealment tops, when worn it shows my body before pregnancy and when I take it off in our dorm my figure returns to its pregnant state, and between us girls taking the top off is like removing your bra at the end of the day" both Hermione and Narcissa burst out laughing, Draco was slightly unnerved to see his mother and Granger getting along so well.
The rest of the day went rather quickly, Draco hated to admit it but he had fun and enjoyed his mothers company "It's getting dark" Narcissa observed "You two should get going before Lucius returns" she said ushering them to the fireplace "Going where?" a low sinister voice boomed from the opposite side of the room "Ah, my son has come home with Miss. Granger I see" Lucius stumbled towards them, Draco pushing Hermione behind him "Lucius, dear why don't you lie down, you've had a bit too much to drink" he scowled at the woman and pushed her aside as he sauntered up to Draco "Well?" he questioned "Aren't you going to let me shake Miss. Grangers hand Draco?" when Draco didn't answer, his father backhanded him sending him flying across the room.
"I never did like people with bad manners" he drawled out with a sick smile slowly spreading across his face. He grabbed Hermione by her hair and she let out a small yelp "Let her go!" Draco yelled at his father, getting to his feet "So you have got a backbone?" he questioned his son "You know how I feel about you bringing mudblood's into my home Draco" he spoke in a condescending manner "It displeases me that you have gone against my wishes".
He yanked on Hermione's hair causing her to let out a strangled whimper "Now I have to teach you a lesson" he hummed out, he hit Draco with the Imperio curse so he wouldn't interfere "Your lesson will be emotional torture, you are going to watch me beat the living crap out of her before I rip her clothes off and take her where she lays" he laughed as Draco tried to move.
Lucius pulled Hermione into him and licked her face and chuckled as she tried to push him away, Lucius bit her throat when she wouldn't stay still causing her to scream "I see why you like this one Draco, she's feisty isn't she?" he asked rhetorically, Draco couldn't find the words to say anything, he felt powerless.
Lucius grew bored of Hermione's whimpers and threw her to the side, her head and body connecting with the rubble wall, her body crumpling to the floor "NO!" Draco shouted, still trying to fight his way out of the curse. He fell to his knees, silently begging for her to get up "Oh would you look at that" Lucius said walking over to the wall he threw Hermione into "She bleeds" Lucius traced his fingers over the bloodstain where her head had connected with the wall and then put his bloodied fingers to his mouth "Tastes like dirt" he spat.
"And now I have to punish her for making a mess" Draco couldn't watch. As he was turning away he had and thought if the baby follows him, maybe it'll listen to him too. Draco closed his eyes and directed a thought Hi baby, mummy needs your help okay? You need to help mummy and just before Lucius could cast the curse a blinding blue light emerged from Hermione's body enveloping everyone in the room.
As the light grew dimmer Draco was released from his father's curse and Lucius was now suspended in the air, drifting away from Hermione. Draco ran towards Hermione and cradled her in his arms "What did you do?" Lucius bellowed from above them "I didn't do a thing" Draco smirked "Our baby did" he announced before disapparenting himself and Hermione back to their dorm.
They appeared in their common room and Blaise was sitting in the kitchen. When Blaise heard Draco talking to Hermione he walked into the room "Wake up Granger!" he was practically shouting at her "What the bloody hell happened?" Blaise asked rushing over too them "My father" he stated before picking Hermione up and taking her upstairs "Mate I think you should take her to madam pompfrey" Blaise suggested "I can take care of this" he assured his friend "Can you grab a wet cloth from the kitchen?" he asked Blaise as he placed Hermione on his bed, Blaise complied to his request.
Draco brushed the hair out of her face and assessed her injuries, he cast a healing spell and watched as the broken skin around her neck and head knitted itself back together, she was still out cold but that was to be expected. Draco placed a gentle hand on her stomach "That's my boy, well done" he praised his child.
"Draco?" Blaise interrupted, confused by what he just heard, Draco turned to him and sighed before snatching the wet cloth out of his hands "Granger's pregnant?" he asked, Draco ignored his question and started to wipe the drying blood off her head and face "Yeah Blaise, she is" there was no point in lying to his friend, he was going to find out anyway.
Draco and Blaise sat on the sofa to let Hermione rest "Why didn't you tell me mate?" Blaise questioned "Not exactly an easy topic to bring up is it?" the two sat there and talked about it all and Draco filled him in on everything that has happened "So how far along is she?" Draco thought back to there earlier conversation with his mother "six and a half months" Blaise nodded slowly "It's a damn good thing that she came up with that concealment top" Blaise and Draco laughed before being disturbed by a disembodied voice.
"What are you two laughing at?" both Draco and Blaise swore out of fright before turning around to see Hermione at the bottom of the stairs, she had taken her concealment top off and Blaise looked at her in awe, a big goofy smile spreading across his face "Granger" Draco breathed out as he jumped over the sofa to embrace her. He placed one hand on her stomach and another wrapped in her hair "The baby is fine" she assured him. Blaise moved to the chair so Hermione could sit by Draco on the sofa, they all talked for a while before Draco kicked Blaise out ordered Hermione to bed.
"Draco?" she called over to him "Will you stay with me tonight?" he could think of nothing better. When they were both settled down and ready to sleep Hermione murmured "I don't like your father very much" which caused Draco to chuckle, "I don't like him either" Draco admitted before they fell asleep in each other's embrace.