Author's Note: After leaving you all with a 5 month break, I really don't deserve to have such amazing readers! Thank you for all your reviews and still being interested in this story. I particularly love how divided you all are over this scenario with some thinking that Hermione needs to recognise Draco has rights to the child too and others thinking that Hermione's contract should nullify any claim Draco has to the child.

Here's the next chapter!

Thanks to pagan for betaing this and getting rid of all my horrendous mistakes.

Appointments & Meetings

That morning was Hermione's first appointment with the midwife and the anticipation was killing her. She was practically bouncing around in her seat as she waited to be called through. The pregnancy was feeling so much more realistic now. So far, it had consisted of crippling nausea and the crushing reality that she was carrying a baby that shared DNA with Draco Malfoy. Oh, and crying – lots and lots of bouts of crying.

"Will you sit still?" Ginny admonished her.

"I can't. I'm so excited."

"I can tell! It really isn't that thrilling, you know."

"Oh, hush! It isn't for you because this is your third time. I remember how excited you got with every little appointment with James," Hermione pointed out.

Ginny smiled fondly. "I remember."

Hermione was booked in at the clinic at St. Mungo's. It was housed in a little annexe around the back, away from the hustle and bustle of the main hospital.

"I hope the midwife is nice," Hermione whispered.

"I'm sure she will be."

Hermione checked the clock for what felt like the twentieth time and huffed as it hadn't moved the necessary ten minutes until her appointment time. She picked up a magazine and started flicking through it rapidly.

Ginny's hand descended and stopped the frantic page turning. "Calm down."

"I can't. I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never been this nervous before." She turned to face Ginny, alarmed. "What if they tell me something's wrong with the baby? I mean, seriously, how can the mixing of my DNA with Malfoy's be normal?"

"Hermione, they aren't going to do any tests today. It's too early to hear the baby's heartbeat and you don't have a scan until twelve weeks in. Besides, I'm sure the baby is perfectly healthy."

She started to wring her hands. "I know that. I'm just so nervous."

Ginny smiled at her. "I can tell!"

"Ms. Granger? The midwife will see you now," the receptionist called across the waiting room.

Hermione took several deep breaths before she stood up. "Wish me luck," she said to Ginny.

"You won't need it," the redhead replied.

"It's Room 4," the receptionist informed Hermione as she walked past.

She nodded her thanks and walked through the doors. The corridor seemed to go on forever. She really wasn't one to be so nervous, but nothing about this pregnancy was going right so far.

She knocked on the door of Room 4 and a deep voiced called, "Come in."

Hermione hesitated for a brief minute, taking a couple of deep breaths and rubbing her clammy hands down her trousers, before opening the door. She stood stock-still for a moment as sitting across the room was Millicent Bulstrode, looking as masculine as she had at Hogwarts.

"Ms. Granger, please come in and take a seat," Bulstrode said, as if she hadn't gone to school with — and bullied — Hermione.

She moved to the indicated seat on shaking legs. Why did she live in the St. Mungo's catchment area? Why hadn't she taken that little cottage down the road from Harry and Ginny's in Godric's Hollow? Then she would be under a completely different clinic.

Bulstrode put a meaty hand out to Hermione. "I'm Millicent Bulstrode and I'll be your community midwife. The majority of your appointments will be with me."

Great, Hermione thought as she shook Bulstrode's hand. "I didn't know you'd gone into medicine," she blurted out. Well, she wasn't going to sit there and pretend she didn't know the woman.

"I'm not surprised; we hardly share the same friends."

No, but one of your friends is the father of my child, she thought. But there was no way she was going to share that information, so she just smiled weakly.

"Okay, now we have the introductions out of the way, I'll explain what will happen at this appointment, and outline your care and the options available to you. But first, I'll need to take some details from you," Bulstrode said, pulling an orange file out of her drawer and opening it.

It took a good twenty minutes for the basic information to be entered, including height, weight, date of her last menstrual cycle, and any hereditary diseases on her side of the family.

Bulstrode flicked through the file and frowned. "I'm sorry; it appears your GP has left all details of the father off your referral form. Is it possible you could give them to me? At the moment, we only have Elizabeth Granger listed as your next of kin."

She flushed. She hated this part: the annoying bit where she had to explain that the father wasn't going to be an active presence in her child's life. "I don't have a partner."

Bulstrode looked up from the file where she had her quill ready to jot down the details. Hermione squirmed a little in her seat. Bulstrode looked as if she was going to start interrogating her about the whole situation. Luckily, the nurse's professionalism kicked in.

"Oh, okay," she said lamely. "We usually like to take into account the health of both parents in order to be prepared for all possibilities. Are you aware of any paternal health risks?"

There's a risk the baby could turn out to be a pointy-faced brat, Hermione thought. "Not that I am aware of," she replied.

"Do any of the father's close relatives have any health issues we should know about?" Bulstrode continued.

"No," she responded. Not unless you count a tendency towards becoming Death Eaters.

Bulstrode looked up from the file and gave her a rather forced smile. "That's the boring questions out of the way. Now, we get to discuss your plan and the classes available for you to take."

Hermione perked up a little at that. So far, this whole appointment had been depressing. She had thought her pregnancy would be lovely and leave her with a radiant glow. In reality, it was turning out to be nothing more than stressful. She leaned forward. "I've read up on the various birthing options and was looking at a water birth. Does St. Mungo's have such a facility?"

"Yes, we offer all the same options as Muggle hospitals do and have a brand new birthing centre that opened last summer. I can book you in for a visit, if you'd like?"

"That would be great. Thank you."

The rest of the appointment revolved around similar themes. Hermione left laden down with leaflets informing her about various things, including breathing classes, the importance of healthy diets in pregnancy, and what the various stages of pregnancy consisted of.

"So, how did it go?" Ginny asked as soon as she reappeared.

Hermione grimaced. "It was okay."

The redhead looked confused. "What's wrong? You were bouncing with excitement before you went in there?"

She looked briefly at the receptionist who was watching the two friends with interest. "Let's get a cup of tea. I'll explain then."

Hermione guided them to a little café off the busy high street. She sighed in relief as she settled down into her seat and took a sip of the hot chocolate she had ordered.

"Well?" Ginny questioned.

"I can't believe my luck. Guess who's my midwife? Actually, don't bother. You'll never guess. I've got to deal with Millicent Bulstrode! Bulstrode!" Hermione shrieked.

Ginny sat with her mouth gaping open for a moment, before bursting into gales of laughter.

"It's not funny!"

"Sorry," Ginny said with a gasp. "It's just that you seem destined to be burdened with Slytherins throughout this pregnancy."

She put her head in her hands. "I'm doomed," she complained pessimistically.

Ginny patted her head. "No, you're not. You're just a little unlucky."

"Unlucky! That's an understatement! First, the fertility clinic screws my sperm donation up, and now I have Bulstrode as my midwife. Could this get any worse?"

"Er… I don't want to make your day any worse, but, yes, I think it's about go further downhill as Malfoy's just walked through the door."

Hermione lifted her head out of her hands and stared straight into the grey eyes of her one-time nemesis, and now father of her unborn child.

Draco was attempting to read the latest report from the Chair of the Hogwarts Board of Governors and failing miserably. The mess with Granger was occupying his mind. He flung the report down and pinched the bridge of his nose, swinging his chair around to face the window. The sight that met his gaze caused him to frown. It looked as if Astoria was haranguing his mother once more. He was saved the pain of having to intervene by the sound coming from his fireplace.

"Draco?" called Millicent.

He turned his chair back to face the fire. "Here I am," he replied.

"I wanted to let you know that Granger just came in for her first appointment."

"And?"

"I planted the Galleon just as you asked."

He smiled at that. "Thanks, Millie."

"Are you going to tell me how you even know Granger is pregnant?"

"Later," he said as walked across the room to grab his coat and strode through the door.

"I'm going to hold you to that," she called out after him.

Draco was rather proud of the tracking Galleon he'd invented a couple of years ago. It had come in very handy when looking to close business deals. He was able to 'accidentally' bump into business acquaintances and get ahead of his competition. He was now using it unscrupulously on Granger. This amused him as she had initially given him the idea with her Dumbledore Army Galleons. He had been pleased when he'd worked out that she would fall under Millie's care. It would mean he would know when her appointments were.

He was able to catch up with Granger as she left the hospital. He followed discretely behind the two witches. He noted that the bushy-haired woman looked upset and pretty morose. He waited as they chose a café and got settled. He didn't want to rush in and give them a greater chance of escape. He gave it a good ten minutes before making his move. By the time he walked in, Granger had her head in her hands and the She-Weasel was finding something amusing. That changed when Weasley caught his eye and, within seconds, Granger was lifting her head and glaring at him. Draco wasn't going to be intimidated by the stern school-marmish look she had perfected by the time she was thirteen.

"Granger," he greeted as he sauntered over to the Gryffindors.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed back.

"It's a café; what do you think I'm doing?"

"Well, go somewhere else and buy a drink."

"Is that anyway to speak to the father of your child?"

Granger looked around, paranoid, before spinning back to him. "Ssh… someone might hear."

He rolled his eyes, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "We're in the middle of Muggle London and I'm hardly shouting. Who's going to be interested enough to be listening in?"

"Why are you sitting down?"

"I thought it would be a good idea for us to talk."

"Well, I don't want to talk to you," she replied petulantly.

He ignored her protests and waved a waiter over. "Could I get a white Americano and an almond croissant?"

"You have to go to the counter to order," the waiter informed him.

Draco just stared the younger man down until the waiter started to shuffle a little, discomfited by the steady stare. Finally, he nodded and went to get the order.

"You can't do that," Granger said with a huff. "People aren't here just to serve you."

"I'll leave him a tip. How many people come in these places and bother leaving a tip?"

"That's not the point—" she started to say.

"Are we really going to argue about this? Salazar's rod, woman, you're too argumentative."

He watched with amusement as Granger's nostrils flared. She looked as if she was about to launch into a tirade when the Weaselette interrupted. "Hermione, stop letting him wind you up. Just listen to what he says and he'll be gone all the sooner."

Draco smirked in the redhead's direction. "It's not often I agree with a Weasley, but she's right."

Granger folded her arms and looked at him sternly. "Well, go on, I'm listening."

Now the hostile brunette was listening to him, he wasn't sure how to continue. "How are you?"

She raised an eyebrow at that. "You came over here and kicked up a big fuss just to ask me that?"

"Granger, just answer the question!" he snapped back, aware of how inadequate the question was and not appreciating the fact that not only Granger, but also Weasley, were staring at him.

"I'm fine — well, I would be if you disappeared from my life."

He ignored that. "And the baby?"

"She's good, as far as I can tell."

Draco was frustrated at that answer and growled slightly. The Weaselette sniggered in amusement. "What?" he snarled at her.

The entertained redhead smirked at him but relented and gave him some useful information. "The pregnancy is going well so far. Hermione has hideous morning sickness but that's a good sign."

He nodded curtly. He wasn't going to tell Potter's wife that he was grateful for her interference. There was a brief pause as the waiter returned with Draco's order. He plonked them down in front of the blond harder than necessary, but the blond wasn't paying any attention as he noticed the pile of leaflets sitting on the table and started to rifle through them.

"You could at least have said thank you," Granger scolded him.

He grunted noncommittally at her. He wasn't interested in being polite to some spotty kid working in a coffee house chain. Instead, he waived a leaflet at her. "What are these?"

Granger sighed dramatically. "Not that it's any of your business, but if it makes you leave quicker, I had my first appointment with the midwife and this is the information she gave me."

He started picking through them, ignoring the ones that graphically outlined birth. He zeroed in on one about diet, skimming through its contents quickly. He then glared at the cup Granger was clutching in her hands. "What are you drinking? It says here you shouldn't have coffee."

"Really? You're going to come in here, read one stupid leaflet, and start lecturing me about what I should or shouldn't be drinking? Besides," she continued, getting into the lecture, "a coffee once or twice a day isn't going to hurt the baby. But, for your information, I'm not drinking any coffee. It makes me feel sick."

"Why didn't you tell me about your appointment? I have a right to know," he replied, feeling stupid and needing to hide it by attacking back.

"I've already told you that I don't want you involved with this pregnancy."

"Granger, half that baby is mine. Without me, you wouldn't have a baby."

"Yes, I would. I'd have a baby with the donor I chose!" she remarked stubbornly.

"Astoria isn't pregnant," he pointed out smugly.

"That says more about pure-blood fertility problems than it does my chosen donor."

"What?"

"Well, you obviously have a problem, hence, why you had to go to a fertility clinic to get your wife pregnant."

"There is nothing wrong with my sperm," he uttered, stung at the two amused women sitting opposite him and judging.

"That's such a typical male move: blame the woman for all the problems."

"You're making no sense, Granger. If there was something wrong with my sperm, then why are you pregnant?"

"You probably needed some fresh DNA in order to reproduce. You know what they say about continual inbreeding: it causes genetic problems."

Draco ran a hand through his hair, agitated by the direction the conversation was taking. He hadn't given much thought to what Granger thought about why he and Astoria were using the services of a fertility clinic, but he didn't like what she was inferring. Matters were made worse by the fact that Weasley was watching all this avidly.

"I refuse to discuss this with you," he snapped.

The brunette shook her head and turned with a smile to the She-Weasel. "Oh look, we appear to have wounded Malfoy's delicate male ego."

He shoved his chair back, irritated. "You don't know what you're talking about!" he growled at her before storming out.

Hermione watched at the tall Slytherin left the café in a sulk. "That appeared to do the trick," she said, satisfied.

Ginny was looking thoughtfully at the door. "What?" Hermione asked.

"Well, it's strange. Malfoy appeared shocked and confused by that idea."

"What are you getting at?"

"It's just if he and Astoria had been trying for a baby and needed fertility treatment, he wouldn't have been stumped by your suggestion. He probably would already have some kind of excuse made up."

"Come on, Gin, its Malfoy. He probably just didn't like the fact that I was questioning his ability to father a child. You know what men are like, and that particular one has too much pride already."

Ginny pursed her lips. "I guess, but something was off. I don't think that was the reason at all."

"Then why else would he be seeking fertility treatment with his wife?"

"I don't know, but knowing Malfoy, it's probably something twisted."

Hermione shrugged it off. She wasn't going to waste any more time today thinking about the snarky blond. Although, catching him off guard had done wonders for her mood. She was feeling more upbeat than she had for weeks.

Then a disturbing idea popped into her head. "Did you buy Malfoy's excuse of being here to get a drink?"

"Well, it is a café."

"It's a little strange though, don't you think? Of all cafes in the whole of Muggle London, he picks this one. And what is he doing in Muggle London in the first place?"

Ginny looked at her. "I see where you're coming from, but it could just be a coincidence."

"But I do have Millicent Bulstrode as my midwife."

"She wouldn't!" the redhead exclaimed.

"Why not? It's not as if I can exactly prove that she's told Malfoy about my appointment with her."

"But, he came in here a good ten minutes after we got here."

"He may be Malfoy, but he's not stupid. To make it look like an accident, he'd have to give us some time to be here. If he followed in right behind us, then it would look really dodgy."

"No! She wouldn't, surely? It would be a complete breach of the patient confidentiality code."

"It would also be a completely Slytherin thing to do," she remarked.

Ginny shook her head. "I really hope she hasn't, but you are beginning to make me think that's what happened."

"I guess the only way to find out is if he 'bumps' into me after my next appointment."

"Well, if he does, then surely we'll be able to pin something on Bulstrode and get her sacked. That would then get rid of your problem of having her as your midwife."

Hermione nodded her head. She started to gather her belongings together as she had to get back to work. She'd been given the morning off for her appointment but was expected to return to work after lunch. She tutted as she gathered all her leaflets together before noticing that her appointment schedule had disappeared.

"That bloody sneaky Slytherin!" she exclaimed.

Ginny looked at her enquiringly. "He's gone and nicked my appointment schedule!" Hermione wailed. "Now he won't need Bulstrode to figure out when my next appointment is."

Ginny groaned but helped Hermione collect the remaining scattered leaflets. A Galleon rested among them. "Here, you must've dropped some money."

"Oh! Thanks," Hermione said, surprised before pocketing it.

AN: Yes, Millie was hideously unscrupulous and would definitely lose her job if she was found out! But I do think it was the Slytherin thing to do :)