Hermione ate her lunch quietly in the great hall sitting next to Luna who was reading over "The Daily Prophet" before moving on to her father's paper. Hermione had started to feel nauseous, Malfoy made sure to pack her enough for snacks throughout the day, but made sure that her turkey sandwich was enough to fill her on lunch. "They mentioned the attack on Godric's Hollow," Luna spoke as she took a bite of her chocolate pudding.

"Yeah, did they just say it was some kind of attack or did they make something up so people wouldn't freak out," Hermione spoke coldly. She was still upset about that day, about how Malfoy was so high and mighty about the attack and that she was the one who should have defended herself. That he was in control of the attack and gave the orders to attack Godric's Hollow.

"They said it was a leaky gas pipe that exploded." She spoke. She didn't seem phased by the article; she was actually surprised it made even the front page. "A few people died or so the claim."

Hermione shook her head. "Of course, it was a gas explosion." She took a bite of her sandwich. The two were still banged up from the actual attack. When Malfoy returned from his mission, he made sure to tend to her bruises from where she fell coming in through the fireplace. Hermione refused to say anything to him. She was upset with him. He knew she was mad at him and didn't try to talk to her. After he finished, he left her behind in her room. When she woke in the middle of the night feeling thirsty, she found her black book bag stitched and the little brown bear sitting on her nightstand. There was a glass of water for her already. She was still mad at him; it was one thing to put her in danger it was another to put their unborn child in danger.

"I heard it was some rogue Death Eaters." She heard a voice from behind. She turned to see Ginny sitting with a group of girls at another table. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you Hermione?"

Luna looked up to Ginny and to Hermione. She placed her right hand on Hermione's left shoulder. "Maybe it's best we go someplace else that doesn't feel as cold as this room right now."

Hermione stood wrapping her sandwich up and placing it back into her bag. "Running away because it's true?" Ginny pipped up.

Hermione shot a glare back at her. "Shut your mouth you don't know what you are talking about."

"I do know what I'm talking about, it was wrong of Headmistress McGonagall to let those horrid people back in here to go to school." Ginny glared back at her as she stood from the table.

"They let your monster of a brother roam the streets after everything he's done, don't act like he's innocent," Hermione spoke back with venom in her words.

Luna got up and grabbed Hermione's arm. "Come, we should go." Hermione turned as she started to walk out with Luna.

A clatter could be heard from behind. "Impedimenta!" A shout could be heard from behind. She turned quickly to see Malfoy standing at least eight feet from Ginny who stood on the table in the dining hall. Her wand in hand and midair aimed towards Hermione and Luna. "Coward just like your brother." He walked towards her as others moved away from her. "Bloody hell what is wrong with you lot that you think it's ok to attack someone when their back is turned." He climbed the bench and easily shoved her down on the table. His wand aimed at her as she stared up at him. Glasses and plates fell from the table shattering on the floor. "You run your mouth like you know everything, but I think honestly someone needs to teach you a lesson about spreading gossip." He went to raise his wand again.

"Malfoy!" Headmistress McGonagall entered the Great Hall. The whole room went silent as she came walking down the walkway.

Malfoy backed down from Ginny who looked at him fearful. "She was going to attack another student who had her back turned."

"I understand, but you can't just keep fighting." She stood looking at Ginny who looked like she was on the verge of tears. "My office." She spoke. "Ms. Weasley I will deal with you once I'm done, meet me at my office when you've come to your senses."

Malfoy looked down at Ginny one last time. "You coward." Malfoy followed McGonagall out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Luna followed quickly only to see the two vanish into the busy hallway.

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Hermione didn't see Malfoy for the rest of the day. Not until she left her last class and made her way to the main gate. She saw him waiting for her. She didn't really know what to say to him. That she was happy he saved her from whatever spell Ginny was going to cast on her and the baby. But in the end, what Ginny was saying in the Great Hall was true. Hermione did try to protect him and defend him even though the attack he sent out did put her and the baby at risk of being killed. Malfoy didn't say anything as they walked home. The only sound came from the trees as the branches clanked together sending what was left of their golden and yellow leaves from their grasp. The dirt smelled fresh after the light rain in the middle of the afternoon.

Once they reached their dorm, he let her in. "You should rest a bit. Is there anything that you want made for dinner?" He spoke, he was trying. He didn't know what else to do.

"Are you still allowed to attend school?" Hermione finally spoke as she took off her flats near the door.

"I'm suspended for a week." He spoke.

She frowned. A week meant he could sneak off to do whatever while she was at school. "But you defended me by stopping her from hitting me with whatever spell she was going to."

"McGonagall said I should have used a less forceful spell." He headed into the kitchen to start making them a light supper.

Hermione followed after him. "But it wasn't your fault."

"But I still did it." He stopped her in the doorway and ushered her out. "Go rest. At least for the baby." He slid the sliding door closed.

Hermione stood outside the door. She lowered her head. He protected her for the sake of the baby. He wanted her to rest for the baby. Everything felt very conflicting for her. She thought maybe he was just going along with the motion of ok she was pregnant, but she noticed after he came home, he was acting different. She wondered about the attack that she nearly escaped from thanks to Neville and Luna made him realize she was really carrying his child. She walked halfway up the steps before she stopped looking down at the closed dining room door. He spoke cruelly to her when she laid in pain on the bed. He stopped the pain, but he also reminded her that she needed to fight. She needed to be able to protect herself and the baby if he couldn't. Today even though he wasn't sitting with her, she didn't even know he was in the Great Hall. He jumped in and protected her and the baby.

She let out a sigh as she dropped her black bookbag by her door, she walked over to her bed and flopped onto her back on her bed. She looked at the dark red fabric of her four-poster bed. "Even if I wanted to leave he would hunt me down just to protect this child that might not even be his." She whispered out under her breath as she placed an arm over her eyes. "If the child isn't his then what?"

Everything seemed to weigh heavy on her, she still didn't know who had attacked her and why. She felt like Malfoy knew, but wouldn't say a word, but she also felt if he knew he would have killed the assailant. She knew he would have killed for her, she was his possession after all.

She woke when she heard footsteps walking in. Everything was dark, the sun had already set. She pushed herself up enough only to feel something sit beside her and then pull her into a hug. She rested her head against his chest. That familiar scent of spearmint. Her eyes closed halfway. She had almost gone a week without this. Why, why did he have to act so differently in the dark. He placed a hand on her stomach. He wouldn't have been able to feel anything, but something about his touch made her hopeful. It felt like it was his reminder that there was something hidden away, that was safe in his own darkness until the time came. Right now, even now as he tried to start another war, he always placed a hand on her stomach like a grounding rod.

"Malfoy, while you're out of school for the week, does that mean you will be gone?" Hermione finally asked.

"I'll be gone during the day, but I will escort you to and from school." He spoke coldly. "Don't concern yourself with my work."

Hermione nodded against his chest. Every time she brought up his work, he always shot her down and made her feel less then. "Dinner is done?"

Malfoy stood up and helped her to her feet. "Yes."

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Days passed and Malfoy walked her to school and from school. Breakfast was always cooked before she woke, a lunch with snacks was packed, and when she got home dinner was already made. It was hard to believe he had enough time to leave to set up strategies for whatever he was planning next. He wouldn't tell her anything, he still questioned her what her plans were next, but she didn't even know. She was honestly too scared to leave the house beside school.

She wondered if the next time she was caught in an attack if he would be the one attacking her. Would he follow through or would he spare her?

It was already Friday when he was waiting for her at the gates with an umbrella. She hurried over to Malfoy who held the umbrella over the two of them as he walked her home. Hermione glanced up at him every now and then before finally speaking up. "Malfoy? How are you going to protect us? I'm not asking what you are doing, but after the attack last weekend…"

Malfoy frowned as he looked ahead. "Depending on what I plan to do, you won't be happy, but you'll be safe, and my child will be safe." He fell silent for a short time. "You'll never forgive me, but when the time comes, you will answer to me and only me."

Hermione looked ahead. Obey. She thought to herself. What did that mean? She would never see herself becoming some kind of servant to him, not with a child. Would that mean he would never claim the child as his? Would they be locked away someplace? "Does your mum know about the baby?"

Draco stayed silent for a short time. "Not yet, I rather wait when you are further along before I tell her anything in case something happens."

In case something happened? Was he worried about her pregnancy that much? She knew that the only two other people who knew about the pregnancy were Neville and Luna, he thought maybe he would have at least told his mother, but of course, she wouldn't be happy with the fact that her soon-to-be grandchild wouldn't be a pureblood. Would she despise her, or would she be open to her being the mother of Malfoy's child? Or would she resent her and the child? If anything, she was okay with his mother hating her as long as she was open to the child. She felt a lump in her throat. What if the child wasn't Malfoy's again started to weigh on her thoughts? His mother looking down at a child that Malfoy claimed as his only to see the baby lacked any of his features. Then what? Malfoy had every right to force her and the child out. Leaving her to run on her own trying to protect a little being that had no idea of war and violence. "I understand."

"Have you told your parents?" He asked.

"… No, not yet." She spoke. She didn't want to go any further. Her heart broke at the idea of doing this without them, but for their safety, she refused to reverse the spell. She preferred to be a forgotten locked away memory to them that they would never be able to reach.

"Good, for now, we are going to continue to keep this a secret." He stopped just shy of the town as the rain pattered against the black umbrella. "When I tell you to listen to me you listen. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Hermione looked at him sadly as she nodded. "I understand." The two continued on as they made it back to their dorm, he let her in, and she headed upstairs to her room.

She stopped in the doorway as she looked in. Her room had been moved around. Her desk had been moved to the other side of the wall away from the window. She saw a dark wooden crib set up in front of the window with a little mattress inside. The little bear that Neville had bought rested in the crib. A small matching changing table was next to the crib. The crib and changing table looked brand new. Of course, it would be brand new with his family inheritance.

This was starting to feel overwhelming, she thought it was far too early to start buying the bigger items, the big items both of them should have picked out together, but unfortunately, he took it upon himself to provide as if she couldn't afford any of this on her own. She swallowed hard. He didn't want to say anything if something happened, but looking at the things he had already bought he wasn't concerned something would ever happen. She needed to set up an appointment with a doctor to find out how far along she truly was before this got out of hand. She almost felt like it would be better if he never knew about the pregnancy.