Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Hermione's ongoing cycle crescendoed with a bout of furious, punishing cramps just after she and Draco took their tea two days later.
He stayed next to her the entire team, gently kneading her back until the urge to feel his lips against hers overcame her once more and they found themselves tumbling through the covers again.
Hermione had always rolled her eyes at her peers who went on and on daydreaming about their first time inviting their future mates into their nest and what wonders waited there for them to discover.
She had never felt more humbled when Draco took her into his arms and showed her what a true lover was.
Exhausted by the evening, they enjoyed a snuggle punctuated by their usual banter after they dined on the meal Draco had delivered to their door.
He served them both in bed, thoughtful enough to not burden his darling mate with the great task of pulling her aching body from her nest to complete the onerous task of eating.
The next days that passed were some of the happiest Hermione had ever known.
The world was a blissful, peaceful place, with no wars, no fears, no pain or anxieties at all.
Her nest was soft and comfortable.
The fire crackled from the hearth while Draco held her close.
The couple kissed and talked between coupling sessions, with other breaks consisting of consuming whatever foods Hermione requested.
Draco even presented her proof of the free-to-work contracts he had drawn up with his family's remaining house elves behind his parents' backs, including salaries and retirement pensions.
It wasn't until nearly a fortnight after her cycle ended that it occurred to Hermione exactly how reckless she had become.
"Why are you smirking at me like that?" She chuckled at Draco one evening as he eyed her with a devious grin as their lips met over and over.
"Promise me something, Granger." Draco whispered huskily as he dove in for another kiss.
Their affection was as sweet as it was slow.
Hermione couldn't wait to hear what he wanted her to vow, but she made no means to rush their kiss.
When they broke apart at last in the middle of deep, breathy sighs, Hermione slowly opened her eyes to meet Draco's gray gaze as she whispered, "...Anything."
"You'll let me name our daughter after you." Draco nodded as a soft smirk played across his lips.
"Our daughter?" Hermione blinked before she smiled warmly and raised a hand to lay on Draco's cheek as she spoke, "It's a bit early for those sorts of promises, isn't it, Malfoy?"
"Not when you haven't bled since we mated." Draco quipped as he stole another sweet kiss from her.
Hermione's eyes widened as he pulled away.
"Am I missing something?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow, "I thought omegas usually had to suffer through regular menstruation once their heats concluded. Don't they call it the-"
"'The empty womb's revenge'." Hermione cut him off, "Yes, I read the phrase was coined by a witch in ancient times who never wanted children or a mate…….."
Draco's grin didn't lessen as he watched realization dawn on her as she stared off into the distance.
"I……" Hermione stammered as she shook her head, "I've been late before, Draco, that doesn't necessarily mean that-"
"-I can smell it, Granger." He interrupted in a low hiss.
"What?" She asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"Your scent is already sweeter. There's been a change these past few days, I can tell." Draco explained with an arrogant smirk, "Don't pretend to be surprised, you didn't even bother to ask about Contraceptive Potion."
"It was only one cycle!" Hermione scoffed.
"And I never knew you could be so reckless." Draco quipped, "I am rather glad, though, make no mistake. It's made my plans easier, that's for certain."
As Hermione huffed, Draco gazed at her with an impish smirk that she wanted to slap off.
"I'm not attempting to pressure you, of course," He began as he raised an eyebrow, "But under the circumstances, I hope you'll agree to be examined by a healer or a midwife soon."
Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What's that look for?" Draco scowled, "I thought we've been over this. Given the evidence we have so far, the chances are fairly high that-"
"-That's it, then?" Hermione blinked.
"What's it?" He frowned.
"You're just going along with this?...This whole affair?" She snapped.
"You mean the life that I've dreamed of us sharing for nearly a decade, which I kidnapped you for, and you willingly consented to when presented with the notion?" Draco asked as he raised a brow, "Yes, Granger, I'm 'just going to go along with it', if that's alright with you. I have no intentions of abandoning my mate or my child."
Hermione frowned as she contemplated his touching words while he left the room.
She blinked as he walked back a few seconds later with his arms full of pamphlets.
"What are all those?" Hermione asked.
"I had a house elf collect them over the last week." Draco explained as he came over and dumped the barrage of pamphlets onto the bed for her perusal, "They're mostly advertising midwives but a few healers too ...I'll let you take your pick as to which one we hire. I've weeded through them already, all of these have stunning reputations and impeccable records."
Hermione nearly felt tears well in her amber eyes as she contemplated Draco's act of caring.
Her alpha had already thought so far ahead about their future he had gone to such great lengths.
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After a morning spent sipping tea and sifting through pamphlets, the midwife Hermione had chosen arrived at Malfoy Manor later that afternoon to meet her new patient and perform a preliminary exam.
The haste of the service surprised Hermione, but Draco only threw her an arrogant smirk when she raised an eyebrow at how quickly the midwife had come.
"I'm Reigna Rawensyurg." The midwife explained as she nodded at Hermione, "...And I've been in practice for over thirty years, my dear."
"It's lovely to meet you." Hermione nodded with a polite smile, "My name's Hermione Gra-"
"-Malfoy." Draco cut her off.
Hermione threw him a scowl.
Reigna glanced over in his direction and smiled, "There's no need to hide behind forced social formalities for my sake, Mr. Malfoy. I've assisted plenty of unwed mothers and unmarried couples before."
"She's not an unwed mother." Draco scowled, "We'll be married soon!"
Hermione's cheeks flushed scarlet at Draco's bold insistence but Reigna had already moved on since the technicalities surrounding their union remained outside of her concern.
"If I can have you lie back, my dear." She nodded at Hermione as she signaled by pointing
towards the pillows.
Hermione frowned as she eased herself onto the softness that lined the bed's headboard while the midwife removed her wand from her pocket.
Her eyes widened as the midwife began to perform a painless, diagnostic exam.
Draco was no longer her enemy, her secret crush, her friend………Draco had become her mate and would become-
"Ah, yes! Congratulations are in order, I see!" The midwife chuckled with a knowing smile as she removed her wand from Hermione's torso.
Hermione instantly glanced over at Draco.
They met each other's stares in awed disbelief.
Draco grabbed Hermione's hand before he thought.
As she squeezed his fingers, it became difficult to determine who had the tighter grip.
"I see you two have been busy!" The midwife laughed, "We're still very early out, but conception has indeed taken place."
Draco listened intently as the midwife spewed forth entire lists of instructions, warnings, and expectations, but Hermione felt her head swim.
It was real, it was all real, and soon, she would no longer have any option to hide what had happened.
When her friends saw a white-haired infant in her arms after her mysterious disappearance, they would ask a series of questions to which she could not possibly lie.
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Draco surprised her after the midwife left.
Hermione anticipated a snarky remark or an impish smirk to cross his face, but instead, he slipped under the covers beside her and held her close, as if she were the most fragile thing in the world he needed to protect.
"Are you alright?" He dared to ask after a moment.
"I will be, I suppose." Hermione chuckled dryly, "Women have survived this for centuries. Surely I'll get by."
"I'll be with you the entire time." Draco reassured her as he raised a hand and gently stroked some of her amber curls away from her face while they gazed at each other on the pillow.
Hermione could hardly believe what she heard and saw.
Was she really lying next to Draco Malfoy, the arrogant, weak, bully her friends had despised for so long?
The humble admiration and burning devotion in Draco's loving, gray gaze made him appear as anything but arrogant and weak.
Hermione sighed as she cuddled into his chest and let him fold her further into his embrace.
She wasn't quite certain how the news of their coupling would be received but she hoped that they never parted.
The love she and Draco shared burned more brightly than ever.