Chapter 15: From Comfort to Chaos
Every morning, without fail, Draco Malfoy arrived at Hermione's door with the Solemn Sage's Stew in hand. He had become part of her routine, slipping seamlessly into her life with a surprising tenderness. Whether it was holding her hair back as she leaned over the toilet, helping her move around the house when she felt too weak, or just being there with quiet, steady support, Draco was always present. Each time she glanced at him, Hermione's initial doubts about their unlikely connection melted a little more.
It was strange how natural it felt, this new rhythm they had fallen into. Draco would arrive, greet her with a soft "Good morning," and then help her through the rough hours of the day. His presence, once something she could barely tolerate, had become a comfort she didn't know she needed. He was quick with gentle reassurances and even quicker with solutions when things went wrong. He took good care of her, even cleaned up after her when the nausea overwhelmed her. These quiet acts of care spoke volumes, far louder than any words he could have offered.
This morning felt no different. Hermione had been feeling a bit stronger after eating the stew, but she still wasn't her best. She sat on the couch, curled under a blanket, her head leaning against Draco's chest. His arm was draped protectively around her shoulders, and his hand rested gently on her arm, his touch warm and grounding.
It was in this quiet moment that Hermione realized something had shifted. The constant swirl of emotions that had accompanied this pregnancy—the uncertainty, the fear, the doubts—seemed distant, replaced by something new. Something calmer. Something that felt right.
As she lay there, her head on Draco's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, Hermione smiled to herself. It was almost absurd how right this felt, how natural. The boy she had once hated, the man she had sworn she would never trust, had somehow become her biggest source of comfort. It wasn't just that he was there for her; it was that he had become someone she wanted to lean on. And that scared her just as much as it comforted her.
She thought about Ginny's reaction when she found out about all this. "Oh my Merlin, Hermione!" she squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. "I can't believe this! Good things are finally happening!"
Harry, was more subdued in his reaction, but his relief was palpable. "I'm glad he's been there for you, Hermione," he said, his voice steady but his eyes filled with a warmth that only deepened her own sense of comfort. "I was worried about you, but knowing Draco's stepped up… it's a relief."
Hermione smiled looking at Draco, things were starting to make sense again. The panic that had plagued her when she first found out about the pregnancy was fading, replaced by something more hopeful. Draco was there for her, and somehow, everything felt like it was falling into place.
Tomorrow, they were going on their second date. It was her turn to plan something. No more hiding behind morning sickness and awkward pauses. She was ready, not just for the date, but for whatever might come after.
For the first time in a long while, Hermione felt good about the future. And this time, it wasn't just a hopeful daydream—it was real.
Later in the evening Hermione went to the Leaky Cauldron. She had been excited to meet Parvati after such a long time. Since Parvati had moved back to India to take care of her father, their correspondence had been sporadic at best. But they'd managed to stay in touch. Hermione helped her track down some rare potion ingredients for her father's illness. Ever since then she and Hermione became good friends. Now that Parvati was back in England, it felt like a reunion long overdue.
Parvati was all smiles as she greeted Hermione with a warm hug. The two sat down, instantly falling back into the easy conversation that came with familiarity. They reminisced about school days, teasing each other about old habits—Hermione, the studious teacher's pet, and Parvati, more concerned with boys and gossip. Laughter filled the air, light and easy, making Hermione forget about her current struggles for just a moment.
But it wasn't long before the conversation turned serious. Hermione, feeling the weight of everything she'd been going through, opened up about Ron's betrayal, the love potion, and how Draco Malfoy had stepped up unexpectedly. Parvati listened intently, her brow furrowing as Hermione described how Draco had been there for her through the rough patches, how he'd helped her with her morning sickness and done things around the house.
"Draco Malfoy?" Parvati asked incredulously. "Are we talking about the same Malfoy? The one who used to insult you every chance he got?"
Hermione nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I know, it's hard to believe. But he's really changed. I didn't think I'd ever trust him, but he's been... good to me. Really good."
Parvati raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Her skepticism was clear, but before she could comment, her eyes widened, darting past Hermione's shoulder. "If he's such a good man, then why is he kissing another girl?"
Hermione froze. "What?" she whispered, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest.
Parvati subtly nodded toward the back of the pub. "Look behind you."
With a sense of dread building in her gut, Hermione slowly turned around. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Draco—Draco Malfoy—locked in a passionate kiss with a tall blonde girl. The sight felt like a punch to the gut. She stood there, frozen, unable to process what she was seeing.
Her heart hammered in her chest, and a flood of conflicting emotions crashed over her. Shock. Hurt. Anger. Betrayal. A voice in her head screamed at her to walk away, to let it go, but another voice—louder—demanded she confront him.
Before she could think twice, Hermione rose from her seat, her blood boiling, and marched toward Draco. As she approached, her footsteps quick and firm, the noise of the pub seemed to drown out around her. She felt the heat of anger rising up her throat, her hands clenched at her sides.
Draco pulled away from the girl just in time to see Hermione standing before him, her face pale and eyes blazing with fury.
"Hermione—" he began, but Hermione didn't give him a chance to explain.
"What the hell are you doing, Draco?" Her voice was cold, trembling with the intensity of her emotions.
Draco's face paled, and he looked panicked, but he quickly recovered, raising a hand as if to calm her down. "Hermione, this isn't what it looks like—"
"Don't you dare!" Hermione snapped, her voice louder now. "I've been watching you for few minutes. It's exactly what it looks like! You're kissing another girl while you've been trying to convince me to choose you. Pretending to have changed? Was any of it real?"
Draco glanced at the blonde, who was looking equally stunned, then back at Hermione. His voice dropped to a desperate, almost pleading tone. "I had to! You know bloody well why I couldn't tell you about her."
"Had to?" Hermione spat, her tears threatening to spill. "You had to lie to me? What, To make sure I didn't choose Ron? Was this all just manipulation, Draco?"
Draco's face contorted with frustration. "You don't bloody understand! If I had told you I was seeing someone, you would have run back to Ron. You would have married him, and then I would lose my rights to my baby. This baby is a Malfoy, Hermione, not a bloody Weasley!"
Hermione felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. "So, this has been about the baby all along?" she asked, her voice shaking. "You didn't actually care about me, did you? It was all about the Malfoy name, wasn't it? What were you planning to do? Marry me and keep her as your mistress?"
Draco let out a cold laugh, one that sent a shiver down Hermione's spine. "What did you expect, Granger? Did you think I'd give up the love of my life because a bloody idiot put a potion in my drink? I thought you were smarter than that."
Hermione's breath hitched as the reality of his words sank in. "So everything—everything you did this past week—was just a way to keep your claim to the baby?"
Draco's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "I wasn't going to let the Malfoy heir raised by a Weasley. You should have bloody known that. You're the brightest witch of your age, aren't you?"
Hermione's heart shattered. Without another word, she turned on her heel and ran out of the pub, her vision blurred with tears. The cool evening air hit her face like a slap, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. She needed to get away from him, away from everything.
She barely registered the sound of Parvati calling after her, her footsteps quick as she chased after Hermione. When Parvati finally caught up, she pulled Hermione into a tight hug, holding her as the tears fell freely.
"I can't believe this," Hermione sobbed into Parvati's shoulder, her voice cracking with the weight of her heartbreak. "I really thought he had changed. I was about to pick him."
Parvati gently rubbed her back, her voice soft and soothing. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. This is horrible, I am so sorry"
