All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.

(Each title is derived from a song that, I believe, complements the overall narrative, if not the individual chapter.)

Hogwarts April 1997

Hermione's Point of View

Getting through the welcome-back feast was unbearable, and then we had to go straight up to our dorms. Thankfully, I had already asked Harry if I could borrow his invisibility cloak while on the train. He had been shocked by the request but agreed easily enough while Ron joked about being desperate to study.

Draco was pacing in agitation when I opened the door, and he frowned at seeing no one. Once inside, I dropped the cloak carelessly on the floor and launched myself at him before he really had a chance to realise what was happening. But he kissed me back just as fiercely as I did him. Every feeling I thought I had for him outside of the room seemed to intensify tenfold.

He stepped back until he was against the door, holding it closed with his body, and then spun so I was there instead. I jumped easily into his arms, wrapping my legs around him, and he ground himself against me, making me groan into his mouth.

"Bed," he managed to say between breaths against my mouth. I don't think he was talking to me really, but himself. "Have to… get to… the bed."

"Hmmm," I was my contribution to the words. I felt insane with want of him. He put his hands under my butt, and quickly turned us again, and then carried me over to the bed. Somehow, he managed to climb up onto it before he laid us both back. And amazingly, we never needed to stop kissing. I knew I couldn't breathe without his breath in my mouth. My body felt like it was burning for his, and I just needed more.

Then we both started on the other's clothes at once, and that felt right, too. I needed his skin against mine with a desperation that scared and thrilled me. He felt like life, like the only thing that mattered in this dark and cruel world, like a breath of fresh air that filled my lungs with hope and joy, like a fire that burned in my veins and ignited my soul.

And then he entered me, and my body did ignite, and I burned. I couldn't understand how every touch from him just got better and better, more intense and powerful. I was crying out with every thrust and just wanted him to go deeper; needed him to, and as if he knew, he pounded harder… until… until. I fell, screaming, and it had never felt so good to fall from so high. My orgasm went on and on and on, and he was just as affected. I literally couldn't speak or move. I was paralysed, and even though he was heavy on top of me, I never wanted him to move.

"Hello, seems redundant after that," he said, still breathing heavily. I laughed with my fingers in his sweaty hair. He then rolled over to his side but made a sound like he didn't want to. I knew the feeling.

"Hello," I said with a smile when I could see his gorgeous grey eyes.

"Missed me, did you?" He asked with a big grin.

"You have no idea," I told him.

"So, nearly as much as I missed you," he said with authority. I smiled again at the tone.

"You are too cute sometimes," I told him, and he laughed loudly at that.

He sobered up a bit and asked, "Have you been alright? Did you remember to take all your potions?" I nodded because I didn't want to worry him, and it really was true. Besides fainting once, I had been perfectly healthy. "And my little wizard? How is he?" he asked.

"Here," I said, rolling over onto my back, then taking his hand so he could feel the slight roundness there now. "I also have a few pictures to show you. They aren't very clear, but you can see him," I said with a smile at his awed face.

"Muggles can do that?"

"Yes. They are in my coat pocket. I'll get them," I said and tried to sit up, but he held me down.

"Let me," he said, and got up to go search my pockets. He stood up with them in hand and came over to hand them to me. I sat up and took them, paying no attention to the blanket that fell into my lap, until I noticed him looking at me, and I smirked. "You're beautiful," he said with an appreciative grin, and leaned in for another quick kiss. "Now show me my son." I laughed and shook my head.

"Our son, Draco. He is both of ours," I told him firmly.

"Yes, he is," he said with a proud smirk.

"You're impossible." I laughed again and then showed him the pictures. He seemed to easily see what I pointed out to him, but said he wanted to see the real thing. He wanted to see it in a Pensieve and had plans to make that happen.

The next day, he came in with one and never mentioned where he got it. He was awed once again; like me, he couldn't stop watching the screen from my memory, and the sound of the heartbeat amazed him. He was also interested in what my parents looked like but was sorry that my dad had been so angry with me.

"I would tell my parents if I could, but we both know how that would end now. But if we lived in a different world, we wouldn't have this problem. We would be able to walk these halls, and nobody would care," he said with wistfulness. I liked the fantasy myself but couldn't reply. Wishing wasn't going to change anything.

On the third morning back at Hogwarts, I was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Luna, nibbling on a bowl of granola and fruit. She was telling me about the latest issue of The Quibbler, which featured an article on the elusive Crumple-Horned Snorkack, which was a frequent topic in the tabloid. As I listened to her, trying to understand her interest in make-believe creatures, I noticed Ginny walking towards us, looking rather annoyed, her long red hair swinging around her freely. She sat down opposite us and greeted us with a forced smile.

"What's the matter?" I asked her.

"This," she said, slapping two squares of card down on the table in between Luna and me.

"Oh, joy!" Luna cried happily as she picked her invitation up with its elegant script. "I had been wondering when the event would occur. They have been engaged for some months now, haven't they?" Luna asked, but wasn't really looking at Ginny, but at the invitation as if she could see something on it that we couldn't.

"If you can believe that?" Ginny said huffily, crossing her arms in annoyance. I knew she didn't really like Fleur and quite often called her Phlegm instead, but I had found her to be very nice and sincere in her affections for Bill the few times I had met them. Picking up the card, though, I frowned and bit my lip. It wasn't that I had an opinion on the couple getting married; it was the date that concerned me.

"There, see, Hermione thinks it's a mistake too," I heard Ginny say, drawing me from my own thoughts and realising I had missed something.

"I don't think that is true," Luna said dreamily.

"Sorry, Ginny, I was distracted by something else," I told her, and Ginny looked slightly displeased but took a breath and then calmed herself.

"I just don't think they really have anything in common," she said.

"Ginny, they love each other," I said softly, trying to reason with her. "That's what matters most. And they do have some things in common. They both work for the Order, are both brave and loyal, and are both very intelligent and ambitious…" I was surprised out of my thought when Luna patted me on the hand, still studying her invitation. I frowned at her but then let it go and looked back at Ginny.

"They also have a huge age gap, different cultures, different interests, different personalities…" Ginny was already talking as if she had meant to interrupt me, listing off the reasons why she thought Bill and Fleur were incompatible, but I frowned again because I felt as if some of those things applied to me and Draco.

"Sometimes there are things that are not obvious to other people," I said guiltily.

"Like the Blibbering Humdinger," Luna agreed with a dreamy nod. Ginny and I looked at her but didn't comment on the absurd segue.

"But other times, there are things that are obvious to everyone but yourself," Ginny insisted. I blanched at that, but thankfully Luna drew her attention back to her.

"Oh, I know what you mean. It's like the Rotfang Conspiracy. But don't worry; I have a solution. I've been working on a charm that will reveal the true identities of the culprits and expose their evil plans. All I need is a bit of dragon dung, a unicorn horn, and a pair of your brother's socks." She looked at Ginny expectantly and asked, "Do you think you could help me with that?"

"Which brother?" she asked lamely.

"Hmmm, let's see. If you think you could, Percy would be best; otherwise, any of the others would do," she responded with seriousness.

"I'll see what I can do," she said with a frown. "At least I'll get a new dress out of this," Ginny said, going back to her original topic, if not quite the points she had been trying to make.

"Yes, a new dress is always nice," I agreed weakly, still unsure what I was going to do.

"I love new dresses," Luna added brightly, and I looked at her with a grateful smile. If nothing else, I knew Luna was always very sensitive to other people's feelings.

"And it should be fun to be in the wedding," Ginny said.

"You're a bridesmaid?" I asked.

"Yes," she said, and actually smiled. That was when we both noticed Luna had picked up her invitation again and was smiling at it in a peculiar way. "What are you seeing, Luna?" Ginny asked her, much more comfortable with Luna's oddness than I was.

"Oh, just some Nargles," she said casually. "They like weddings."

Later that afternoon, I was in Runes class but was still distracted by the date of the wedding. The first of August was two weeks before my due date, and the stress of not knowing what to do was making me feel sick. I had already told Ron and Harry my plan to Obliviate my parents and send them to Australia over the summer when we had been on the train. I had explained that I wanted to take the summer to spend time with them before we had to start the hunt.

Harry had argued again, saying that I didn't have to go. He said he would understand if I wanted to go with my parents. He said that even though Professor Dumbledore couldn't go with him to search, he had promised to help all he could. I was torn and wanted to agree; I was already having second thoughts. I didn't want to leave my parents or my baby; I didn't want to leave him behind while I went off to fight a war! I didn't want to lose everything I loved!

But thinking that reminded me of how much I loved the two boys in front of me too. I remembered everything we had all been through the last few years. Everything had always worked out much better when we worked together. It was then that Ron had asked Harry about what was happening with Professor Dumbledore's hand. Harry wasn't sure but said that it mustn't have been too bad, just unsightly, and apparently it was being treated by Professor Snape.

I had frowned thinking about the hand that Professor Dumbledore mostly tried to keep hidden these days and suspected it was worse than he was letting on. I knew he trusted Professor Snape, and perhaps he had reasons we were unaware of, but from my own studies, I knew curses like the one that appeared to be spreading on the old man's hand were often deadly.

I wondered if that was the real reason he was not offering to go with Harry on this hunt that he insisted was so important. I had dashed away a tear at that because I strongly suspected I was right and that I wouldn't be able to take the selfish road by leaving with my parents and baby. They had both thought I was upset at the prospect of losing my parents, and because that was a part of my upset, I didn't correct them.

I tried to focus on the ancient runes on the board, but they just looked like meaningless squiggles to me. Professor Babbling was droning on about the history and significance of each symbol, but I couldn't concentrate.

The door opened halfway through class, and Professor Babbling said with disapproval, "Good of you to join us this afternoon, Mr. Malfoy." I couldn't help but look at him, and he frowned at whatever my face looked like.

I skipped dinner that night, too upset to eat. I had told Harry and Ron where I was and asked them to cover for me again. Ron actually came up with the brilliant plan to use a stone and transfigure it to look as if I were sleeping in my bed if anyone looked. Sometime before morning, it would revert to a stone and simply be assumed that I had already gotten up for the day. Ginny had been all too happy to help with that; she also knew we had to prepare to face Voldemort, even though she knew very little of the details.

Draco got to the room after me that night, but right away he wanted to know what had been upsetting me. I told him about the invitation while he held me to his side as we sat on the edge of the bed.

"A Weasley wedding," he said with a frown but, surprisingly, no bite. He shook his head at whatever thoughts he was having and then said, "I have also been considering the complications of your due date."

"There really isn't much to be done," I said with anxiety. "I'm just going to have to turn it down and hope nobody finds it strange. I did say I wanted to spend the summer with my parents."

He rubbed my arm gently and said, "You can't let your worries consume you. You remember what that 'Muggle' healer told you."

"I know, and I am trying, but you are not the one who has to hide this from all your friends; you are not the one this is happening to." And then I froze in guilt at those words. I hadn't wanted to say that at all, even if it felt true. I also knew it wasn't really his fault, and he would change it if he could. He turned hurt grey eyes to me. I put my hand on his face and said, "I love you, Draco, but I'm scared. I know you have to keep secrets from people too; that you would change all of this if you could." He nodded but still looked hurt. "The last thing I want to do is hurt you," I whispered as I felt tears sting my eyes.

"I know," he said.

"Oh, dear Merlin! This room has turned me into a bitch!" I exclaimed, dropping my face into my hands. He chuckled at that, at least. I looked back up at his face. "Will you forgive me?" I asked.

"I would forgive you so much more than you could imagine," he confessed. He kissed me softly on the lips, but I still felt horrible. "I really have been considering your due date, and I believe I know how we can speed it up." I noticed he looked wary as he said it though.

"Is it dangerous?" I breathed.

"I don't believe so. I want to show you something, but please don't overreact, okay," he said.

"Saying that just makes me think I should," I told him.

"You can trust me, Love. I wouldn't do anything to hurt either of you," he told me.

"I know," I agreed, but then had to smile and add, "And that is still so bizarre." He grinned back at me, knowing exactly what I meant. He got up and got his bag, but went over to the table with it, then hesitated before he did anything else. I followed him with my gaze curiously around the bed until I had to sit sideways just so I didn't fall off.

"I'm aware you love books, Hermione, but promise me you will refrain from touching this one," he said.

"You want to show me a book?" I asked with interest and a bit of confusion.

"Promise me," he said, but nodded at my question.

"I promise," I agreed, even as I stood up and moved closer so I could see it. It looked old, made of leather, and on the cover, someone had engraved the torso of a pregnant woman with the baby inside. "A pregnancy book?" I asked even more confused.

He shook his head slightly. "Not exactly." He opened it to a random page, and I gasped and recoiled from the sight of the horrifying and macabre picture lovingly drawn inside. "Sorry. Wrong page," he said with a wince and gave me a worried look.

"Is that… Is that a…" I tried to get out but couldn't.

"Yes," he said quietly. "But here, this is what I wanted to show you." He turned the Dark Magic book so I could see the page he was referring to. Most of the ingredients were actually easy to come across and common in a lot of potions. The parts that weren't were the blood of the mother and amniotic fluid. The potion claimed to safely advance the pregnancy by days.

"What made you think of this?" I breathed, scared of the answer.

"My aunt had a baby in a little over three months. The baby is perfectly normal and healthy," he said, but he looked disturbed by it. He clenched his jaw and averted his eyes, as if he were trying to forget something terrible that he had witnessed. I almost wished I could ask him about it, but I was feeling my own dread without hearing his.

"How would we even get his amniotic fluid?" I asked with fear.

"It's actually not that difficult," he said, yet he gazed at me, still worried, before turning another page in the leather-bound volume to show me. He was right. It looked surprisingly easy and claimed to be safe for both the mother and child.

"Can we trust this, Draco?" I questioned, not feeling any better.

"You'll do it?" He asked instead.

"Do you promise me it is safe?"

"Yes," he answered with a confidence I wished I could feel.

"I think…" I started nervously. "I think I would need to speed this up by a month…" I continued but had to stop and swallow thickly.

"I'll prepare ten doses that can be spread out over the next few months, and you can take them whenever you feel inclined," he said, watching me carefully.

"I wouldn't feel comfortable with more and… and I think I can make everything work by then," I said, not really hearing what he had been saying. My ears were ringing, a hot flush surged through me, and butterflies were making me feel queasy. I felt ill again, and then I realised I really was going to be ill.

I ran for the door with my hand over my mouth, but of course it wouldn't budge. I barely made it to a corner before what little was in my stomach came back out. The vomiting was so violent that I cried and didn't realise Draco was holding my hair until it passed.

He then picked me up in his arms, leaned back against the door, and let me cry against his chest while I told myself it was just because I was ill and embarrassed to have done that in front of him. When I was quiet against him, he called out to his House Elf, and a moment later there was a knock on the door.

He stepped away from the door and called, "Come in."

"You called, master?" the House Elf asked after coming inside.

"Hermione is unwell. Could you please clean the mess and bring a bath and some fresh clothes from her dorm?" He requested.

"Does Jomny have permission to open your lady's trunk?" I heard him ask but waited for Draco to answer.

"Hermione, he requires your consent," he told me.

"Yes, you can open my trunk," I muttered. My voice sounded hoarse, and I was embarrassed by what my breath must smell like. "Put me down, please, Draco. I must be a mess," I said.

"No," he replied uncompromisingly. I don't know why, but that made me cry again, and my face was back against his chest as I sobbed. I heard the door open again, but I was feeling too sorry for myself, too sorry for us, to pay attention to what was happening around me.

When I could finally stop crying, the little House Elf was back and filling a clawfoot bath with water that was already steaming. He pulled a phial of a purple substance from somewhere, but Draco stopped him from using it.

"Not that one, Jomny. Hermione dislikes lavender." Oh Merlin, I was getting beyond annoyed with myself now, because just him remembering that had me crying again. "Is this normal?" I heard Draco ask with worry.

"Very normal," I heard the House Elf assure him, and the room began to gain the soft apple scent of camomile. The door opened and closed a moment later, and when I looked, the bath was ready and bubbles were floating on top.

"Ready to freshen up?" He asked me and finally put me on my feet.

"I'm sorry, Draco. I'm so embarrassed," I told him.

"Everybody gets sick," he told me, even as he started to undress me.

"Will you... will you have a bath with me?" I asked shyly. It was strange how that kept happening at times. He nodded but otherwise didn't comment. He got me in the delightfully warm bath, and then I got to watch as he undressed. That I always found fascinating and thrilling. I smiled up at him as he came towards me, in all his naked glory. "Now, who is beautiful?" I asked.

"You," he declared at once, and kissed my nose before climbing in behind me and pulling me against his chest. This was a new way to feel each other's skin, but I needed a few minutes of peace and quiet and relaxed heavily against him; he rubbed his wet hands up my arms in slow waves. I think I actually fell asleep for a few minutes but woke to his hands tenderly rubbing my slightly rounded stomach and him gently kissing my neck. He knew I was awake again when I tilted my head to make it easier. I really did love his lips on my neck.

"Nice to know," he said, and then licked up the column, and I moaned a little.

"I like that, too," I said, not even caring that the room had made me speak again without my knowledge. "How is the water still warm?" I asked as I gave a little stretch.

"It has only been ten minutes, yet the water will maintain the perfect temperature until Jomny returns for it," he explained. His hands were gliding all over me with bubbles, my breasts getting thoroughly cleaned. "I must admit, I really like how your skin feels—all wet and bubbly."

"You feel very nice too," I said, running my hands down his thighs. His semi-hard penis suddenly became like rock against my backside, and I chuckled.

He tilted my head to the other side and then whispered, "Witch," in my ear before starting to kiss that side. "You know I was attempting to be a gentleman," he said as he kissed me.

"No, don't," I said with my eyes closed at the delicious sensations.

"Are you saying I can have you?" He whispered.

"I am yours, Draco Malfoy. You can always have me," I told him.

"Can I keep you?" He whispered, and then we both froze again. His breath was warm on my neck, his arms were tight around me, and his heart was beating in sync with mine against my back. I wanted this time with him to last forever, but I knew we didn't have that much time. I didn't want to cry again, but turned my head and looked up into his eyes, the eyes that had captivated me from the first kiss, maybe even before that. I smiled softly, hoping he couldn't see the sadness, and kissed him gently, savouring his taste and his touch.

"You can keep me in your heart; the room can't take that from us," I whispered back, not brave enough to speak louder and reveal the lump in my throat, "and I'll keep you in mine." He searched my face for a moment, and I saw the pain in his; he nodded and then kissed me back harder.

"Oh, Merlin!" I exclaimed, remembering getting sick. "I'm so sorry. I should get my mouthwash," I suggested. He shuddered in aversion.

"I believe I should throw that stuff away. I'm not convinced it's appropriate for you to be using it now," he said, sounding disturbed, and I laughed.

"I have been using that stuff, as you put it, for years, and it is perfectly safe. However, I should really go brush my teeth," I said, really thinking on it now.

"Don't you dare move a muscle," he commanded, clamping down on me as if I had threatened to get up, which I hadn't. I smiled at him over my shoulder.

"I'll just do it when I go to the bathroom."

"Can't it wait until morning?" he asked, even as his hands started to wander again.

"It really can't," I replied, seriously. "Our son may only be a little larger than a grapefruit, but he has already decided my bladder is a perfectly valid place to sit." He laughed loudly at that, which I was happy about. He had such a beautiful laugh that didn't seem to be let out much.

"Well, since you appear to be fine now, perhaps I could provide you with a reason to sit here a bit longer with me," he suggested. I bit my lip and nodded, feeling very happy right now. I tried to turn my head again, but he stopped me with a hand, kissed me deeply, and didn't stop until I was sighing contentedly.

He smiled with triumph when my eyes drifted back open to look at him. He then let me face front again so he could go back to kissing my neck and shoulder, one hand busy twisting a nipple while his other hand slid down between my legs. There wasn't quite enough room, so I lifted my knees so I could open my legs, and he gave a little hum of approval. I was feeling a bit selfish, so I wriggled my bottom against him, and it made him grunt and chuckle.

"Not yet," he said, and when I did it again, he said, "Sit still," but sounded happy. I did as he asked and let him tease me for a while. I didn't like it as much; the water dried me out a bit, but I was still breathing heavily and getting desperate.

"I need you," I told him breathily.

"Then you can have me," he said. "Lean up and forward and hold on to the sides." I did as he asked and looked behind me to see him shifting up, as he knelt behind me. He took his heavy-looking penis in hand and met my eyes just before he touched my opening with the tip of him. My head threw back at just the pleasure that had caused, and then he slid inside so slowly that I could feel every inch of him stretching me wide until he was buried deep. His arms wrapped around me, my back to his chest, and he just held us together like that for a moment. "Are you ready for me?" he asked.

"Yes," I whimpered, feeling like he was torturing me. He released me so I could regain my hold on the sides of the bath while he held my hips, and then he started to move—long, slow strokes that were driving me insane. I was panting hard and having trouble holding myself up; my arms were shaking, the pleasure making it hard to think and hold on at the same time. He pulled out of me, making me gasp at the sudden action, but before I could comment, he stepped out of the bath and turned back to get me.

We didn't go far. Just the floor, and he put us in almost the same position, though I was on my fours. He was behind me again, seconds having passed. I thought he was going to enter me, but his mouth was there instead, and then a new shock had me gasp and buck. I didn't know how I felt about it, and my eyes flying wide.

What felt like his thumb pressed against my back opening, and he pulsed it even as he pleasured me with his tongue. His other hand somehow got between my legs a minute later, and just touching the nub made me scream in a sudden orgasm. I felt it trying to grip and release something it couldn't find, and suddenly he shoved back into me, and the orgasm tripled in strength, making me scream again.

He pounded, and pounded, and pounded, and my orgasm seemed thrilled to keep on going too. Finally, he cried out, and he slowed his movement until he was only just pulsing. I felt so overstimulated that even that small amount of motion was still causing me to whimper in pleasure. I was just starting to wonder why he wasn't stopping and why I wasn't when I felt him get hard again. My eyes widened in disbelief, and I looked over my shoulder with wide eyes. He chuckled at me.

"Same again, Love?" he asked breathlessly, but pulled his stiff penis out of me. I was both glad and not. My knees were getting sore. "Come on. Up on the bed," he told me, and helped me to my feet.

He pulled me against him, and our bodies were slippery, my breasts felt soapy still, but he didn't care. He kissed me and backed me up to the bed, where he picked me up by the legs, causing me to fall back with a squeal and him to chuckle again. Then he climbed up between my legs and slid into me as if he hadn't really left; I moaned at the sensation. He was paused above me, and when I lowered my head from its thrown-back position, he smiled.

"I love seeing you do that," he said, and then he was kissing me again and moving so slowly that at any other time it would have felt like torture. Now it felt like love. My arms were wrapped around his shoulders as we kissed, and we moved slowly, meeting each other in perfect rhythm.

Once the loving was done, I knew that that had been my favourite one yet. It may not have been as explosive as others, but it was perfect and beautiful. The love I felt for him was perfect, and the way he looked back at me was perfect.

"I love you," he said, his hand stroking my face. And that was perfect, too.

When Draco managed to get to the room during the next two weeks, he always made sure it was wonderful. He came in smiling and left the same way. I let him get away with it because I knew he was trying to keep me calm and stress-free, but I could still see the stress around his eyes, and there was no hiding how pale and tired he was.

He had started bringing me potions, potions I was frustrated I couldn't make right now and was grateful for his thoughtfulness, but I was worried he was stretching himself too thin. He reminded me cheekily that he was the best potions student in our year with a smug grin, and he had to start to make sure I was prepared for the 'insane save the world hunt,' as he had called it.

He brought me Pepper-Ups, Calming Draughts, and Essence of Dittany. He also gave me some Skele-Gro but admitted to taking it from Madam Pomphrey. I had frowned, but not argued. I knew it would be important to have. He also gave me the first dose of the potion to further the pregnancy, and hadn't that been terrifying! But I really did trust he wouldn't hurt us. He told me he had plans to make the Exploding Potion and another he had in mind, but he didn't want to say what that was just then.

I met Luna as I was coming down the stairs from Gryffindor Tower. Last night was one of the few I had spent in my dorm in days and Lavender and Parvati both commented on it. I had told them I was just studying a lot, and they had accepted that easily. Still, I was looking forward to seeing Draco, and just the thought of seeing him after breakfast had me smiling.

I still found it strange to think I was excited to go meet Draco Malfoy, but the thought made me feel giddy. According to my journal, we only spent an hour together yesterday morning before I had classes, and he had said that he would be gone for the night. He had 'work' to get done. He didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask.

"You are quite radiant, Hermione Granger. It's a joy to see you so happy," Luna said, complimenting my smile and joining me at the fourth-floor landing. She walked beside me as we descended the stairs, her silvery eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I wonder what made you so cheerful today. Did you find a new book to read? Or did you solve a difficult puzzle? Or maybe you met someone special?" She tilted her head and looked at me with a gentle smile. "Or perhaps it's just the Wrackspurts," she added, as if that were the most obvious explanation.

"As a matter of fact, I have been reading a fascinating Charms book. You can borrow it if you like," I told her, and she gave a squeak of happiness at that and a little skip. It was a dangerous thing to do on the stairs, and fearing she might lose her balance I grabbed her arm to stop her and distracted her by asking, "Doesn't everyone have Wrackspurts?" I had ignored her comment on meeting someone special. I doubted she meant it anyway.

"Some more than others," she agreed with a nod. She slipped her arm around mine and looked me up and down. "But yours are swirling about you quite busily. Quite pretty, really."

"Well, that's nice, I suppose," I said with a frown, not understanding at all, but Luna was my friend, and so I always reminded myself to take things she said with a grain of salt. Most of the time, I could conclude she was alluding to things she really didn't want others to understand or was trying to pass on knowledge subtly.

"Yes," she agreed, then added dreamily, "I do hope there are muffins today."

"Muffins are nice," I agreed. I was starving.

Draco's Point of View

I was beginning to feel like a stalker, among other things, but I felt the gnawing sensation of madness threaten to consume me if I didn't check on Hermione every so often. The bitter reality was that I didn't trust Slytherin House, and especially my former friends, to leave her be. Hogwarts was dangerous even on its best days, but add a pregnant witch who also happened to be Muggle-born, and that was a recipe for disaster.

What irked me was the knowledge that had the circumstances been different, had the baby not been mine, or had this happened to someone else, I would have taken great delight in tormenting the female Muggle-born. This made me ashamed of my past actions. I may detest how my life has changed so drastically in the past year and a half, but it has certainly given me a new perspective on my own views of the world.

If I wasn't so selfish, I would tell her she should go home, but I couldn't stand that idea either. I wanted her here with me; I wanted to be able to keep her safe and loved. I wanted to be free to love both Hermione and Little Drake. I liked that variation of my name, and though it wasn't as traditional as simply passing on my name to my son, it was close enough. Particularly because my son was going to be given over to a world that was all but alien to me, and apparently, they would find my name peculiar there.

I had timed my exit from the Room of Requirement to coincide with the time I was certain she would descend for breakfast. The stairs were also frustratingly dangerous, and aware I couldn't walk with her, I was confident I could be within spell-casting distance should she stumble. I reclined against a wall and watched her smile beatifically. Her hand going instinctively to her stomach; the clothes were working perfectly to conceal it. She kept it there as if she needed to support it for the trip down.

I saw Luna Lovegood emerge from another corridor and join her on the stairs. Unexpectedly, a sense of relief washed over me as they began their descent together. I was confident that my Hermione would be secure in Lovegood's company.

"What are we doing?" Kai inquired, catching up to me, and glanced down at what I was.

"Waiting," I responded nonchalantly. He nodded, not concerned, but I could perceive the curiosity in his green eyes. The sound of footsteps drew my attention, and I turned to observe the miserable face of Goyle come to a stop and glance at me.

I was well aware he had been feeling lost ever since Crabbe hadn't come back from Easter break, but I simply had nothing left in me to offer him. I wasn't certain I would, even if I did. As far as I was concerned, all my so-called friends had demonstrated where their true loyalties lay, and it wasn't with me.

Maybe that wasn't fair, given my own experiences with the Dark Lord's commands, but what had happened at the beginning of March had been too personal to merely be orders. Pansy had derived far too much satisfaction from witnessing me get taken down a notch.

Once the coast was clear, yet I could still faintly hear Hermione's voice as she spoke with her friend, I descended the stairs with the pair of Slytherins following close.

"Do you know when you need a guard next?" Kai queried, his voice not at all concerned with the response, and I saw Goyle regard me curiously but didn't comment.

"I require a few hours' sleep first," I informed him. My task with the cabinet was still a priority; it had to be, and I was certainly making progress. Sev had been right; I had needed to take into account the Arithmancy facets of the scheme. Figuring that out, I was slowing down to buy myself time. I was also utilising the time to work on potions, largely for Hermione. I was even attempting to create a variant on the Forgetfulness Potion that would be able to target specific memories and a large quantity at once, but I hadn't gotten very far yet.

I was aware that Hermione would typically be making them and readying herself for her own venture with Potter, but she couldn't risk being in a room with all those bubbling fumes now. I could perceive her frustration that she couldn't do something for herself. Once again, I was of the opinion that those two idiots didn't deserve this brilliant, amazing witch, but I kept that observation to myself. Her happiness was my priority now, and I was striving not to cause her stress. I wished she wasn't so fiercely loyal to them, but I also recognised that it was part of what I loved about her.

She worked diligently on another journal, full of notes; she explained she planned to study it over the summer to ensure the trio was safe. She was also doing an in-depth study into the Obliviation spell, another topic on which I found myself unable to comment. My own studies were much darker, and I wouldn't share them with her. I was simply relieved to perceive the trust in her eyes, even if they were tinged with fear, as I gave her the potion to advance the pregnancy.

"I'll have my coin on me," Kai told me. I gave a curt nod, a pang of guilt washing over me. I considered what Hermione would feel if she realised I had stolen her idea of using enchanted coins to communicate. It was too late to change now, and I had begun using them before we had become a couple. I scowled at that. Were we a couple? I wasn't certain. Perhaps what we were was simply complicated. The only thing that felt uncomplicated was how I felt about her, but I was smart enough to understand that wasn't really the case.

I halted at the entrance of the Great Hall. I hated coming here now, but it was necessary. Severus tended to follow me around if I didn't show my face at least once a day during meals. Goyle and Kai both navigated to the far side of the table, choosing to sit with familiar faces, while I was off to the front, where I was certain Severus couldn't overlook me, and the first years would be too intimidated to attempt conversation.

I commenced down the aisles, a path carved between the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables, when the voice of a fifth year reached my ears: "Look at the Bristol's on Granger."

His friend let out a laugh. "Looks like Weasley has noticed; he can barely put his spoon in his mouth." I turned to find that the red-haired imbecile was indeed staring at her chest, and I began shaking in fury. 'Somebody was going to be hurt', I thought. Abruptly, Hermione rose, smacking him over the head with her hand and berating him. It wasn't enough, but it was a start.

She and Lovegood moved down a few seats, and that is when I caught Potter glaring back at me. His face mirrored my anger, though I was certain our reasons differed. The two Ravenclaws also noticed his gaze and turned around to find me standing behind them. I bared my teeth at them, and their eyes widened in fright. I liked that; they should be frightened. I took a step towards them, but a magazine suddenly hit me in the stomach, and I turned my head to find Severus standing beside me.

"Undoubtedly, you were about to advise these young men to be cautious with their words when discussing witches," he declared, his gaze fixed on me. His cold, black eyes pierced through me as he spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Of course," I responded with a nonchalant air, though I was acutely aware that my eyes were still ablaze with fury. He turned his gaze on them.

"Twenty points from Ravenclaw for your vulgarity. Be respectful, or you will be having detention with me," Severus told them. They nodded lamely. "Draco, come with me," he commanded, and turned to sweep back out of the room. I trailed behind him, a sense of resignation settling over me. We had reached the deserted dungeon corridor before he began to speak again. "I see I was foolish indeed to assure the Dark Lord that you had no kind of fascination with Miss Granger."

"I wouldn't call it a fascination," I grumbled, irritation seeping into my tone. I was well aware I was being careless and stupid. I was fully conscious that I needed to do better than this, but she was always on my mind. Even when I was trying to get that damned cupboard to work, she was on my mind. Making potions, she was on my mind. It was beyond what was normal; I was aware of that. If she hadn't been pregnant, I was certain I would have had better control, but it felt like she was mine to take care of in a way that I had never experienced before. He pulled me to a stop beside him and attempted to get into my mind.

"Stop that!" I yelled. "You have no right!" I screamed in fury, clamping my shields down. Merely from the sheer effort it took to do; I understood that I had become lax in another area.

"I have every right," he seethed back. "You are distracted, and I don't want you to be killed because of it." He lowered his voice and said, in a rare moment of sentiment, "You are important to me, Draco."

"I'm aware; I'm sorry," I uttered, my voice barely more than a whisper. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, making my words sound more like a tired sigh. I ran a hand through my hair and grimaced at the action. "I'm merely tired."

"I noticed you haven't been sleeping in your dorm; care to tell me where you have been staying?" He inquired.

"With my work," I responded defiantly. I was aware that he was curious about exactly where I was working, but I had no desire to expose my progress to him.

"You know that I should be forcing you to be in Slytherin House," he told me.

"But you won't, because you understand that some things are more important," I replied, aiming for arrogance, but it merely came out defeated.

"You know I am here for you if you need me, Draco," he said, appearing perturbed. I merely nodded. "Stop staring at Miss Granger. I don't know what your interest is with her, but it is being noticed by more than just our own house, and that is dangerous enough."

"Yes, Sir," I responded, the words dripping with sarcasm.

"Draco!" he barked, and I met his black eyes for a brief second, but that was all it took. He actually recoiled, gasping as he took a step back. "You… How could you…" he began to pace.

"Obliviate," I uttered, my gaze dropping to my hand in surprise. My wand was there, though I hadn't even realised I intended to use it until the deed was done. It was dangerous to cast that spell with no clear intent behind it, but I had cut it off as fast as it had begun. I glanced back at Sev with fear. I was aware of how strong his Occlumency shields were and hoped that this hadn't been so much that he could penetrate the spell.

"I will do better, sir, I promise," I managed to say with as much contrition as I could muster while putting my wand away. I hoped that what I said would merge with what was left of the conversation, if it had worked at all. Severus rubbed his brow as if he had a headache but nodded in response.

"Just keep focused, Draco," he replied calmly. "You only have a few short months left."

"I'm aware, sir. I am… I am always very conscious of how little time I have," I said, my gaze shifting down the hall so I didn't have to observe his face.

"Good. Now go get some sleep. You look exhausted, and I know you have taken quite enough Pepper-Up potions this week," he told me, knowingly. I nodded and walked away, feeling his gaze on my back.

Entering the room, I was trembling, a cocktail of rage and fear coursing through my veins. I spoke out loud to the room, ranting about everything I thought. I couldn't stand what those Ravenclaws had been saying about Hermione, and they were going to pay for it. If I could get away with it, I would also hurt the Weasel, but everything I considered would hurt Hermione, and regrettably, he was important to her. Nevertheless, if an opportunity presented itself, I wouldn't hesitate. The Weasel needed to understand that she was mine, and if I had my way, she would never be his!

I also voiced my fears, my recent actions towards Sev weighing heavily on me. I raged about how much I hated my father now for thrusting me into a war and for being the reason I was branded a Death Eater. The room felt strangely satisfied when I was done, as if it had watched me the whole time, absorbing every word.

I had meant to be awake when Hermione arrived, but instead, I woke to a note beside me. It simply said she would bring us dinner that evening, and it was signed with a heart.

Author's notes: - ForsakenKalika, Whit96 and ARandomGirlInRavenclaw. Thank you for leaving comments.