"How did it go?" Ginny asked as soon as Hermione sat down in front of her. She was sitting on the couch, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Hermione smiled, unable to contain the warmth she felt. "It was... awesome," she said, a little shyly. "I can't believe how much he's changed. We had such a good time, and it's just so strange to think that we used to be enemies."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin creeping onto her face. "So," she asked, leaning forward, "was it good with him, even without the love potion?"
Hermione shrieked, her face flushing. "Ginny! We didn't go that far. It was just a first date."
Ginny leaned back, sipping her tea, clearly enjoying Hermione's embarrassment. "But, Hermione," she said with a teasing smile, "I don't get it. You're already having his baby. And unless you're still thinking about marrying Ron—which I highly doubt—why are you taking it so slow?"
Hermione let out a small sigh, crossing the room to sit beside her. "You're right, Ginny," she admitted. "I don't have many options, which is why I need to make this one work. And if taking things slowly with Draco is how I'm going to make that happen, then I'm going to do it."
Ginny laughed softly, shaking her head. "I guess that makes sense when you put it that way. Although, if you really tried, you might be able to find a third, fourth, or even fifth option, you know—someone who would be willing to marry you and adopt the baby."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but Ginny continued with a grin, "But the problem is, I don't think any of them could compete with Draco Malfoy."
Hermione chuckled, unable to deny it. "You're right," she said. "None of them are the baby's father."
Ginny gave her a knowing look. "It's not just that, Hermione. Even without that working in his favor, he's pretty good for you. I mean, where else are you going to find a guy who actually shows up on time for things?"
Hermione laughed at that, but Ginny wasn't finished. "And look at him. He's a hunk. And he's rich. I know you don't care about those things, but really, Hermione—come on. He was second in our class, wasn't he? That's what Harry said. So, unlike all those other guys you've dated, he can actually keep up with you."
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, trying not to laugh, but it was hard to argue with her logic.
Ginny grinned. "Let's face it—the only thing unappealing about Draco Malfoy was his personality. And now that that's been... fixed, no other guy stands a chance."
Hermione looked down, thinking. Ginny had a point. Draco had been a challenge in every way before, but now... now, he seemed like someone she could truly get along with. But still, there was a part of her that wondered if it was all too good to be true.
"You know," Hermione said slowly, "a part of me keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if he hasn't really changed? What if this is all just... temporary?"
Ginny gave her a sympathetic smile. "That's normal, Hermione. I get it. It's hard to trust someone who used to be... well, him. But people do change. You've already seen it with your own eyes. And more importantly, you've felt it."
Hermione nodded, though the doubt still lingered at the back of her mind. She wasn't one to trust blindly—especially not when it came to someone like Draco Malfoy. But maybe, just maybe, he deserved the chance she was giving him.
Ginny bumped her shoulder against Hermione's. "Just take it one step at a time," she said softly. "If anyone can figure out if this is real or not, it's you."
Hermione smiled, grateful for her friend's support. "Thanks, Ginny. You're right. I'll take it slow, and we'll see where this goes."
Ginny laughed. "Take it as slow as you want. But hey, you deserve some happiness, Hermione. Don't let the past hold you back."
The next morning, Hermione was having a particularly hard time. Her morning sickness had worsened over the last few days, and although she knew it was supposed to get worse before it got better, the reality was brutal. She felt so dizzy that she couldn't trust herself to walk across the room to the couch or bed. So, instead of trying, she sat down in the nearest chair—the one at the dining table—her head resting on her arms as she leaned forward, waiting for the dizziness to subside.
She had just walked out of the bathroom after yet another bout of vomiting, her body weak and exhausted. The nausea was relentless, and she had barely been able to eat anything in the morning for the past week. She sighed, the temptation to give in to Ginny's offer rising in her mind. Ginny had insisted more than once that either she or Harry could come over in the mornings to help, but Hermione had been reluctant to ask for help. She knew how difficult mornings were for Ginny and Harry—they had a newborn to care for, and both were juggling work on top of it. But at this point, she was running out of options.
Just as she was about to summon her wand and send a Patronus to Harry, asking if he could come by, there was a knock on the door.
The sudden noise startled her, and she stood up too quickly, causing the room to spin violently. She wobbled, gripping the back of the chair for support, her vision swimming as she tried to steady herself.
"Come in!" she called out, her voice shaky and weak, hoping it was Harry—or even Ron. She hated that thought, but at this point, she was desperate for anyone's help.
The door creaked open, and instead of the familiar faces of Harry or Ron, it was Draco Malfoy who stepped into the room. He paused, immediately noticing Hermione's unsteady stance, her hand clutching the chair for dear life.
"Hermione, are you alright?" he asked, quickly moving toward her, his voice filled with concern. "You look like you're about to faint."
She grimaced, trying to downplay it. "Just stood up too quickly... it'll pass."
But Draco wasn't having it. He quickly placed the dish he was holding on the table and reached out, gently gripping her elbow to steady her. "Sit down," he urged softly, guiding her back into the chair.
Hermione reluctantly sat down and let her head fall onto the table, resting on her arms. Draco, clearly concerned, gently stroked her hair in a gesture of comfort.
"What's that smell?" Hermione mumbled from where her head rested, eyes closed. "It smells... delicious."
Draco smiled faintly. "That's the reason I'm here." He straightened up, reaching for the dish on the table. "I found my mum's old recipe, and I thought you might want to try it. It's the only thing she could eat in the morning when she was pregnant with me."
Hermione blinked, still processing the fact that Draco Malfoy was standing in her home, offering her food. "It... it smells really good," she admitted, surprised at how inviting the aroma was. "And somehow... it's actually helping with the dizziness."
Draco's lips twitched into a small, satisfied smile. "It's called 'Solemn Sage Stew.' The enchanted sage in it is supposed to help with dizziness and nausea. My mum swore by it, and it looks like it works for you as well."
Hermione's stomach growled in response to the rich, golden stew he was holding out to her. She eyed it warily but couldn't ignore how the smell alone was soothing her, the sharp pang of hunger gnawing at her. "I haven't been able to eat in days, but... I think I might be able to try this."
Draco handed her the bowl with a small nod. "Go ahead. You'll feel better."
With a flick of her wand, Hermione summoned a spoon from the drawer and dipped it into the steaming broth. She hesitated for just a second before taking a small, cautious sip.
The warmth of the stew hit her immediately, not just filling her stomach but easing the tension in her body. The dizziness began to subside, and her nausea faded to a dull whisper. She took another bite, then another, the rich flavors soothing her in a way nothing else had.
Hermione swallowed another spoonful and nodded, feeling more herself with every bite. "I can't believe this... It's actually helping. The dizziness is fading."
"I'm glad," Draco said, leaning back in his chair. "I thought it might help."
Hermione paused, spoon halfway to her mouth, and looked up at him. For a brief moment, the reality of their situation hung in the air between them. Draco Malfoy, of all people, was sitting in her house, bringing her food, helping her through her pregnancy.
"Thank you, Draco," she said softly, putting the spoon down. "I really needed this. I didn't know what to do this morning—I felt so dizzy, and I was about to ask Harry for help. But this..." She gestured to the stew. "This has made all the difference."
Draco nodded, though he didn't seem fazed by her gratitude. "I'm glad I could help. According to my mum's journal, you should be back to normal in about half an hour."
Hermione finished the last bite of the stew, feeling better already. She hadn't realized just how much she needed help until now.
When she was done, Draco stood up and offered her a hand. "Come on," he said. "I'll help you to your room. You should rest while the effects kick in."
Hermione took his hand, still surprised at how gentle he was being. He helped her to her room, and she sank gratefully into the bed, already feeling much more like herself.
"You rest," Draco said, pulling the blanket over her. "I'll go clean up the dishes"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You? Clean up?"
Draco smirked. "I'm full of surprises, Granger."
She smiled, too tired to argue, and as she settled into the pillows, she felt a strange sense of comfort.
After half an hour, just as Draco had predicted, she felt completely back to normal. When he returned to check on her, she insisted that he didn't need to come by every morning, that she could handle it herself if she had the recipe.
But Draco wasn't having it. "I'm coming every morning," he said firmly. "You're going to have a hard enough time with the nausea to try cooking anything, and I don't want you making things worse."
Hermione couldn't argue with that, and though part of her still felt awkward about accepting his help, she was grateful that he insisted.
As Draco left that morning, Hermione's doubts began to fade. Maybe Ginny was right—maybe this was a good thing.
A/N: So things are looking good for Draco and Hermione. But how long will it last? Follow this story to find out. Reviews are highly appreciated.