It was 10:30 on a quiet Sunday morning. Hermione was finally feeling a sense of peace, as her morning sickness had begun to fade. She and Draco were lounging on the couch, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. An overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over her. She knew she was lucky to have Draco by her side through all the turmoil of the past few months. His steady presence made everything feel less daunting.
Just as she leaned her head back, closing her eyes for a brief moment of calm, there was a sudden knock at the door. Her eyes snapped open, and she frowned slightly, glancing at the clock.
"Who could that be?" she wondered aloud. "It's only 10:30 on a Sunday morning. No one ever comes this early."
Draco gave her a quizzical look, just as curious. "Probably someone trying to sell you something. I'll hex them if you like," he joked lightly, though there was an underlying edge of protectiveness in his tone.
Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "I'll get it. It's probably nothing."
She moved toward the door, still half-expecting an over-eager delivery person. But when she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat.
Standing in front of her was Molly Weasley, her face full of concern. Behind her stood a very uncomfortable-looking Harry and Ginny, both clearly apprehensive about the visit. Harry gave Hermione an apologetic smile, while Ginny looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment.
"Hermione!" Molly exclaimed before Hermione could even process what was happening. She stepped forward and enveloped Hermione in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh, my dear girl, I can't believe what you've been going through. I'm so sorry this happened to you."
Hermione froze for a second, feeling both comforted and deeply unsettled. Molly's warmth and care were always appreciated, but there was a sinking feeling in Hermione's stomach, knowing that Harry and Ginny must have told her a version of events that wasn't entirely true.
Molly pulled back, cupping Hermione's face in her hands, her eyes searching Hermione's for some kind of confirmation. "Harry and Ginny told me everything," Molly said in a rush.
"Really?" asked Hermione, disbelief evident in her voice. "How much did they actually tell you?"
"They told me everything," said Molly, while Harry and Ginny shook their heads behind her, looking uncomfortable. "Your ex-boyfriend tried to drug you, but it all went wrong. And… and now you're with Malfoy, and you're pregnant."
The word seemed to hang in the air for a moment, and Hermione bit her lip, trying to decide how best to respond. She was touched by Molly's concern, but she knew the situation was much more complicated than what had been shared. The last thing she wanted was for Molly to think Draco was just an accidental byproduct of a mess.
"It's okay, Molly," Hermione said softly, stepping aside to invite her into the apartment. "Things have actually turned out for the best."
Molly looked at her, clearly bewildered. "Really?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice. "I mean… Malfoy? Of all people?"
Hermione gave her a gentle smile as they all moved into the living room. "Yes, really. I couldn't imagine a better father for my baby."
That revelation caused Molly to pause. She blinked, looking genuinely shocked, and for a moment, it seemed she was lost for words.
"Malfoy?" Molly repeated, still trying to process the information.
It was Harry who stepped in, seeing how uncomfortable the conversation was making Hermione. "See?" he said, moving closer to his mother-in-law. "I told you there was nothing to worry about. I took two full weeks investigating Malfoy. I went through his background thoroughly, and trust me, he's cleaner than I am."
Molly turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Cleaner than you? That's hard to believe, considering you're practically an angel."
Harry chuckled awkwardly. "I mean it, Molly. Malfoy's turned his life around."
Ginny, who had been standing quietly near the doorway, finally spoke up, her voice laced with guilt. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I tried to stop her from barging in, but she wouldn't listen. She had to come and see you for herself."
Hermione shook her head, managing a small smile. "It's okay, Ginny. I understand. I'm glad she's here, actually."
Molly looked at Hermione with concern still etched on her face. "I know Ron can be an ass sometimes, especially when it comes to the Malfoys… But I don't want you to feel like you have to stay away from us. You're always welcome at the Burrow, no matter what he says."
Hermione let out a long sigh, grateful for the offer but knowing full well the complications that came with Ron's anger and resentment. "I know," she said quietly. "But I just don't want to make things more complicated than they already are. There's enough drama without adding more to the mix."
Molly's expression softened, and she reached over to pat Hermione's hand. "I completely understand, dear. I do. You don't need any more stress in your life right now."
The tension in the room seemed to ease a bit. Draco, who had been standing quietly in the background, finally stepped forward. His face was calm, but there was an undeniable protectiveness in his eyes as he addressed Molly.
"I promise you, Mrs. Weasley," he said, his voice steady. "Hermione and the baby are my priority now. I'll take care of them, no matter what."
Molly looked at Draco for a long moment, her lips pressed together. She clearly still had reservations, but something in his tone, in his expression, seemed to break through her skepticism. She nodded slowly.
"Well, I'll hold you to that, Malfoy," she said, though there was no venom in her voice. "You've got quite the job ahead of you."
Draco offered a small smile in return. "I'm up for the challenge."
The room fell into a more comfortable silence, the tension finally beginning to lift. Hermione let out a quiet breath of relief. It wasn't a perfect resolution, but for now, it was enough.
"Who is this boy who was stupid enough to use an illegal potion like the Betrothal Brew on you?" asked Molly, her face still pale with disbelief. Her eyes flicked between Hermione, Harry, and Draco, as if hoping one of them would tell her it wasn't true.
"What?" Hermione asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What did you call it?"
"The Betrothal Brew," Molly repeated, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap. "It was banned about fifty years ago. My grandfather used to talk about it all the time. He was really upset when they outlawed it."
"Oh…" Hermione's brow furrowed in realization. "So that's why I couldn't find anything about that potion, no matter how hard I searched. There wasn't a single record of any love potion under that name." She shook her head in disbelief. "I guess it's because it was banned."
Molly nodded gravely. "It's not a love potion, not really," she explained, her voice solemn. "It's much more than that."
"How so?" asked Hermione, her curiosity piqued.
"The person who drinks it will feel overwhelmingly attracted to the one who drinks the other half. Any doubts or fears they have about each other will be suppressed. Anything that brings the two together will be enhanced."
Hermione's stomach twisted as Molly continued, her words sinking deeper with each explanation.
"But that's not all," Molly added, her voice dropping lower. "The potion renders any contraceptives completely useless. And it enhances fertility, making the chance of pregnancy almost certain. Pureblood families used it to trap unwilling witches and wizards into marriage. Most of the victims didn't realize they had been drugged for years—not until after they were already married and had children. It felt so real, so convincing, that they believed they were in love."
The room fell into stunned silence. Hermione stood rooted to the spot, her mouth hanging open. She was in shock. How had this gone unnoticed? How had Ron—of all people—done something so manipulative and cruel?
Ginny, Harry, and Draco looked equally horrified, their faces as pale as Hermione's. Draco's hands clenched into fists at his sides, and Harry's jaw was set in a hard line.
"So..." Hermione's voice trembled with rage as her mind pieced it all together. "He wasn't just trying to remind me of how good we were together. He was trying to force me into something I didn't want, something I never agreed to… whether I liked it or not!"
Her voice rose with fury, and before anyone could stop her, she shouted, "I'm going to kill him!"
Without another word, Hermione spun on her heel and disapparated with a loud crack, leaving the room stunned in her wake.
"Oh no," Ginny whispered, bringing a hand to her mouth.
Draco swore under his breath and turned toward Harry, who was already moving toward the door, his face filled with urgency. "We need to find her before she does something she'll regret," Harry said quickly. "Ginny, take your mum home. Draco and I will find her."
Ginny shot Harry a worried glance but gently tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Come on, Mum. Let's get you home. Harry and Draco will handle this."
With one last look of concern, Ginny and Molly disapparated, leaving Harry and Draco alone in the room.
Draco exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "We need to find her," he said, his voice low and urgent. "This could get ugly."
"I know," Harry cut in, already reaching for his cloak. "Just follow me—I know where she went."
Without waiting for a response, Harry disapparated.
It was only then that Draco realized he had no idea where Harry had gone.
A/N: So the mystery of the love portion is out. What do you think? Let me know in your reviews.