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Questions of Science	By : AnasellaEmm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 27647 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Disclaimer: negative

A/N: the chapter title comes from the song, �Amsterdam� by Coldplay

I apologize in advance for what I�m about to do�

Chapter 16: Oh My Star is Fading
Isabelle awoke groggily to the urgent knocking at her front door. She passed by the guest room where Hermione was sleeping and tripped over a stray slipper. She resumed her sleepy walk and pulled her dressing gown tighter around her, wondering who was at the door at only eight in the morning.

She looked through the peephole and almost choked on her own saliva to find Narcissa standing outside, wearing exquisite robes, but looking quite anxious and frazzled.

Isabelle quickly unlocked the door using her wand, putting down the appropriate wards and then fumbling with the handle as she yanked the door open.

�Narcissa, what a surprise,� Isabelle said in a sleep-heavy voice, clearing her throat for the inevitable conversation.

�Oh, Isabelle, something awful has happened,� Narcissa said, her voice breaking at the end.

�Come in, please,� Isabelle ushered the older woman in. �What�s going on?�

Narcissa wrenched her hands together and held back tears as she steadied herself against the wall.

�Draco has been captured and arrested,� she said in a small, exhausted voice.

Isabelle�s jaw dropped and for once in her life, she was rendered speechless.

�He� he m-made the stupid decision to apparate to Hermione�s flat to apologize and he d-didn�t realize that the Ministry has t-tabs on his Apparitions, which is extremely powerful magic. The m-minute he apparated�� Narcissa wiped away tears from her face.

�Narcissa!� Hermione�s voice came from behind them.

Hermione stood in the doorway to the living room, pulling her hair away from her face and staring wide-eyed at the crying woman.

�Oh, Hermione!� Narcissa sobbed and put her face in her hands.

Hermione looked between Isabelle and Narcissa. �What�s going on?� she asked in a worried tone.

Isabelle swallowed and took a breath. �Hermione, Draco has been arrested.�

Hermione blinked rapidly as if not understanding. �What?�

�Draco tried apparating to your flat and somehow the Ministry has some sort of tracking system on him if he tried to apparate someplace and now he�s incarcerated somewhere,� Isabelle tried explaining.

Hermione looked back to Narcissa who was nodding and crying simultaneously. In two quick strides, Hermione reached Narcissa and held her in a comforting embrace.

�Narcissa, it�s going to be ok. Draco is not guilty of whatever they�ve charged him with and we will find a way to get him out,� Hermione said firmly, which was a complete contrast to how she was feeling.

�You don�t know those Ministry officials, Hermione. They are relentless and stubborn� they believe that Draco is guilty and nothing can change their minds.�

�But in his trial, he will get�� Hermione started but was cut off by Isabelle.

�He doesn�t get a trial, Herms,� she said sadly. �He is wanted for the death of Dumbledore and for having an association with Death Eaters. They�ve already accused him of those things and he was found guilty.�

Hermione felt her head spin. �He doesn�t get a trial? But� but that�s irrational. Everyone has a right to a trial��

�This isn�t America, Herms. Wizarding laws are a bit archaic and follow the adage of �guilty until proven innocent.��

�Isabelle�s right, Hermione,� Narcissa said with a shaky voice. �Draco�s transgressions warrant him no mercy with the Wizarding courts and he is set�� she broke off into sobs.

�He is set for what, Narcissa?� Hermione asked, rubbing her back.

�He is set for execution t-t-tomorrow,� she sobbed.

Hermione didn�t know how, but her next few actions resulted in somehow getting dressed, calming Narcissa down, leaving instructions with Isabelle on keeping Narcissa composed, and making her way down to the Ministry of Magic.

Walking swiftly through the Ministry�s entrance and towards the second level where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was housed, Hermione ignored the wave of dizziness and nausea threatening to abort her trek.

Upon reaching her destination, Hermione glared at the man sitting behind his desk and ruffling his hair in a bored fashion.

He looked up when she barged into his office with a hesitant smile. �Hermione? What are you doing here?�

�Harry, you better give me one good reason not to use an unforgivable on you,� she said in a semi-controlled tone that she didn�t know she possessed.

Harry stared at Hermione in clear shock. �What are you talking about?�

�You�re one of the Head Aurors here. How could you let them arrest Draco?�

Harry�s shock was replaced with, well� more shock. �They arrested him? When?�

Hermione ran a frustrated hand through her hair. �It�s so great knowing our law system is in the hands of such competence.�

�No need to lose your temper, Hermione. I had no idea this happened,� Harry said, standing up from behind his desk.

�It�s your fault that it happened in the first place!� Hermione yelled. �If you and Ron had just gained a morsel of maturity and accepted the fact that Draco and I loved each other, then none of this would have happened.�

Harry wrinkled his brow. �I�m confused as to how this is my fault.�

Hermione drew out a harsh breath and took a seat in front of his desk to prevent falling over from the onslaught of lightheadedness.

She relayed the entire ordeal to him in one sentence. She cleverly left out the part about how there happened to be a Malfoy child resting in her uterus.

�He thought that breaking up with you would make you happy?� Harry asked slowly.

�It�s a lot more chivalrous than it sounds,� she defended. �He thought that if we were no longer an item, then maybe you and Ron would start talking to me again and that that would make me happy. I forgot to tell him that I could care less whether you two dimwits approve of our relationship now.�

�It only took his arrest for you to see that,� Harry mumbled.

Hermione heard him clear as day and shook her head instead of sending back a retort, or a punch. �Harry, he can�t be executed. He�s innocent.�

�I know he�s innocent, Hermione. I was there when he showed up with Snape pledging their proper allegiance to the Order. I know he�s got some sort of semblance of decency somewhere in that tiny��

�Harry,� Hermione warned. �Now�s not the time for you to bring up boyhood rivalries.�

Harry sighed and picked up stray papers around his desk. �What do you want me to do?�

�Is there anything you can do?� Hermione asked, a tiny burst of hope filling her chest. �I mean, you�re Harry Potter and you�re one of the greatest Aurors this Ministry has seen in years. You could ask for a pardon� or anything. I just don�t want him to die, Harry� he c-can�t.�

Hermione tried to keep her voice steady, but was finding it difficult.

�I don�t have any power over what they do with their prisoners. All I do is look for the bad guys and then bring them in� after that, it�s up to the Wizengamot and the Office of Judiciary Respect. I had nothing to do with his arrest.�

Hermione felt her breath leave her body. �He can�t die, Harry.�

Harry frowned and placed his hand on her shoulder. �I�m sorry, Hermione. I really, really am� and I wish this hadn�t happened. I know Malfoy is innocent and I actually feel awful now for not um, for well, not accepting your relationship with him.�

�So, that�s it?� she said softly, her dizziness coming back at full speed.

�I�m sorry,� Harry said, rubbing her back.

�Can I see him?� she asked. Her breathing was slowing down and her nausea from before was coming back.

Harry thought for a moment. �I can take you down to see him, but I�d have to stay with you.�

Hermione nodded numbly. �Ok.�

�Do you want to go now? Since Draco has been on the Most Wanted list for so long, I'm certain they�ve put him under maximum security here at the Ministry and not at Azkaban.�

Hermione wiped away a stray tear that she didn�t realize she had shed. She stood up in response and waited for Harry to escort her to wherever Draco was. She relied on his offered arm to take her because her legs felt like jelly and she realized she hadn�t eaten anything that morning. Probably not a good idea when she was supposed to be sustaining another life.

They passed all the security clearances with Harry flashing his Auror credentials, as if he really needed to, and claiming Hermione as his guest. They gave their wands over to the portly guard at one of the entrances. They encountered trouble as they reached the maximum security gates.

The wizard-warden stared them down in a no-mercy gaze. �You can go in, Potter, but the little Miss stays out here.�

Hermione stepped in front of the wizard-warden, who was easily a foot and a half taller than her. �If you don�t let me in there I swear I will make sure you won't be able to walk��

Harry clamped his hand over Hermione�s mouth and smiled apologetically at the wizard-warden. �She�s had a rough day,� he explained, not removing his hand, even as Hermione tried to bite it.

�She�s either gotta be authorized or related to the poor sap,� he said uninterestedly.

�I authorize her,� Harry tried.

�By the Wizengamot,� he corrected. �Aurors don�t have that jurisdiction.�

�I�m related to him,� Hermione interrupted, having successfully forced Harry�s hand away from her mouth.

�You a Malfoy?� the burly man asked with an eyebrow quirked.

�No, not technically. I�m his fianc�e,� she replied dishonestly.

He thought for a moment. �I don�t think that counts.�

�I�m also the mother of his child,� she said.

Harry dropped his jaw and drew in a surprised breath. He could understand the fianc�e lie, but the part about mothering the prat�s kid was taking it a bit far.

Another moment passed as the guard stood thinking. �Ok, I guess that qualifies you. Seems Malfoy was busy before he got his ass arrested.�

Hermione resisted the urge to slap the smug bastard and held her tongue as he unlocked the large, white door behind him with his wand.

As they walked along the long hallway, Harry leaned down to whisper in her ear.

�Surely you didn�t have to lie to the guard, I could have eventually gotten you clearance,� he said.

The wizard-warden had stayed at his post as the two of them made their way towards the lone maximum security cell.

�I didn�t lie,� Hermione replied.

�You�re not engaged to Malfoy and you sure as hell don�t have any of his kids,� Harry argued.

Hermione shrugged, not finding the energy to disclose anything with Harry or argue. They walked in silence the rest of the way until they reached a large, black door. Harry recited the complicated unlocking spell that released the lock and stepped back to let Hermione into the room.

She adjusted her eyesight to the dimness of the room lit only by a few candles. It was a very small room that had nothing in it, save the cot in the corner of the room and a toilet. In that single cot, Draco sat, hunched over, his feet on the floor and his elbows resting on his thighs as he held his head in his hands.

He seemed unfazed that someone had just entered the room.

Harry cleared his throat.

Without looking up, Draco spoke. �I told you, tubby� I�m not fucking hungry.�

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and realized Draco thought they were the wizard-warden.

�Draco?� Hermione said hesitantly.

Draco�s head shot up and he locked eyes straight-away with Hermione. She almost fell over at the grief she saw undoubtedly in his grey irises.

�Hermione?� he breathed. His eyes darted over to where Harry stood. �How did you two get in?�

Hermione didn�t recall crossing the room and kneeling beside Draco on the floor, wrapping her arms around him and crying into his chest. Damn pregnancy and all those tears. She needed an emotional plumber.

Harry stood by the door and motioned to Draco that he was stepping outside.

For once, Draco didn�t hate the moron.

Rubbing circles on her back, Draco whispered softly into her ear, bringing her up into his lap on the cot, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace.

�It�s ok, Hermione, please don�t cry. You know I hate to see you cry,� he murmured into her hair.

She pulled away from him and stared at him with the deepest incredulity she could muster. �How can I not cry? Voldemort would cry in my position.�

Draco smiled and kissed her tear-stained cheeks. �I�m so sorry about all this. It�s entirely my fault.�

Hermione shook her head forcefully. �No, Draco. It�s not your fault. Fate is out to get you, I swear. You have the worst luck.�

He nodded. �I wish I could have spent more time with you� can you promise me something?�

Hermione could feel the tears again as she saw the defeated look in his eyes.

�Promise you�ll take care of my mum� make sure to tell her that I love her and that I hate what I�ve done...�

�Stop!� Hermione screamed, jumping out of his arms and hugging herself around the waist. �Stop talking like that!�

Draco looked at her with sadness. �It�s inevitable, Hermione� I�m going to be killed. Tomorrow. I�ve accepted the fact� you have to, too. Or I won�t be able to die in peace, knowing you�re suffering.�

Hermione felt herself sink to the floor. �They c-can�t kill you. I l-love y-you! I need you, Draco. They can�t take you away from me, they, they�can�t!� she sobbed. �We have to find a way to get you out of here. You have to come back with me.�

Draco was at her side, slowly pushing her hands away from her face. �You said it yourself, Hermione. This is fate. I�ve been destined to lead a crappy life and to hurt others in the process. We don�t have a lot of time together and I�d rather spend my final moments not trying to persuade you that I will be dead by nightfall tomorrow.�

Hermione hiccoughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his his warmth. Even in prison, he smelled good and made her feel like bad things in the world didn�t happen. But they did.

She pulled away and wiped her cheeks, looking him in those eyes that held so much sorrow, she found it hard to keep up a stare. She looked down at her hands, instead.

He lifted her chin with his finger and kissed her softly on the lips, making her shudder with the gentleness and adoration she felt through his kiss.

�The floor is cold,� he said after he placed a single chaste kiss on her lips and chin.

She nodded and allowed him to help her up off the floor. She sat by him on the cot, holding his frigid hand and trying not to throw up. What a great time to have morning sickness.

�What are you thinking about?� he asked after they sat in silence for a few seconds.

Hermione sighed. Her energy was completely drained and she couldn�t stop the internal debate in her head. Should she tell him or not?

�I can�t believe this, Draco, I really can�t,� she said quietly. �You�re only 20.�

His hand seemed so cold. �Yeah, I know. Should have made better decisions as a kid.�

Hermione turned her head so fast to look at him in shock. �You think you deserve to be here?�

Draco stayed quiet.

�Draco! You�re completely innocent! Don�t let those fools make you think otherwise. If only they�d give you a trial and if only they�d listen to reason, you wouldn�t be here. So don�t you dare start blaming yourself and believing their defamatory comments.�

Draco managed a small smile. �Can I be honest with you, Hermione?�

She rested her head on his shoulder as her heart rate tried to return to normal. �You know you can.�

�I�m scared,� he said in barely a whisper.

Hermione felt the tears pool behind her lashes. She squeezed his hand and sniffed. �I know� me too.�

�Do you think when I die, that there�s a chance there�s a place like Jannah, Arcadia or Paradise?� he asked.

�Jannah? Like the middle of that maze in your garden?� she asked, remembering their first �date� like it was yesterday.

�Yeah. Do you think those places in muggle theology exist?�

�They exist if you believe in them,� she said, stroking the back of his hand.

�What are the chances that they�ll let a sinful bloke like me in?� he teased.

Hermione smiled sadly despite the gnawing pain in her heart. �I can�t think about that, Draco. It�s too hard right now.�

He put his arm around her shoulders and brought her even closer to the heat of his body. �Is my mum at home?� he asked.

�She�s at Isabelle�s. She was a bit anxious and nervous when she came to tell me what happened� but I gave her some mild sedatives to relax her and Isabelle is great company. You�d think those two were old friends.�

Draco smiled and kissed the top of Hermione�s head. �I can die happy knowing that the two of you are ok.�

�Please, Draco, don�t say things like that,� she pleaded.

�I have to, Hermione, don�t you understand? If you don�t get used to the idea, then it will devastate both you and my mum. I know there wasn�t a lot of time for you to get adjusted, but that�s life. Sucks doesn�t it?� he said a bit harshly.

She had to tell him.

�Draco, I� I� I have to tell you something, but I really don�t know if I should or how I�m supposed to tell you or� God, listen to me! I�m one of the best neuropsychiatrist Healers around and I don�t even know how to deal with this. Granted, I�ve never had a predicament quite close to this� but still,� she said in a rushed, uneasy tone.

�What is it? Tell me. I don�t care what it is, its not like I can do much about whatever it is, I�ll be d--�

Hermione cut him off by shushing him and simultaneously squeezing his hand a bit hard.

�Ok, sorry,� he apologized. �Now, just tell me straight. No need to pussyfoot around the subject.�

�Draco, I�m pregnant,� she said as she felt her heartbeat crescendo.

Silence met her confession and it was the loudest silence she had ever experienced. The room seemed to become colder. It was just not the way she had expected to reveal the news. And it depressed her.

�Are you sure?� he asked several moments later, his hand not moving in hers, his voice barely recognizable.

Hermione nodded against his shoulder, where her head lay. �Isabelle did the Healer�s check. I�m about a month along.�

Another agonizing moment of silence. Until Hermione heard a sound she thought she would never hear coming from Draco. A sniffle and then a cleared throat. If he was crying, and she saw him, she would lose all vestiges of sanity she had left.

�Draco�� she whispered, feeling the tears make their familiar paths down her cheeks.. �I�m sorry.�

His chest shook with the silent sob that escaped him.

She didn�t know how long they sat there holding each other, mourning the loss of a future together� mourning fatherhood� and mourning their cut-short love.

A knock at the door sobered them up. Hermione wiped her cheeks for the umpteenth time that day and straightened up, feeling Draco behind her do the same.

Harry walked in and stayed standing by the door. �The wizard-warden came round and wondered what was taking us so long.�

Hermione looked down at her watch and realized she�d been in the cell with Draco for nearly two hours. The time had gone by so fast.

�What did you tell him?� Hermione asked, not letting go of Draco�s hand. That was something she wasn�t looking forward to.

�I told him that you hadn�t seen each other in years and that seeing as how execution lay in Malfoy�s immediate future, that he give you two a break. I also might or might not have used blackmail and serious threats to get him to let you spend the night here.�

Hermione furrowed her brow. �You used illegal tactics to let them allow me to stay the night here with Draco?�

Harry shrugged and smiled. �If I admit it, then I�m guilty,� he said with a wink.

�Thank you, Harry,� Hermione said softly.

Harry nodded. �I�m sorry about everything, Hermione. I�m also sorry about how you�re being treated, Malfoy. You are innocent of everything they�ve tried to convict you of.�

Draco nodded curtly and stayed silent.

�I�ll make sure the wizard-warden stays out of your hair and doesn�t come around here. I assure you the utmost privacy,� he said before leaving and locking the door behind him.

�He�s a decent friend,� Draco said quietly.

Hermione smiled and took a breath. �He is.�

�How long do we have together?� he asked.

Hermione looked down at the blasted watch that would eventually be counting down his life. �When is, um, when is it scheduled?�

�Tomorrow at noon,� he said in a tone that portrayed he must have repeated this several times to himself.

�Then we have 24 hours,� she calculated.

She felt him nod.

�If it�s not too much to ask, Draco� I want to make love to you,� she said in a confident voice she thought she�d never gain again.

His eyebrows furrowed in worry, �But what about the baby?�

Hermione smiled gently and kissed his cheek reveling in his masculine innocence and na�vet�. �Completely healthy and this is perfectly safe.�

The corners of his lips lifted slightly in a smile she would miss beyond anything she could imagine.

She threw out all inhibitions and pressed her lips against his. Need, solace, and desire permeating the small amount of skin. Opening their lips to each other, they were lost in a haze of pure lust laced with the potent strength of the love they shared.

The dark grey jumpsuits they made every prisoner wear were surprisingly easy to take off and she had Draco naked before she even parted from his lips for a quick intake of breath.

Making love on a cot was not the most comfortable experience they could remember, but comfort was far from their minds as Draco slowly pushed in and out of her at a savory pace.

She called out his name in a soft mewls of passion and he whispered his undying affections to her that made the experience all the more heartbreaking. They came together in an earth-shaking climax.

Having Draco pull out of her, Hermione truly felt the loneliness and despair she was bound to face. His body was still warm and slick with perspiration as she hugged him to her, squeezed together on the cot.

He picked up her hand and kissed her wrist, at the pulse-point, lingering there for at least five seconds. Annoyingly, her tears started again and she tried her best to conceal them by covering her face with the hand Draco wasn�t kissing.

They made love several more times after that. Ignoring the tick-tock of her watch, which seemed to grow louder and louder.

-----------------------------------

Hermione awoke to a deep rumbling in her stomach and an intense nausea. Food! How could she have forgotten? It was now morning and she hadn�t eaten anything.

She leapt out of the cot and knelt before the lone toilet in the cramped spaces. She threw up what little food she had eaten two nights ago. This couldn�t be healthy for the baby� not at all.

�Hermione?� Draco�s groggy voice cut through the empty retching sounds she was making.

As soon as he realized what he was hearing, Draco was by her side, rubbing her back and pulling her hair back into a semi-constructed bun. Those hair ties were tricky.

�Are you ok?� he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She nodded and wiped her mouth with her thumb, realizing she was still nude, she grabbed her underwear from the floor, putting it on slowly.

�I have to eat,� she said as she hooked the bra behind her back.

Draco put the grey jumpsuit back on, his eyes staring daggers at her. �Why didn�t you tell me to get food for you?�

�Wasn�t the most important thing on my mind,� she said honestly, buttoning up her blouse and zipping up her jeans.

Draco sighed angrily. �I�ll get the wizard-warden.�

Hermione sat on the edge of the cot, rubbing her abdomen, which was starting to cramp with hunger. She watched Draco walk to the door and press down on a button she hadn�t seen earlier. He stood by the door as the little sliding window opened from the outside.

She could barely hear the exchange between the two men as she looked at her watch. It was only seven in the morning. 5 more hours�

Draco came back with a tray filled with a random assortment of food. Mostly breads, fruits and vegetables. He placed it on the cot next to her and went to sit on the closed toilet seat.

Hermione tasted nothing as she filled her stomach. �Aren�t you going to eat?� she asked him as he studied his nails.

�I�m not hungry,� he said quietly.

�You have to eat,� she offered.

He looked up at her and smiled. �I�m sure my health isn�t going to matter much today. I�ll probably just throw it up anyways.�

�Likewise,� Hermione agreed.

�What time is it?� he asked.

�Seven,� she replied, finishing off the food on the tray, not knowing how she could stomach it.

�So, um� do you know if the baby is a boy or girl?� he asked, pulling at a stray string on his jumpsuit.

If ever there was a question that would bring on morning sickness, it was that one. Hermione gulped and shook her head. �No, we won�t know for another three months or so. The baby is still an embryo at this point, not a fetus.�

He smiled. �I remember reading a book on prenatal biology. I thought it was about biology in general, but it turned out I was wrong, and I didn�t figure it out until I was halfway through the book.�

Hermione smiled back at him. �What do you remember?�

�That there are three stages of a pregnancy. The zygote, embryo and then the fetus. And then a bunch of other stuff on blastocysts and embryoblasts, trophoblasts, gastrolation, mitosis, meiosis��

�Ok, ok� you�re a baby genius, I get it,� Hermione laughed.

Draco shook his head. �I don�t know the first thing when it comes to babies. Good thing I won�t be around to mess this kid up.�

Hermione gasped. �Draco, don�t� how can you say that? You are a wonderful person and I�m two-hundred percent sure you�d make a wonderful father.�

�Are you going to find someone to help you take care of the baby?� he asked, ignoring her scold.

�You mean, am I going to find some man to replace you?� At his silence she scowled at him. �No, Draco� I don�t think I�ll want some other person raising your child. And I�m sure you wouldn�t want that either.�

�Would you do me a favor?� he asked, his hands clasped in his lap.

�What is it?� she asked, laying down on the cot and hugging her stomach.

�Will you move into the Manor and stay with my mum, raise the kid there?�

Hermione thought for a long moment. �What about the other Healer?�

�Well, you�re pregnant now, can�t work much, right?� he asked.

�I can do plenty,� she replied. �I won�t even start to show for a few more months. But I don�t know what�s going to happen after tonight. I�ll probably be too morbidly depressed to do anything.�

�You have to stay strong, Hermione. I know how annoying that sounds coming from me, but if you lose it, then my mum is completely helpless. I know you�re stronger than that, Hermione. I know you have the capacity to do anything and God, I swear, I wouldn't wish this hurt on my worst enemies.�

Hermione felt that she had no more tears. She was void of most emotions except deep misery. �It�s still hard to believe, Draco� this is so surreal.�

�Yeah, I know,� he replied. �So will you go live at the manor?�

Hermione rubbed her eyes. �Yes, I will. I think it would be good for your mum to be around her grandchild� she can be the one to help me raise the baby.�

�She�ll love that,� Draco mused.

Before any more words could be exchanged, a loud knock resonated throughout the room. Without waiting for a reply, the wizard-warden opened the door with his wand out in front of him.

�On you get, Malfoy,� he gestured towards the door.

�On I get with what?� Draco asked, standing up in front of Hermione.

�It�s time,� the wizard-warden replied with a stern look.

Hermione glanced down at her watch: 7:30 am.

�But it�s not for another four and a half hours,� she exclaimed.

�Didn�t get the memo? It�s been moved up to 8:00 am,� he replied with a frown. �horrible thing it is� but the potions arrived earlier than planned.�

�Potions?� Hermione asked. The wizard prison system was not one she understood entirely.

Draco took her hand. �They stopped using Dementors after the final battle. Now they�ve moved to three potions that will kill effectively. Similar to the muggles� injection, but we drink ours.�

Hermione felt immensely dizzy and leaned against Draco�s side to prevent falling over. �I�m not ready, Draco,� she whispered.

�Sorry, Miss� I�ve got to get him down there, or it�ll be my ass on the line,� the wizard-warden added. �You going to come easily, Malfoy? Or do I have to call in back-up?�

Draco shook his head. �I�ll come quietly.�

The wizard-warden crossed the small room and magically restrained Draco�s hands behind his back and shackled his ankles to only allow short steps.

Hermione was beyond emotion or feeling. She had somehow turned numb and wasn�t able to perceive anything going on. She kept focus on Draco�s eyes and when the wizard-warden stepped back, she flung her arms around Draco�s neck and hugged him tight.

He kissed the top of her head. �Take care of yourself, Hermione. I love you so much and don�t you ever forget it.�

�I love you, Draco. More than you�ll ever know, I love you and this baby will grow up knowing what a wonderful person their father was.�

And with that, the wizard-warden led Draco out of the small cell, leaving Hermione no choice but to follow. They walked mostly in silence down the long hallway.

�I wish you didn�t have to be alone through this,� she said softly.

�He won�t be alone, little Miss, it�s a public execution,� the wizard-warden replied. �He�ll be in a room with a glass observation window. You�re welcome to watch.�

Hermione�s fists were clenched so hard she could feel her nails digging into her palm.

�I don�t want her to watch,� Draco said in a gruff voice.

�I want to,� Hermione retorted.

Draco sighed and just kept walking. There was no point in arguing. He was dying in a matter of minutes and didn�t want his last conversation with her to be an argument.

�Ok, little Miss, the observation room is through this door,� the wizard-warden pointed to the door near her right. �You can say your final goodbyes.�

Draco scowled at the wizard-warden until Hermione cupped his face in her hands. His hands were still magically shackled behind his back.

�Goodbye, Draco,� she whispered against his mouth.

Draco closed his eyes and nodded before kissing her one final time on her sweet lips.

-------------------------------------

7:55 am�

Hermione sat in one of the many chairs set up in the observation room set like a tiny theatre with approximately thirty chairs. She was the only observer.

She could see Draco sitting in the dentist-type chair, strapped in physically and magically confined. He didn�t look nervous or anxious, but looked resigned.

Her tears had run out and all she could do was sit there and watch him. The one love of her life, sitting at his death� the father of her unborn child, about to leave her forever� and for what? For no good fucking reason.

Her head throbbed and her nausea was back. But she would stay until they kicked her out.

She wished she wasn�t alone. But she was, all alone in the observation room, looking at Draco sitting there, with three phials of potion on a table in front of him.

There was a sign next to the observation window, explaining the potions:

The first of these three phials: Tranquiso (leaves prisoner in a sedated, relaxed state)

The second of these three phials: Mortismo (terminates internal processes of the prisoner, with the exception of the heartbeat)

The third of these three phials: Cardicos (terminates heartbeat)

Hermione had already read the sign seven times. It was easier than watching them strap Draco into the chair.

7:58 am�

A man wearing long white robes walked into the room that Draco was in. He bent down towards Draco and whispered something in his ear. Hermione wished she could know what the man was saying.

She saw Draco nod and then his face go a bit paler than it usually was. Which was quite a feat. The man wearing the white coat held up the first phial in his hand and swirled it around a few times.

A tear slowly made its way down Hermione�s cheek. She couldn�t believe it. She still could not believe it. She had never felt so alone in all her being. It wasn�t as if anyone was actually going to attend with the time changed so suddenly� but it would have been better if she had had Harry there, or Ron, or Isabelle. Anyone.

8:00 am�

The man wearing the long white robes stopped swirling the contents of the first phial and checked his watch. He nodded to the wizard-warden who re-checked the straps and magical shackles holding Draco down to the chair.

If Hermione wasn�t pregnant, she would have thrown up several times, but the embryo seemed to have taken everything she had eaten, so she had nothing to left to bring back up.

So she settled for holding her breath as the white-robed man brought the first potion to Draco�s lips�
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