Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

It's Not Over	By : cpetnm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 70649 -:- Recommendations : 6 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
A.N. Thanks for reading. I love seeing that read count going up. (Sigh, I'm such a math nerd.)

@MzPearlz: I have to be in the right mood for a story with angst, so I hear you! With regard to Hermione’s choice in men, all I can say is the heart wants what it wants. Thanks so much for the review. :)

@sherlocked17: Oh, dear. I think you’ll want to kick Draco in the nuts even more after this chapter.

Hermione watched Draco as he entered her room, a frustrated expression on his face. He sat next to her on the bed, nudging her over so he could stretch his legs out.

“I was getting coffee in the hospital cafeteria when you left,” he said quietly.

“I thought you’d left.”

He nodded. Merlin, what did he expect? Of course she thought he’d left her alone at the hospital. Over the course of the night, Draco had been able to study Hermione. Even at six months pregnant, she hadn’t filled out like he thought she would. Her face was angular and she had dark circles under her eyes. Her pregnant belly protruded from her body, but otherwise she was as thin as ever. She had small bruises on her wrist from their fight the day before.

“What do the healers want you to do?” he asked.

“I’ll be on bed rest for the next two weeks. If the contractions start again, I’ll be readmitted to St. Mungo’s.”

His hands covered his face, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation. He was at the precipice with Hermione. With the addition of the baby, it was less likely she would continue to accept his never-ending apologies. He could see her marrying someone else, maybe Theo, and raising his child with another man. The only person who’d ever shown him the interest, care, and honesty he craved was slipping from his grasp and it was entirely his fault.

Her hand came to rest on top of his. “You’ve never left me before.”

That was true. She had always been the one to end things, forcing him to examine his misdeeds. But she hadn’t done anything wrong and he had totally shut her out in his time of need. His actions spoke of his reluctance to accept her as his partner.

“I didn’t leave you, Granger. Our relationship would have made a spectacle of my father’s death, so I kept away until things died down.”

It was poor reasoning. “If you know me at all, Malfoy, you know excluding me from your life is the cruelest thing you could do to me. And by excluding me, you excluded your daughter. Let us go if you can’t do this, Draco. Please.”

“I…I don’t know if I can do this,” he whispered.

“Okay,” she said, her voice thick with barely held-in tears. “You should go.”

Narcissa sat with her forlorn son, trying to understand what he was telling her.

“You ‘don’t think you can do it’? She carries the Malfoy heiress, Draco! That poor girl,” the angry blond witch said, shaking her head. “Whether or not you two decide to make a life together, I will be involved in my granddaughter’s upbringing.”

“Hermione will welcome you, Mother.”

“You might think that, Draco, but she’s the rare witch who doesn’t care about our money or prestige. Her own family will provide love and support to her and the baby. Did you know Gringotts offered her the job as head of the Solutions Office? It was in The Prophet a few days ago.” Narcissa’s normally tranquil demeanor had been ruffled by the idea of not seeing the baby she so desperately wanted in her life.

“It sounds like she doesn’t need me, then!”

Narcissa stood and glared at her son. “Your father left this world with the regret of not seeing your child before he died. You have a brilliant, loving witch and a baby on the way and you let your fear ruin that for you. If you want to make a life with her, society will come to accept your union, but I am ashamed to say you seem to be the one that doesn’t accept her status, son.”

His furious mother left the room in a flurry of billowing black mourning robes. Draco watched her leave, trying to ignore the tears his mother had dashed away at the end of their conversation.

Hermione focused on keeping herself together over the next two months. After her two-week bed rest, she went to work at Gringotts full time as the head of the Solutions Department.

Her appointments with the healer were frequent, so she generally went to them alone. Narcissa had joined her for the last appointment, much to Hermione’s surprise. When she had entered the waiting room, Draco’s mother had been sitting, reading a magazine. Hermione made her way to the witch clothed in simple black robes. Narcissa looked up at her and smiled.

“I hope you don’t mind,” the older woman said, gesturing for the very pregnant young lady to sit.

“Not at all. It’s good to see you, Narcissa.”

They made their way into the examination room once the healer had called Hermione’s name. The healer checked Hermione and the baby, deeming them healthy and warning her to take it easy the last few weeks of the pregnancy.

The ladies left the office together after Hermione’s late afternoon appointment.

“Would you join me for dinner, Hermione?”

While Hermione liked Narcissa and had been grateful for her interest in the baby, it was hard to be around Draco’s mother. Hermione had been fighting a depression that dulled the joy she should have had during the pregnancy. She could adapt to the change in her situation, but Malfoy’s rejection of her had come at a time when she needed his support.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ve been working all day and I’m quite exhausted. Would you be amenable to a quick cup of tea?”

“Yes, dear, of course.”

They made their way to a café close to the hospital.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at finally being able to relax for a few moments with a steaming cup of herbal tea. Narcissa watched her, concerned for mother of her granddaughter. She’d never seen her expression look so flat and uninterested. It had worried Narcissa to watch Hermione negotiate payment for her visit with the healer. The young lady didn’t seem bothered by the discussion with the office manager, but Narcissa was embarrassed that the woman who carried the Malfoy baby was struggling to pay her bills in full. She was ashamed Draco hadn’t made arrangements to pay for her care.

“Did the healer give you a specific due date?” Narcissa asked.

“According to the size of the baby, the due date will be June first.” Hermione sipped her tea, enjoying the sweet, flowery taste of the chamomile.

“Will you be able to take time off of work?”

“I have six weeks off after the baby is born.”

“That’s not very long,” Narcissa murmured. “What will you do after your leave?”

“I’ve put her,” Hermione said, gesturing to her stomach. “On the waiting list for some childcare facilities in the neighborhood where I live.”

The idea of this baby, her granddaughter, being cared for in room full of Muggle infants made Narcissa sick with worry.

“What do your parents think of this?” she asked delicately. Narcissa hadn’t spent much time with the Grangers, but she knew they wanted what was best for their daughter.

Hermione shrugged. “It’s not an ideal situation, but I’m an adult and I have to be responsible for myself and Lyra. They know I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.”

“Lyra? Is that the name you’ve chosen?” Narcissa was touched Hermione had kept with the tradition of naming the child after a constellation.

“Yes: Lyra Juliet Granger.”

“Not Malfoy?” she asked, eyes wide.

“If she’s to grow up in my family’s home, I prefer she take my name,” she answered pragmatically.

Narcissa nodded, her heart heavy over the entire situation. Even if Draco and Hermione didn’t end up together, she wanted Lyra to enjoy the benefits of being a Malfoy. She resolved to create an account at Gringotts for her granddaughter to help ease Hermione’s burden.

Hermione slowly got up, her large belly making it tricky to move around the tables of the café. Narcissa stood, giving Hermione space to move.

“Next appointment?” Hermione asked, giving the melancholy woman a small smile.

Narcissa squeezed her hand in an uncharacteristic display of public affection. “Thank you for allowing me to be part of this.”

Theo walked with Hermione to The Magic Pan for lunch. He’d been pleasantly surprised when she had told him she had a craving for the restaurant’s mushroom soup and wanted to know if he’d join her.

The situation with Hermione was tough for Theo, as he didn’t want to complicate her life with his interest in her. He’d been right about Draco and it hurt him that she had chosen the man who he knew would always keep her at arm’s distance. Theo knew Draco wanted to possess the brilliant Muggle-born witch, but he didn’t think Draco knew how to be in a relationship with her.

Theo pulled out Hermione’s seat when they were shown to a table. He helped her ease into her chair, aware that the extra weight she carried made it hard for her to move with her normal grace.

“Thanks, Theo,” she said, letting out a huff of air.

They ordered and had their food in a matter of minutes. Hermione dug into her food with relish, Theo watching her with amusement.

“Can I get a slice of chocolate cake?” she asked the wait elf.

“You seem to have your appetite back,” Theo observed.

“Yeah, I don’t know what it is, but I’m feeling energetic today. I woke up early and took a walk around the neighborhood. All of this paperwork my department needed to complete was done by mid-morning. I’m planning on finishing up the nursery tonight.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard, Hermione,” Theo said.

“It’s just nice to feel more myself, you know. I was so tired most of the pregnancy and today I woke up and felt almost normal.”

“If you need anything at all, you can always call on me, Hermione. Even though you have support from your parents, it can be nice to have a friend to call on as well.”

She smiled and took a bite of her rich dessert. “You might regret offering me help. Have you ever been around a baby?”

Theo’s expression became serious and Hermione knew, if given the opportunity, the man in front of her would offer her a place at his side.

“It would be an honor to assist you in whatever you need.”

They finished their meal, Theo insisting on paying although Hermione tried to grab the bill from him. When they entered the bank, Hermione found Draco waiting in the hall outside her office door.

“Malfoy,” Theo said, making his way back to his own office.

“Nott,” Draco said with a brisk nod.

Theo turned to Hermione and gave her a reassuring smile. “Floo call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Theo.”

Hermione beckoned Draco into her office. She slowly lowered herself into her chair, her navy shift dress showcasing her larger breasts and baby bump.

“Sit, Draco. What did you need?”

“Will you come over for dinner tonight? We need to talk.”

Draco wore a charcoal suit with a lilac tie. His hair was shorter and artfully spiked and mussed and his face was clean-shaven. He looked young, professional, and serious, but his dark eyes were full of insecurity and sorrow.

“Why?”

“I wanted us to discuss our relationship and the baby.”

“Lyra. You can call her Lyra.”

“Lyra,” he said softly. “It’s beautiful.”

“She’s kicking me,” Hermione said with a grimace.

“May I?” Draco said as he slowly approached her.

Hermione nodded, guiding his hand to her belly where Lyra was dancing away. Draco knelt down beside Hermione, his hands splayed over her abdomen. He gasped when he felt Lyra roll under his hands.

“She’s incredible,” he breathed. “You’re incredible.” He let his cheek rest on the baby, his hands reaching around to hold Hermione to him. What was Draco doing? What did he want from her?

Hermione gently pushed him away. “You have to go. I’ll come over tonight after work.”

He stood and walked to the door.

“Thank you. I didn’t know if you would see me.”

She looked at him and nodded, going back to the work on her desk. For the first time, Draco couldn’t read her expression. He had no idea how she would respond to their talk.
- 22
- 23
- 24
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

It's Not Over