Unexpected Anger - Harry Potter - Draco/Hermione - 5/??
Title: Unexpected Anger
Part: 5/??
Authors: sayyida_jaida and ashleyfanfic
Summary: Hermione gets a visit in the hospital that upsets her.
A/N: Thank you again to Michelle for the beta. We love you, you rock! And thank you to the loyal readers for all the great reviews! We love YOU, too.
This morning's scan had been clear, so the Healers had decided to go ahead and release her. Draco had left her at St. Mungo's to go home and bring her some clean clothing, while she went through the final tests.
Hermione laid in bed and thought about the day before. Lord and Lady, so much had changed in the last day.
Ron knocked on the door to her hospital room. He'd heard what had happened while he'd been at work, and while he knew that Hermione was probably hurting from the loss of her baby, he was sure that she'd want to see him. They had been friends for too long to let the likes of Draco Malfoy and his demon spawn come between them. This was for the best. Draco wouldn't want anything to do with her now that the baby as gone, and she couldn't actually like Malfoy for anything other than a meal ticket for herself and the baby. This whole situation had really put things in perspective for him. He realized that the reason he was so hurt by what she'd done was that he still had feelings for her. She was supposed to be with him, no one else, especially not Death Eater scum like Malfoy. He'd gone to Skeeter in hopes that the article would purge him from her life. however, it had only resulted in Skeeter being fired.
He tucked the flowers he'd bought her behind his back and opened the door. "You decent?" he asked as he poked head in.
Hermione looked up, expecting Draco when she heard the light tap on the door.
She was not expecting Ron.
"YOU!" she shrieked, her hand going for her wand. "What are you doing here?"
He frowned and walked into the room, noticing that she was reaching for her wand. "Look, I come in peace," he said, as he brought the flowers from behind his back.
"Peace? You COME IN PEACE?!" she screamed, bolting up out of the bed and pointing her wand at his heart, her face flushing. "How dare you show your face here after all the trouble you caused!"
He sighed. "Look, I did it for your own good! I'm here to apologize and offer my condolences."
"Are you really honestly that stupid? This is a new low, even for you."
He sighed. "I'm not trying to upset you. I'm really here to apologize. I heard you lost the baby, and I decided that us fighting just...it's been put in perspective."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, 'it's been put in perspective'?"
He shrugged. "I realized why I was so angry. Yes, it does have a bit to do with Malfoy, but more that I'm still in love with you. I know... I did horrible things while were together, but I'm done with that. I only want you."
Hermione looked at him, dumbfounded, and felt her jaw dropping. "You WHAT?" Her wand came back to point at him. "You forget something, Ronald. A relationship is a two way street. You want me? Congratulations. Unfortunately, I don't want you. Did you think I was lying when I said I learned how completely inadequate you were? Granted, I was trying to be hurtful, but sometimes the truth hurts. Why the bloody hell would you think for even a second that I'd want you back?"
She frowned. "And what the hell do you mean about condolences? I didn't lose the baby, you moron."
His gaze hardened. "You're a bitch, Hermione." He threw the flowers to the ground. "I came here cause I thought you could use someone’s company, and you're just as nasty as the last time I saw you!"
"You thought I could use someone, so you came by. You know what? Even if I did need someone, it wouldn't be you. You CAUSED this. When I needed you, you weren't there for me. Now I don't need you. I don't need you or want you. So why the fuck should I be grateful to you for coming here? Am I supposed to be ecstatic that you want me back? Is that it? Here," she said, flicking her wand at the pile of clothing she had been wearing the day before so that a galleon flew out of her pocket and into her hand. She threw it at him as hard as she could, beaning him in the nose. "Go down to the corner, and buy yourself a clue. And Ron, if I'm a bitch, then it's only because you are the biggest arse ever to besmirch the face of the earth."
He wanted to hurt her as much as she had him, and at the moment it felt like his heart was breaking. "You know what? Fuck you! Malfoy only wants you because of the bloody baby. No man wants a know-it-all-bookworm, and I'm sure he's still fucking other women behind your back! The best thing that could happen to you would be to lose that baby and get him the fuck out of your life!" he screamed, breathless when he was finished.
Hermione felt like he'd punched her in the gut, felt cold and nauseous as she broke out in a cold sweat, but she'd be damned if she let him see that he'd hit a nerve.
"Really? Because that's what you would do?" she asked coldly.
He glared at her. "You mean if I had to deal with you as a wife and the mother of my child? I think I'd go insane if I didn't."
"Remind me again why you're here? Something about wanting me back?" She paused, shaking her head. "Get the fuck out of my room and don't come back until you can accept the decisions I've made, and are ready to apologize to Draco for slandering him in the Prophet."
"Hell will freeze over before I apologize to either of you."
Draco opened the door and nearly dropped what he was holding at seeing Weasley in Hermione's room. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he asked, as he drew his own wand.
Ron turned and found himself at wandpoint. "I was leaving. You're welcome to my leftovers," he said as he shoved past Draco. "I hope your relationship with the ferret is worth our friendship," he said, not giving her time to answer before storming out.
Draco watched him walk out then looked at Hermione. "Are you okay?"
Hermione collapsed back onto the bed and held up her wand, watching her hand shake, feeling an ache in her stomach as the light-headed nausea was replaced by a burning anger and a gut-twisting insecurity that Ron had been right.
"Yes. No. I don't know...." she trailed off.
She slowly got up out of the bed and made her way to the toilet. As she sat down, she glanced into her knickers and let out a small scream. "Draco," she screamed. "Go get help. Now!" She moved carefully back to the bed, more scared than before.
He placed her clean clothes in the chair and moved out of the room to fetch a mediwitch. He ushered a mediwitch into the room and explained what had just happened. With the way she was shaking, he was worried about Hermione. If something happened to her or to the baby, he decided he would hunt down and kill Weasley.
The mediwitch ran some scans, a worried frown crossing her brow. "Stay in bed, I'll be right back," she said, before hurrying out the door.
Hermione blinked, hard, as the pain in her stomach got worse. She laid back in the bed, trying to get comfortable.
Draco stared at Hermione, her discomfort obvious to him. He moved to stand beside her and took her hand. "Hermione," he said softly as he clasped her hand in both of his, and waited anxiously for the mediwitch to return.
She looked up at him, Ron's words ringing in her ears, making her gut twist, which made her ache more. "Draco."
Just then the mediwitch bustled back in with a Healer in tow. The Healer didn't even address them, simply began waving her wand over Hermione's abdomen, a frown on her face.
"When did you start to bleed?" the Healer asked her quietly.
"I don't know. I just went to the loo and it was there."
She nodded. "The baby doesn't seem to be in distress, heartbeat is still normal, but I'm not thrilled with your blood pressure. You're under too much stress. I'm going to release you, but I want you to stay in bed for at least a week. You don't get out of it except to use to loo. Is that clear?" she asked.
Hermione took a deep breath, but nodded her agreement.
"If you start to bleed any heavier than the spotting, or if the ache becomes actual cramps, I want you back here immediately."
Hermione just nodded again, not really listening.
The Healer turned to Draco. "It's your job to keep her in bed and amused. Will you do that?"
He nodded. "Absolutely. She's going to be okay, though, right?"
The Healer nodded. "She's not in any danger, herself. The baby, though... it's not good. It's fine right now, she's not losing it at this point, but the longer she bleeds, the higher the chances that she'll miscarry."
He squeezed her hand a bit tighter and kissed the top of her head. "Is there anything you can do on top of bed rest? A potion or something?"
The Healer shook her head. "She needs to be kept calm and off her feet. This is the body's natural reaction to the stress. The body equates stress with a bad time to have a baby. So... in this case, you need to control the environment. Her hormones are in balance, and the baby is fine currently. The pregnancy isn't compromised at this point. Take her home, put her in bed, and don't let her out. Get her some good, mindless books to read, rub her feet, feed her ice cream, just keep her happy. No sex, though. That could make the cramps worse at this stage." She handed Draco the release papers, and watched as he signed as the responsible party for her bill and her care.
He nodded and looked to Hermione, worried for her and their baby. He didn't know what it would do to her to lose the baby at this point, especially because of Weasley. "I will take care of everything."
Hermione barely heard the conversation. "So, I'm going home now?" she asked, still a bit shocked.
"Yes, dear," the Healer said. She turned back to Draco. "Can you Apparate with her? I don't want her walking all the way to the Floo."
"Yes." He gathered her clothing and set it in her lap. He looked at her and gave her a soft smile. "No sense in getting dressed if you're going straight to bed," he said, as he wrapped an arm around her. He reached for his wand then looked to the mediwitch. "Anything else, or may we go?"
"I want to see her in a week," she said, nodding curtly. "But you may go. Take care of her."
He nodded and kept a tight hold on her as he Apparated them right to the bedroom, right beside the bed. He took her clothes from her then helped her onto the bed, taking a seat beside her once more. "Do you need anything?"
She glared at him. "Yes. My wand. And Ron, standing right there. I just remembered a hex I learned from Tonks and never got the chance to use. Turns a man's testicles into marshmallows. I'd like to try it on him."
He laughed. "Now, that's not stress-free thinking. I would rather Weasley never come anywhere near you again." He brushed his fingers over her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the nose. "You hungry?"
"Not really, but I should probably eat something anyway. Maybe some toast and some ginger ale."
He stood and walked to the door of their bedroom and turned to look at her. "I'll bring up some books for you as well."
"Fine. Maybe you could find a way to move the telly in here, too. Even a bookworm like me can only read for so long."
He pondered her response a moment, wondering where that comment had come from, and decided that he would ask her about it once she had cooled off a bit. He shoved his hands into his pockets and smiled at her. "I'll get some DVDs for the player too. Something mind-numbing and entertaining. Any preferences?"
"Hmm. No. Nothing too emotional, though. No tear-jerkers. Other than that, no. Action or comedy is fine."
He nodded and called over his shoulder, "I'll be back in just a minute." He went into the kitchen, popped two pieces of bread into the toaster, and grabbed a bottle of ginger ale from the refrigerator. He transfigured a wooden cutting board into a tray that would allow her to sit in bed and eat without spilling all over herself. He popped the bread out of the toaster and smeared a bit of strawberry jam over it, tucking a magazine she'd bought about weddings and one on babies under his arm as he carried it all back to their bedroom. Carefully he placed the makeshift tray in front of her. He gave her the baby book, but kept the one on weddings, and sat at the foot of the bed while she ate her toast.
She sat in the bed, reclining, her feet propped up on a pillow, and nibbled on her toast as she watched him covertly. He was reading her wedding magazine and something about it really struck her; how different he was from the prat he'd been at school. She couldn't imagine the Draco of her Hogwarts years making toast for himself, much less for her, or doing any number of other things he was already doing around the flat.
"Anything there you like? You did say you wanted to plan the wedding when I was released."
He looked over at her and smiled. "Obviously, I would like for you to be there. I think we should do something simple and small. At this point, I think Potter would be the only person in attendance unless you could think of others you'd like to invite."
"There are other people I could invite, but they're not people I really need to. People from Gringotts and such. But overall, no, I think Harry is the only person I really care to have there... other than you, my loving groom."
He smiled and playfully tickled the bottom of her foot. "So, our wedding party will consist of Potter. I think we'll need one more witness. You work with Bill Weasley. Is he as hacked off at you as the rest of his family?"
She sighed. "I don't think so, but I still don't think I want him to witness our wedding. I think I'll ask Luna to do it."
"You mean Lovegood?"
She cocked her head to the side, wondering about his reaction. "Yes. Is that a problem?"
He shook his head. "No, just clarifying."
She sighed and laid her head back on the pillows, tenting the book across her tummy. "When do you want to have the wedding?" she asked quietly, feeling her stomach churn remembering Ron's words, and suppressing the urge to vomit. She didn't want to believe Ron. He'd proven he was a liar when he'd told Skeeter that Hermione was being cursed by Draco. And Draco had been with her during her every free moment. Unless he was spending the time she was at work with another woman, then Ron had to be full of shite.
Still, it hurt her to even think about it.
He frowned. "You know, I know something is bothering you other than what happened. What is it?"
She offered him a half-smile. "It's nothing, really. Ron just... said some things. My head knows he was just being as much of an arse as possible. My emotions, though...."
He took her hand in his and sighed. "You can tell me what it is."
She shrugged. "It's not important, Draco. Really, it's not. It's just that after being friends for so long, much less four years as a couple, we both know how to inflict the maximum hurt on each other. We are well aware of each other's insecurities, and he was out for blood. It's all quite ironic really. He'd thought I'd lost the baby, so you wouldn't want me anymore, and he was there to say that he wanted to take me back, that he was still in love with me, and that seeing us together had made him realize it and that's why he'd gone to Skeeter. When I told him that I wouldn't take him back regardless, he grew quite hostile. Said no wizard would ever want me, that you only agreed to take me for the baby... that you're probably seeing other women still behind my back...." She looked away. "I told him he was describing himself and then you walked in. Like I said, maximum hurt in the shortest amount of time. Leftovers. That's what I am to him." She didn't feel the tears making slow tracks down her cheeks until one fell and landed on the upturned book.
He sighed and moved closer to her. "I'm not seeing other women. I haven't since that first night we shagged." He brushed her tears away. "At this point, Weasley is lucky he's still breathing. And if he comes near you again, I won't be responsible for what I do to him."
"I know you're not, Draco. Unless you had a time-turner, you couldn't possibly be. That's obvious. It's also not the part that bothered me, actually. I was more bothered with what he was implying about me. What kind of woman does he think I am if he could believe, even in his sick, warped mind, that I'd ever want him back? After everything he did to me? He obviously doesn't know me at all." She looked up at him. "It... it is hard to trust again, though, after what he did. Even though I know it wasn't you that did it. And I do trust you. That's why I wanted to try the hex out on him, though," she smiled then. "After all, there are enough other Weasleys. If he never reproduces, it would hardly be a loss to the gene pool."
He smiled. "I couldn't agree with you more. But you realize that from the day we were born that Weasley and I have been polar opposites of one another. Keep that in mind when you start to let your insecurity about what he did to you make you angry."
He rubbed his hand along her thigh and looked at her empty plate. "So, is there anything in particular that you would like me to get you for the next week to help keep you occupied?"
Hermione considered that. "Not that I can think of. Maybe... some good chocolate and mashed potatoes? But really, I think just spending the next week together talking without me running to work will be lovely. You never did say when you wanted to have the wedding."
He shrugged. "Soon? If you weren't on bed rest, I'd marry you tomorrow, but since that's not an option, I suppose we'll have to wait a bit. What are your thoughts?"
"I'd say that a shot-gun, er... wand-point, wedding is hardly what I dreamed about as a little girl. I'd at least like a chance to buy a new dress, since nothing I have fits anymore. And maybe hunt up a bouquet." She trailed off, lost in thought. "I suppose it doesn't really matter, though. Right?"
He shook his head. "It does matter. If that's what you want, then that's what you'll have."
"Draco, what I want, I can't have. My father will never be able to walk me down the aisle, Mum will never be able to take me dress shopping and get all teary-eyed that her baby's gone and grown up on her. My cousins won't be able to lead the dancing since we told them that I was killed when the war heated up, in order to protect them. And it really doesn't matter anyway, since I can't help but wonder if you're only doing this because I gave you an ultimatum in the heat of the moment." She shook her head. "And I'm just depressed and hormonal anyway, and this has nothing to do with you, so just ignore me, all right?"
He frowned. "Hermione, I don't know how else to reassure you that I'm with you because of how I feel about you. I'm sorry about your parents and family. But I'm in the same place as you. Hell, everyone I've known my entire life wants nothing to do with me." He sighed before he continued, "But you have Potter, who doesn't like me, but still supports you. And you have me. I...love you. I don't want you to think that you're going to be alone, because if I have anything to say about it, you'll always have me."
Hermione lifted the tray off her lap and reached a hand out to him, wanting nothing more at the moment than to hold and be held, to give and seek comfort.
Well, that and sexual release.
But the Healer had said no to that. Hermione remembered that, at least.
"Did you get that special edition of the Prophet?" she asked quietly. "Maybe we could read it together?"
He nodded, Accioed the paper, and crawled to the other side of the bed. He waited for her to cuddle beside him before he opened it. He kissed the top of her head and smiled.
Hermione stretched and snuggled into his side, feeling better somehow for his closeness, and felt herself begin to relax, draping an arm across his chest. "I love you, too," she murmured, turning her attention to the paper, feeling at peace for the first time all day.
Unexpected Emotions
Part: 5/??
Authors: sayyida_jaida and ashleyfanfic
Summary: Hermione gets a visit in the hospital that upsets her.
A/N: Thank you again to Michelle for the beta. We love you, you rock! And thank you to the loyal readers for all the great reviews! We love YOU, too.
This morning's scan had been clear, so the Healers had decided to go ahead and release her. Draco had left her at St. Mungo's to go home and bring her some clean clothing, while she went through the final tests.
Hermione laid in bed and thought about the day before. Lord and Lady, so much had changed in the last day.
Ron knocked on the door to her hospital room. He'd heard what had happened while he'd been at work, and while he knew that Hermione was probably hurting from the loss of her baby, he was sure that she'd want to see him. They had been friends for too long to let the likes of Draco Malfoy and his demon spawn come between them. This was for the best. Draco wouldn't want anything to do with her now that the baby as gone, and she couldn't actually like Malfoy for anything other than a meal ticket for herself and the baby. This whole situation had really put things in perspective for him. He realized that the reason he was so hurt by what she'd done was that he still had feelings for her. She was supposed to be with him, no one else, especially not Death Eater scum like Malfoy. He'd gone to Skeeter in hopes that the article would purge him from her life. however, it had only resulted in Skeeter being fired.
He tucked the flowers he'd bought her behind his back and opened the door. "You decent?" he asked as he poked head in.
Hermione looked up, expecting Draco when she heard the light tap on the door.
She was not expecting Ron.
"YOU!" she shrieked, her hand going for her wand. "What are you doing here?"
He frowned and walked into the room, noticing that she was reaching for her wand. "Look, I come in peace," he said, as he brought the flowers from behind his back.
"Peace? You COME IN PEACE?!" she screamed, bolting up out of the bed and pointing her wand at his heart, her face flushing. "How dare you show your face here after all the trouble you caused!"
He sighed. "Look, I did it for your own good! I'm here to apologize and offer my condolences."
"Are you really honestly that stupid? This is a new low, even for you."
He sighed. "I'm not trying to upset you. I'm really here to apologize. I heard you lost the baby, and I decided that us fighting just...it's been put in perspective."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, 'it's been put in perspective'?"
He shrugged. "I realized why I was so angry. Yes, it does have a bit to do with Malfoy, but more that I'm still in love with you. I know... I did horrible things while were together, but I'm done with that. I only want you."
Hermione looked at him, dumbfounded, and felt her jaw dropping. "You WHAT?" Her wand came back to point at him. "You forget something, Ronald. A relationship is a two way street. You want me? Congratulations. Unfortunately, I don't want you. Did you think I was lying when I said I learned how completely inadequate you were? Granted, I was trying to be hurtful, but sometimes the truth hurts. Why the bloody hell would you think for even a second that I'd want you back?"
She frowned. "And what the hell do you mean about condolences? I didn't lose the baby, you moron."
His gaze hardened. "You're a bitch, Hermione." He threw the flowers to the ground. "I came here cause I thought you could use someone’s company, and you're just as nasty as the last time I saw you!"
"You thought I could use someone, so you came by. You know what? Even if I did need someone, it wouldn't be you. You CAUSED this. When I needed you, you weren't there for me. Now I don't need you. I don't need you or want you. So why the fuck should I be grateful to you for coming here? Am I supposed to be ecstatic that you want me back? Is that it? Here," she said, flicking her wand at the pile of clothing she had been wearing the day before so that a galleon flew out of her pocket and into her hand. She threw it at him as hard as she could, beaning him in the nose. "Go down to the corner, and buy yourself a clue. And Ron, if I'm a bitch, then it's only because you are the biggest arse ever to besmirch the face of the earth."
He wanted to hurt her as much as she had him, and at the moment it felt like his heart was breaking. "You know what? Fuck you! Malfoy only wants you because of the bloody baby. No man wants a know-it-all-bookworm, and I'm sure he's still fucking other women behind your back! The best thing that could happen to you would be to lose that baby and get him the fuck out of your life!" he screamed, breathless when he was finished.
Hermione felt like he'd punched her in the gut, felt cold and nauseous as she broke out in a cold sweat, but she'd be damned if she let him see that he'd hit a nerve.
"Really? Because that's what you would do?" she asked coldly.
He glared at her. "You mean if I had to deal with you as a wife and the mother of my child? I think I'd go insane if I didn't."
"Remind me again why you're here? Something about wanting me back?" She paused, shaking her head. "Get the fuck out of my room and don't come back until you can accept the decisions I've made, and are ready to apologize to Draco for slandering him in the Prophet."
"Hell will freeze over before I apologize to either of you."
Draco opened the door and nearly dropped what he was holding at seeing Weasley in Hermione's room. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he asked, as he drew his own wand.
Ron turned and found himself at wandpoint. "I was leaving. You're welcome to my leftovers," he said as he shoved past Draco. "I hope your relationship with the ferret is worth our friendship," he said, not giving her time to answer before storming out.
Draco watched him walk out then looked at Hermione. "Are you okay?"
Hermione collapsed back onto the bed and held up her wand, watching her hand shake, feeling an ache in her stomach as the light-headed nausea was replaced by a burning anger and a gut-twisting insecurity that Ron had been right.
"Yes. No. I don't know...." she trailed off.
She slowly got up out of the bed and made her way to the toilet. As she sat down, she glanced into her knickers and let out a small scream. "Draco," she screamed. "Go get help. Now!" She moved carefully back to the bed, more scared than before.
He placed her clean clothes in the chair and moved out of the room to fetch a mediwitch. He ushered a mediwitch into the room and explained what had just happened. With the way she was shaking, he was worried about Hermione. If something happened to her or to the baby, he decided he would hunt down and kill Weasley.
The mediwitch ran some scans, a worried frown crossing her brow. "Stay in bed, I'll be right back," she said, before hurrying out the door.
Hermione blinked, hard, as the pain in her stomach got worse. She laid back in the bed, trying to get comfortable.
Draco stared at Hermione, her discomfort obvious to him. He moved to stand beside her and took her hand. "Hermione," he said softly as he clasped her hand in both of his, and waited anxiously for the mediwitch to return.
She looked up at him, Ron's words ringing in her ears, making her gut twist, which made her ache more. "Draco."
Just then the mediwitch bustled back in with a Healer in tow. The Healer didn't even address them, simply began waving her wand over Hermione's abdomen, a frown on her face.
"When did you start to bleed?" the Healer asked her quietly.
"I don't know. I just went to the loo and it was there."
She nodded. "The baby doesn't seem to be in distress, heartbeat is still normal, but I'm not thrilled with your blood pressure. You're under too much stress. I'm going to release you, but I want you to stay in bed for at least a week. You don't get out of it except to use to loo. Is that clear?" she asked.
Hermione took a deep breath, but nodded her agreement.
"If you start to bleed any heavier than the spotting, or if the ache becomes actual cramps, I want you back here immediately."
Hermione just nodded again, not really listening.
The Healer turned to Draco. "It's your job to keep her in bed and amused. Will you do that?"
He nodded. "Absolutely. She's going to be okay, though, right?"
The Healer nodded. "She's not in any danger, herself. The baby, though... it's not good. It's fine right now, she's not losing it at this point, but the longer she bleeds, the higher the chances that she'll miscarry."
He squeezed her hand a bit tighter and kissed the top of her head. "Is there anything you can do on top of bed rest? A potion or something?"
The Healer shook her head. "She needs to be kept calm and off her feet. This is the body's natural reaction to the stress. The body equates stress with a bad time to have a baby. So... in this case, you need to control the environment. Her hormones are in balance, and the baby is fine currently. The pregnancy isn't compromised at this point. Take her home, put her in bed, and don't let her out. Get her some good, mindless books to read, rub her feet, feed her ice cream, just keep her happy. No sex, though. That could make the cramps worse at this stage." She handed Draco the release papers, and watched as he signed as the responsible party for her bill and her care.
He nodded and looked to Hermione, worried for her and their baby. He didn't know what it would do to her to lose the baby at this point, especially because of Weasley. "I will take care of everything."
Hermione barely heard the conversation. "So, I'm going home now?" she asked, still a bit shocked.
"Yes, dear," the Healer said. She turned back to Draco. "Can you Apparate with her? I don't want her walking all the way to the Floo."
"Yes." He gathered her clothing and set it in her lap. He looked at her and gave her a soft smile. "No sense in getting dressed if you're going straight to bed," he said, as he wrapped an arm around her. He reached for his wand then looked to the mediwitch. "Anything else, or may we go?"
"I want to see her in a week," she said, nodding curtly. "But you may go. Take care of her."
He nodded and kept a tight hold on her as he Apparated them right to the bedroom, right beside the bed. He took her clothes from her then helped her onto the bed, taking a seat beside her once more. "Do you need anything?"
She glared at him. "Yes. My wand. And Ron, standing right there. I just remembered a hex I learned from Tonks and never got the chance to use. Turns a man's testicles into marshmallows. I'd like to try it on him."
He laughed. "Now, that's not stress-free thinking. I would rather Weasley never come anywhere near you again." He brushed his fingers over her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the nose. "You hungry?"
"Not really, but I should probably eat something anyway. Maybe some toast and some ginger ale."
He stood and walked to the door of their bedroom and turned to look at her. "I'll bring up some books for you as well."
"Fine. Maybe you could find a way to move the telly in here, too. Even a bookworm like me can only read for so long."
He pondered her response a moment, wondering where that comment had come from, and decided that he would ask her about it once she had cooled off a bit. He shoved his hands into his pockets and smiled at her. "I'll get some DVDs for the player too. Something mind-numbing and entertaining. Any preferences?"
"Hmm. No. Nothing too emotional, though. No tear-jerkers. Other than that, no. Action or comedy is fine."
He nodded and called over his shoulder, "I'll be back in just a minute." He went into the kitchen, popped two pieces of bread into the toaster, and grabbed a bottle of ginger ale from the refrigerator. He transfigured a wooden cutting board into a tray that would allow her to sit in bed and eat without spilling all over herself. He popped the bread out of the toaster and smeared a bit of strawberry jam over it, tucking a magazine she'd bought about weddings and one on babies under his arm as he carried it all back to their bedroom. Carefully he placed the makeshift tray in front of her. He gave her the baby book, but kept the one on weddings, and sat at the foot of the bed while she ate her toast.
She sat in the bed, reclining, her feet propped up on a pillow, and nibbled on her toast as she watched him covertly. He was reading her wedding magazine and something about it really struck her; how different he was from the prat he'd been at school. She couldn't imagine the Draco of her Hogwarts years making toast for himself, much less for her, or doing any number of other things he was already doing around the flat.
"Anything there you like? You did say you wanted to plan the wedding when I was released."
He looked over at her and smiled. "Obviously, I would like for you to be there. I think we should do something simple and small. At this point, I think Potter would be the only person in attendance unless you could think of others you'd like to invite."
"There are other people I could invite, but they're not people I really need to. People from Gringotts and such. But overall, no, I think Harry is the only person I really care to have there... other than you, my loving groom."
He smiled and playfully tickled the bottom of her foot. "So, our wedding party will consist of Potter. I think we'll need one more witness. You work with Bill Weasley. Is he as hacked off at you as the rest of his family?"
She sighed. "I don't think so, but I still don't think I want him to witness our wedding. I think I'll ask Luna to do it."
"You mean Lovegood?"
She cocked her head to the side, wondering about his reaction. "Yes. Is that a problem?"
He shook his head. "No, just clarifying."
She sighed and laid her head back on the pillows, tenting the book across her tummy. "When do you want to have the wedding?" she asked quietly, feeling her stomach churn remembering Ron's words, and suppressing the urge to vomit. She didn't want to believe Ron. He'd proven he was a liar when he'd told Skeeter that Hermione was being cursed by Draco. And Draco had been with her during her every free moment. Unless he was spending the time she was at work with another woman, then Ron had to be full of shite.
Still, it hurt her to even think about it.
He frowned. "You know, I know something is bothering you other than what happened. What is it?"
She offered him a half-smile. "It's nothing, really. Ron just... said some things. My head knows he was just being as much of an arse as possible. My emotions, though...."
He took her hand in his and sighed. "You can tell me what it is."
She shrugged. "It's not important, Draco. Really, it's not. It's just that after being friends for so long, much less four years as a couple, we both know how to inflict the maximum hurt on each other. We are well aware of each other's insecurities, and he was out for blood. It's all quite ironic really. He'd thought I'd lost the baby, so you wouldn't want me anymore, and he was there to say that he wanted to take me back, that he was still in love with me, and that seeing us together had made him realize it and that's why he'd gone to Skeeter. When I told him that I wouldn't take him back regardless, he grew quite hostile. Said no wizard would ever want me, that you only agreed to take me for the baby... that you're probably seeing other women still behind my back...." She looked away. "I told him he was describing himself and then you walked in. Like I said, maximum hurt in the shortest amount of time. Leftovers. That's what I am to him." She didn't feel the tears making slow tracks down her cheeks until one fell and landed on the upturned book.
He sighed and moved closer to her. "I'm not seeing other women. I haven't since that first night we shagged." He brushed her tears away. "At this point, Weasley is lucky he's still breathing. And if he comes near you again, I won't be responsible for what I do to him."
"I know you're not, Draco. Unless you had a time-turner, you couldn't possibly be. That's obvious. It's also not the part that bothered me, actually. I was more bothered with what he was implying about me. What kind of woman does he think I am if he could believe, even in his sick, warped mind, that I'd ever want him back? After everything he did to me? He obviously doesn't know me at all." She looked up at him. "It... it is hard to trust again, though, after what he did. Even though I know it wasn't you that did it. And I do trust you. That's why I wanted to try the hex out on him, though," she smiled then. "After all, there are enough other Weasleys. If he never reproduces, it would hardly be a loss to the gene pool."
He smiled. "I couldn't agree with you more. But you realize that from the day we were born that Weasley and I have been polar opposites of one another. Keep that in mind when you start to let your insecurity about what he did to you make you angry."
He rubbed his hand along her thigh and looked at her empty plate. "So, is there anything in particular that you would like me to get you for the next week to help keep you occupied?"
Hermione considered that. "Not that I can think of. Maybe... some good chocolate and mashed potatoes? But really, I think just spending the next week together talking without me running to work will be lovely. You never did say when you wanted to have the wedding."
He shrugged. "Soon? If you weren't on bed rest, I'd marry you tomorrow, but since that's not an option, I suppose we'll have to wait a bit. What are your thoughts?"
"I'd say that a shot-gun, er... wand-point, wedding is hardly what I dreamed about as a little girl. I'd at least like a chance to buy a new dress, since nothing I have fits anymore. And maybe hunt up a bouquet." She trailed off, lost in thought. "I suppose it doesn't really matter, though. Right?"
He shook his head. "It does matter. If that's what you want, then that's what you'll have."
"Draco, what I want, I can't have. My father will never be able to walk me down the aisle, Mum will never be able to take me dress shopping and get all teary-eyed that her baby's gone and grown up on her. My cousins won't be able to lead the dancing since we told them that I was killed when the war heated up, in order to protect them. And it really doesn't matter anyway, since I can't help but wonder if you're only doing this because I gave you an ultimatum in the heat of the moment." She shook her head. "And I'm just depressed and hormonal anyway, and this has nothing to do with you, so just ignore me, all right?"
He frowned. "Hermione, I don't know how else to reassure you that I'm with you because of how I feel about you. I'm sorry about your parents and family. But I'm in the same place as you. Hell, everyone I've known my entire life wants nothing to do with me." He sighed before he continued, "But you have Potter, who doesn't like me, but still supports you. And you have me. I...love you. I don't want you to think that you're going to be alone, because if I have anything to say about it, you'll always have me."
Hermione lifted the tray off her lap and reached a hand out to him, wanting nothing more at the moment than to hold and be held, to give and seek comfort.
Well, that and sexual release.
But the Healer had said no to that. Hermione remembered that, at least.
"Did you get that special edition of the Prophet?" she asked quietly. "Maybe we could read it together?"
He nodded, Accioed the paper, and crawled to the other side of the bed. He waited for her to cuddle beside him before he opened it. He kissed the top of her head and smiled.
Hermione stretched and snuggled into his side, feeling better somehow for his closeness, and felt herself begin to relax, draping an arm across his chest. "I love you, too," she murmured, turning her attention to the paper, feeling at peace for the first time all day.
Unexpected Emotions