The Marriage deboucle

Episode 3

Once he had apparated home Draco immediately stood in the Malfoy gardens and tapped into the Manor's wards to allow Hermione access. It took precise hand waving and a few curse words later for Draco to finally be able to change the ancient magic to the Manor to allow a muggle-born into its protective barrier. He didn't want to know what dark magic would propel Hermione to keep her away from the Manor.

What was it she actually wanted anyhow? Since he's shift finished he couldn't get the Gryffindor know-it-all from his mind, He hadn't heard off of her for months, and now she turns up out of the blue … at the hospital … requesting to see him. Merlin knew, her presence was more accepted by him than his own Girlfriend. Draco groaned at the thought of Astoria being his actual girlfriend. 'It will do wonders for the family name Draco' 'She is a lovely polite young lady my son' 'Think of the beautiful children you can produce' His parent's rambling words whirled around in his mind until the buzz of free flow magic ran through him, alerting Draco that Hermione had apparated to the Manors grounds.

Luckily for her safety, she had warned Draco ahead of time of her arrival –giving him enough time to do something about the wards- otherwise, she would probably be a pile of meat for Lord Malfoy's precious peacocks to eat and peck at.

Walking up the long drive her nerves began to kick in, could she destroy his future like this? Would he even want to know what she had to say? –her hand stroked her flat stomach protectively- Wouldn't it would be easier for him to just kick her out on her behind ... This was a Malfoy after all, Good job his estranged Aunt Bellatrix was murdered by Molly Weasley during the battle at Hogwarts. She wasn't quite sure she would be able to handle this knowing she was alive and kicking.

"Miss Granger" Hermione had just approached the porch stairs as a house elf opened the door.

"Master is awaiting your arrival in the drawing-room, shall tipsy take your coat?" Hermione shook her head and followed the little elf through to what was supposedly the drawing-room. Hermione's eyes carefully wondered around her surroundings at the expensive paintings and of past Generation of Malfoy's, their portraits hanging as regally as they could neatly on the walls

"Let's make this quick shall we Granger, Mother and Astoria do not like to be kept waiting on me" He wasn't facing her as she entered the room and didn't make any attempts to turn around. Fiddling with something from the Walnut coloured bar unit in the corner of the room. "I'm pregnant" She blurted out, Ok cut to the chase why don't you. Her sweaty palms automatically clamped over her mouth as soon as the words slipped from her lips.

"Shouldn't you be telling Weaslebee" Draco sneered as he faced the muggle-born witch with Whiskey in hand. What a beauty she still is, Draco silently mused to himself.

"It's not Ronald's" She seethed dangerously through gritted teeth.

"Well tell the Scottish lad … erm … Seamus wasn't it?" Her eyes nearly bulged from her eye sockets, Seamus was betrothed to a guy in Hufflepuff and Draco damn well knew that. They had attended the engagement party in the mutual circle of friends.

"Oh give over, will you. You know full well I am trying to inform you that you are indeed the baby's Father" Draco's eyes rose to his hairline as he tried to digest what she was saying, him a father. Impossible … wasn't it?.

"Bu ... but we only did it once and it wasn't even that good" Draco proclaimed.

"You're telling me" Hermione whispered harshly as her eyes gazed at the expensive Persian rug beneath her feet.

"What are you expecting me to do? Take you in and look after your loot." Hermione's angry bubbled slightly at just the cruelty in his voice.

"I have a girlfriend and my mother in the next room discussing the possibility of my marriage and you're here telling me this … now of all times" Draco scoffed as he shot back a tumbler of his Father's finest whiskey. Hermione cackled as her anger over boiled.

"I didn't want this either nor did I want to be pregnant so young, but I have and I am dealing with it a lot more maturity than what you are. I only told you because I thought you had the right to know you were going to be a Father" Hermione shouted back with just as venom lacing her words.