False Pretense

He didn’t speak to her outside of conversations that were forced upon them. Their patrols were done in silence, where it was once filled with conversation and bickering. It took them little over an hour to finish half of the castle when it normally took at least three. That hour was one of the most dreaded moments Hermione had to face for the next several weeks.

To his benefit, he hadn’t treated her outwardly different when others were around. He said hello, good bye, and asked questions involving his students but other than that there was nothing. She never went to his quarters and he never hers.

The other faculty members looked on with raised eyebrows whenever Draco referred to her as Ms. Granger or Professor Granger, instead of Hermione as he had only a short time ago. For her, she acted the same but secretly felt terrible.

When it came to the notion that she was nothing more than a ‘scarlet woman,’ as Ron had once told her during their fourth year she had the inkling that it was true. What was worse, she berated herself consistently over it. Playing with emotions wasn’t something she had ever thought she was capable of, but alas she was and she did.

Trying to apologize for the second time, Hermione found it far more difficult and Draco gave no inclination that he wanted an apology. Whenever she’d manage to corner him to speak to him, he had found a reason to evade her or worse; tell her not to worry about it.

Hermione hated herself for her actions and fought against that infernal voice tormenting her to do something. Do something! What could she possibly do?

Sure she liked Draco, he was attractive, intelligent and could hold himself up in a fight but he was the person who tormented her turning her youth. Nothing was going to change that for her, but she should have been mature enough to let bygones be bygones.






The carriages arrived for those who were leaving for Christmas break and Draco was amongst the faculty who decided to clamor toward warmer weather. She had overheard him mention traveling to Spain with his parents during their last meal together.

Hermione didn’t really want to travel back to her pathetic hovel that was her flat and opted to stay at Hogwarts. She bade farewell to a few students while standing outside with her hands shoved deep into her Muggle jacket. Many students found it odd how different she looked in Muggle attire and at the same time she felt a little weird as well.

Turning to go back inside, Hermione ran into a solid mass and nearly stumbled back.

“Sorry,” she said lightly, looking up to see the cold face of Draco.

“It’s alright,” he replied coolly, shrugging his thick coat back on.

“Erhm,” Hermione cleared her throat, “Have a happy holiday, yeah?”

“I will,” he answered, looking away, “You have a happy one too.”

“I don’t know how happy one could get when you’re stuck with Snape and McGonagall for the entire break,” she laughed, listening to Draco force a cough like laugh.

“I suppose so,” he nodded, “Well, my carriage…”

“Oh, right,” Hermione moved to the side, “Safe trip.”

“Will do,” Draco pulled his gloves on and marched out to the last carriage where house-elves were loading his luggage.

He didn’t bother to give her a second glance as he got into the carriage and slammed the door shut. Her cheeks grew red as the wind bustled past and she stifled what surprised her as a small sob. Covering her mouth, Hermione frowned and made her way back into the castle.

Her emotions had been on edge over the past couple of weeks and she had made a note to visit Madam Pomfrey for a Pepper-Up potion but hadn’t had much time between exams and grades. The emptiness of the castle was something she never got used to; especially considering she spent a great deal of her holidays alone when she taught.






“Hermione!” Ginny shouted over the crowd at Hogsmeade’s Four Broomsticks.

Hermione entered the establishment wearing an abnormal amount of wool jackets and scarves. It was brutal outside, with wind picking up globs of snow and pounding them against unsuspecting people.

She smiled and pried her scarf from her mouth, maneuvering expertly through the crowd to where her best friends sat. Luna and Ginny were seated in the middle while Ron and Harry sat at the edge. Strapped to their chests were none other than their own bouncing bubbly children. James was a tad older than Randall but Randall made up with his sheer size.

Ron moved over, resting his hand on his son’s chest, and allowed Hermione to squeeze in. She found herself watching Harry piddle around with little James, who sat eagerly on his lap, and Ron attempt to pry butter beer from the infant’s hands.

“I hear Malfoy was the new DA teacher,” Harry said, running his fingers absent mindedly through James’ tuft of dark hair.

“Yes,” Hermione sighed, glancing at Luna and Ginny – who were looking at her with suspicious eyes.

“Must be horrifying,” Ron laughed, “Imagine that, Malfoy a professor!”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t shagged half the students who are legal by now,” Harry added, lightly covering James’ ears when he spoke.

Ginny smacked his arm and glared, “Harry! That’s not nice. So he has a bit of a reputation…”

“A bit?” Ron gaped, now covering Randall’s tiny ears, “The bloody idiot shagged your entire team…after you left of course.”

Ron glanced at Harry, whose ears at turned pink with anger. Of course, he had to add that little bit. Preventing Harry from going on a rampage was a very good thing; especially concerning Ginny.

“Rumors,” Ginny waved her hand dismissively, “I’m sure he is quite qualified for the job, isn’t that right ‘Mione?”

“Hm?” Hermione had slipped into a mini-coma, staring at little James, “Oh, yes. He’s quite a popular professor. Very professional.”

Harry and Ron gaped at her for a moment before receiving a few glares from Luna and Ginny. There was a small pause in conversation followed by Ron letting out a horrified gasp.

“Oh gods,” he groaned, “This thing is a monster!”

He held up Randall and rose out of his seat.

“That thing just so happens to be our child,” Luna said a little airily, “Want me to change him?”

“No, no,” Ron grunted, “Gotta do it sometime, yeah? Harry?”

“I’m going nowhere near that,” he pointed, trying to contain a laugh.

“Ronald is not very talented when it comes to changing Randy’s nappies,” Luna sighed, “Nargles are influencing his karma….”

They stared at Luna, including little Randall who quirked a brow. Harry was nudged by Ginny, causing him to move as well.

“Might as well show you how it’s done, mate,” he laughed, picking James up and tossing him over his shoulder as his son giggled.

“Don’t talk about important things without me, yeah?” Ron added, carrying Randall in front of him as if he were contagious.

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Ginny laughed, watching the boys disappear into the crowd.

She and Luna leaned forward for a second before literally squashing Hermione against the booth.

“So,” Ginny said happily, “How far along are you?”

“What?” Hermione laughed, “What are you on about?”

“Oh c’mon, Hermione,” Ginny grinned, glancing to Luna, “We know.”

“Know what?” Hermione looked to Luna, who had the same grin Ginny had; and she didn’t like it.

“You’re pregnant,” Luna smiled.

She gaped, eyes wide and jaw dropped low, “What? I’m not pregnant.”

“Of course you are,” the blond laughed, “We know that glow.”

“So….” Ginny poked, “How long are you?”

“I absolutely have no idea what you two are on about,” Hermione frowned, mentally ticking down her months on her fingers.

Ginny and Luna grinned wider when the realization came to Hermione. She thought she had missed her period only out of stress; which normally happened. Her jaw dropped lower, if that could happen, and she looked to her friends. Confirming their suspicions, Ginny squeezed closer to Hermione, nearly sandwiching Luna against her.

“Who was it then?” Ginny asked, “It was Malfoy wasn’t it?”

“I…Uh…I…” Hermione gasped out, her head beginning to spin.

“Does he know?” Luna asked, sounding serious for the first time.

How would he know if she just figured it out? Hermione looked between her friends and moved quickly out of her booth.

“I have…I have to go. I’m sorry guys,” Hermione said, running into Harry and Ron.

“Oi, where you going?” Ron asked, holding onto Randall.

“I just realized I have to,” Hermione looked down at Ginny and Luna, “Return some library books.”

Ron rolled his eyes and moved back into his seat beside his girlfriend, “Figures.”

“I’ll Floo you later,” Hermione breathed, moving quickly through the crowd while Ginny and Luna exchanged looks.







Hermione was pacing. A pacing Hermione was not a good thing. Not a good thing at all! She exhaled and brought her hand to her face, rubbing her eyes. Coming to a stop, Hermione looked down at the small vial as the liquids began to change color.

Five more bloody minutes. She closed her eyes and began pacing. How could she have been so stupid? She was on the potion for cripes’ sake! Of course, not everything was 100% safe, even in the magical world but who would have thought one in a billion chances this would happen?

She paused and stared at the liquid became cloudy and turned a vibrant lilac. Slumping onto her bed, Hermione stared daggers at the liquid.

Fuck. She was pregnant.