Unknown Love

It was a full month since the reunion and Draco had kept to his word, stopping by every day to see Hermione and DJ, staying only as long as she wanted him to, even if it was only for five minutes. Today was going to be a big day of sorts, as it was going to be the first time that she had gone over to the house Draco had bought. She was going out with Ginny for a few hours tomorrow and after he had practically begged, she had decided to leave DJ with Draco.

It was the first time that she wasn't going to be there with them, and she was a little worried. She had given Draco a list of things that he would been to do to babyproof his house (despite the fact that DJ couldn't even crawl yet as he was only five months old) and she was going over to make sure that everything was properly done. If not, well, she supposed that she'd just have to show him how to fix it and spend the rest of the day worrying.

The inspection of the house went well. It really was a gorgeous place and she could see touches that were there just for her but she chose to ignore them and stick to the purpose behind her presence there. When she was satisfied that the entire house was baby-proofed she turned to DJ who was resting quietly in Draco's arms and kissed his chubby little cheeks, making sure that Draco had his cell phone on him so if anything happened he could call her straight away.

Rather reluctantly she went to the entryroom and apparated to the Creevy's where she met up with Ginny and they both apparated to The Leaky Cauldron. As they strolled around Diagon Alley going from one shop to another they found themselves deep in conversation.

"So, how are things going with Draco, is he being an ass?"

"Actually no. I wish he were, but he's been wonderful."

"You wish he were an ass?" the redhead asked with a clear 'what is wrong with you' look on her face.

"God, yes. It would make everything so much simpler."

"Like what?"

Hermione didn't answer right away, opting to look at an assortment of onesies with cute phrases and pictures on them. "Like, I wouldn't always be reminded of why I fell in love with him, or even worse, have to physically restrain myself from jumping him."

Ginny wrapped one arm around her friend and squeezed her shoulders in a semi-hug, the effect lost in the grin on her face. "So you still want him," she stated.

"Yeah," came the sighed answer.

"And he wants you. Sorry, hun, but I don't really see the problem here."

Hermione made a moise with her mouth, indicating that that she was disgusted, coupling with the arch of her lip. "Gin, there are lots of problems. Like the one where he said that he wanted to get to know our son and then didn't so much as owl for a month. Or the one where I look at him and want to scream and cry until my voice is hoarse, and I don't have the slightest clue why. Being around him makes me giddy, like when I was in Hogwarts before Ron and Igot together and he would look at me or smile my way and my heart would flutter. But he also makes me hurt with such a deep pain. Yeah, he's here now, but he left. And I know that I left first, but he left DJ as well. It just fills me with such a complete sorrow when I think that he didn't want us." By the end of this explaination she could no longer hold the tears back and they quietly slipped down her face.

Ginny pulled her into a fierce hug and rubbed her back. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize."

"That's because I didn't want you to. So, how are Mags and Little Ron?"

"Nice subject change, they're fine." Ginny then went into a long winded story about a prank that Little Ron had played on Mags and how funny it was even though she couldn't let the boy know. They made their way out of the store after using the restroom mirror to fix Hermione's face after crying and made their way over to a nice outdoor restaurant.

It was while they were talking and laughing over food when a shadow fell over the table. "Well, if it isn't the whore," came a familiar drawl.

"So says the cheat," Hermione responded, though she didn't turn to face the man. "Feel free to leave any time," she continued when he didn't move.

"No, I think I'll stay," he said, pulling a chair over from the next table over.

"In that case, we'll go. Come on, Gin," Hermione said, standing up with Ginny following suit.

"That's right, go back to your fatherless child," he sneered.

"What the fuck is your problem, Aaron? You cheated on me. I left. It's been more than a year, get over it. And my child does have a father." With that the two women walked away wondering what had just happened.

She arrived back at Draco's in a less than pleasant mood, which surprised him as whenever he had seen her after she had spent time with her best friend she was always positive and upbeat. Checking in on DJ who was sleepin in his crib in the nursery that Draco had set up she decided not so wake him and instead settled down with her former lover in the den with a nice brandy despite it being the middle of the day.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Draco asked from across the couch.

"It's nothing," she responded, her voice tight.

"It's obviously not nothing if whatever it is has you drinking in the middle of the day. Please tell me." His voice was filled with such concern that Hermione couldn't help but relent.

"We ran into Aaron today. I don't know why I let him upset me, but I just can't help it." A lone tear slid down her face and she couldn't help but feel like an idiot. She had cried too much today for what she considered to be things that weren't worth her tears.

Draco slid across the couch so he was sitting next to her and pulled her against him, her face resting on his chest. "Well, I don't know what he said or didn't say but of course he upset you. You're still mad at him for cheating on you. No one can blame you for that, you were with him for a long time and you loved him." By now his hand was rubbing her back and her arm, sending chills through her entire body.

"But I thought I was over it. I want to be over it." She looked up into Draco's eyes, the molten steel captivating her. She leaned up as he leaned down. Their lips were less than an inch apart when they could hear DJ crying through the baby monitor. She gave Draco a look filled with love, fear, and regret before she disentangled herself from him and went to their son.