Bad Romance - Time

Draco looked around him. He didn’t have clue where he was. He looked at Harry and Ron and when they started forward he followed.

After being told that Hermione was having his baby he’d gone into a state of shock. It had took another hex from Ron’s wand before they had been able to get a reaction from him. He couldn’t believe it! How dumb was he? He’d never even thought about contraception. Hadn’t gave it one thought -and that wasn’t like him.

Harry had arranged for another portkey to bring them back to England and now here he was. In the middle of what seemed like a corn field.

‘Where are we?’ he asked and stopped walking.

Ron turned to face him. ‘The Burrow.’

Draco had never been the Weasley home before but had heard about it. He wondered if it’d be anything like he had pictured it.

A sudden thought entered his head. ‘Why are we here?’

‘Hermione’s here,’ Harry answered. ‘It’s Sunday!’

‘Sunday?’ what did that have to do with Hermione being at the Burrow?

‘Every Sunday the family come for dinner,’ Ron explained.

Draco frowned. The family? ‘The whole family?’ he questioned.

Harry and Ron turned to look at him. ‘Yes.’

‘Ermmm, maybe you could just tell Hermione I’m here and to meet me out here?’

‘What? I don’t think so, Malfoy!’ Ron laughed.

‘I’m not walking into a house full of people who despise me, Weasley!’

Harry frowned and took a step closer to Malfoy. ‘They don’t know, if that’s what’s worrying you?’

Malfoy shook his head. ‘They’re going to though, arn’t they? Soon they’ll all know.’

‘You swine!’ Ron cried out and giving in to his temper launched himself at Malfoy before Harry could stop him.

‘You don’t give a damn about Hermione having to face everyone! All you care about is your own feelings!’

Harry stood and watched as the two men wrestled on the floor. He thought about putting a stop to it but Ron was holding his own against the Slytherin prince. Harry was quite proud of his friend.

‘You slimy ferret!’

‘What’s your problem, Weasel?’ Draco grunted. ‘Jealous!’

They fought until both where exhausted. Punches were thrown and missed and wands lay forgotten until they both fell apart and lay on the dirty ground.

‘I do care about her feelings,’ Draco muttered, breathing hard. ‘That’s why I left.’

‘Oh right, so leaving her was helping her, was it?’ Ron asked and sat up, throwing a glare at Malfoy.

‘Do you really think if I had known she was pregnant before I had left I would have gone?’

Harry and Ron just stared at him, not sure what to say. Eventually Harry spoke.

‘We don’t like you, Malfoy, for obvious reasons. But after the war I was willing to let things go. You helped a lot by giving the Auror department the names and locations of Death eaters. I was beginning to think maybe the war had changed you.’

‘It had.’ Draco couldn’t believe he was explaining himself to bloody Harry Potter! ‘I stopped believing my father’s morals ages ago. But I was too deep. I saw no way of getting out. My life, my mother’s life was at stake. What would you have done?’

‘I would have gone for help?’

‘Where? Who would I have gone to?’

‘Snape!’ Harry said softly.

Malfoy stood up and brushed down his clothes. ‘I believed Snape was a death eater. He played his part well. I had nowhere to turn.’

‘The order!’ Ron said and got up off the floor himself.

‘I was scared and ashamed. I didn’t think the order would have believed me. I was alone.’

Harry felt a sudden sense of understanding for the Slytherin.

‘I was paying for my father’s sins. I was being punished for his stupidity, in more ways then one. After the final battle. After you saved my life, I realised I didn’t have a life worth saving. I always prided myself on the Malfoy name but after the war it meant nothing but dirt. I made my plans to go to America and start rebuilding my life and the family name. Then Hermione happened.’ He paused and ran a dirty hand over his face. ‘I tried to tell myself that what I felt was a temporary obsession and that after spending time with her it would fade away. But it didn’t. I fell... And that’s when I realised it wouldn’t work. I couldn’t be anything to Hermione but a disgraced Death eater! I couldn’t bring her life down to my level. So I ended things and left.’

‘Do you love her?’ Harry asked.

Draco frowned. He hated having to open so much of himself to the two boys who he use to think of with such hate.

‘I do.’

‘Then forget about other people and just try to make her happy.’

‘You’d accept that?’ he asked and looked at Ron.

‘I love Hermione. I want her to be happy. I hate you and I don’t want you to be happy. But if you’re what she wants I can try and cope with that.’

Draco thought about his words and knew what he had to do. He had to make her his again.

‘No more interfering then.’ he warned them. ‘You have to let me do this my way!’

‘Wait a min-’

‘No,’ Draco interrupted Harry. ‘I do this my way. You’re her friends, I get that... But I know a side of her that neither of you do. Simply telling her my feelings and hoping for the best are not going to work. I do this my way.’

Harry’s eyes narrowed on his face and they stared at each other for a age before Harry slowly nodded his head.

‘I don’t trust him,’ Ron whispered.

‘Neither do I,’ Harry replied. ‘But I do trust Hermione. It’ll be alright.’

He started walking forwards again leading the way to the burrow.

---

Hermione was sat at the kitchen table in the burrow. She’d just had massive helpings of a roast dinner and was in the process of refusing a helping of desert when the back opened and Ron walked in.

‘Ron, where have you been?’ Molly cried from her seat at the table. ‘We gave up waiting for you and Harry!’

Harry followed Ron in and gave Molly an apologetic smile. ‘My fault I’m afraid, Molly, we had to go collect something.’

‘What?’ Arthur asked, hoping it was something Muggle.


Draco walked in behind Harry and the whole room went silent. Bill and, Fleur looked from Harry and Ron to Malfoy. George stood by the sink, staring. Percy looked up from his plate and continued chewing his food and Ginny stood up and moved to Hermione’s side. Her hand coming to rest on her shoulder.

‘Mr Malfoy, to what do we owe the pleasure?’ Arthur Weasley asked pleasantly. Molly looked at him and then at Draco, her mouth open slightly.

‘I hope you don’t mind, Molly,’ Harry continued. ‘I invited Malfoy to dinner.’ He moved to the table and sat down. Ron followed him and sat down next to Bill.

The back door opened again and Charlie walked in. ‘It was the last bottle in the shed, dad,’ he said his voice fading when he saw Malfoy just standing there. In his hand he held a bottle of firewhisky.

‘Hey,’ he greeted Draco and then moved to the table to sit down next to Hermione.

‘Won’t you join us, Mr Malfoy?’ Molly asked, remembering her manors and shaking of her surprise.

Draco moved to the table and sat down opposite Hermione next to Harry.

Hermione couldn’t take her eyes off him. It was just over a month since she had last seen him but it felt like years.

He hadn’t changed. He looked a little more tired then normal, and maybe in need of some of Mrs Weasley’s home cooking but other then that he looked just as handsome.

‘So what? You’re best friends with Malfoy now?’ George asked as he came and sat down at the table.

Ron sent him a glare as Molly got up from the table and passed the boys a plate of food each and heating it up with her wand.

‘Thank you,’ Draco whispered and then looked across the table at Hermione.

She couldn’t believe that he was there. Nor could she believe it was because of Harry and Ron!

She looked at them both now. Harry winked at her and Ron continued to pile food into his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten for weeks.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed on Ron. Was that a bruise under his eyes. Her gaze flew back to Harry but he seemed unhurt. She looked again at Draco and saw that he had a growing bruise on his chin.

‘Have you been fighting!’ she cried.

Ron tried swallowing and Draco just looked at her.

Harry continued to eat his food and smiled at Ginny as she sat back in her seat.

‘Fighting? Who’s been fighting?’ Molly looked from Harry and Ron, noticing Ron’s bruised face she took it between her hands. ‘Ronald Weasley, what have you been doing?’

‘Mum, stop it. It’s nothing!’

‘Nothing? Nothing? You come home for dinner late and then say fighting is nothing! I want the truth now!’

Draco coughed and her gaze fell on him. ‘I’m afraid it’s my fault, Mrs Weasley. You see Weas- Ron and I had a disagreement but it’s all straightened out now,’ as he said this he looked at Hermione.

Her nerves couldn’t take much more of this she thought and pushed her plate away. ‘I don’t believe this!’ she whispered.

She pushed her chair away from the table and stood up.

‘Hermione!’ Harry made to stand up and stop her.

‘No! Harry, no.’ she held her hand out to stop him. ‘Enough! I don’t know what you’re trying to do but stop it!’

‘We’re trying to help, Hermione.’

‘You’re not helping though, you’re interfering!’

‘We were thinking of you.’ Ron whispered.

‘No you wern’t. You were thinking of yourselves and trying to make yourselves feel better. This is about me not you!’

‘I think you’ll find it’s about me too, Hermione,’ Draco softly said and put his fork down. ‘It’s about both of us.’

She looked at him. All the anger and hurt she had felt for him welling up in her eyes. ‘You have no right! None what so ever! Don’t even talk to me!’

‘Hermione?’ Molly moved to her side seeing the younger women close to tears. ‘What on earth is going on here?’

Everyone sat at the table were looking at her with confused expressions on their faces.

Hermione closed her eyes and tried to count to ten. She just wished that the floor would open up and swallow her up whole.

‘Were you even going to tell me?’ Hermione’s eyes flew open at Draco’s words and she saw the truth in them.

‘You told him?’ she looked accusingly at Harry. ‘It wasn’t for you to tell!’ Tears welled up in her eyes. This was all too much. Why was her life a mess all of a sudden?

‘Were you going to tell me, Hermione?’ Draco asked again.

‘Tell him what? What is going on?’ Molly asked again, her voice raising.

‘You left!’ she accused Draco. ‘You hurt me and you left. Why should I have told you?’

‘Because I have a right to know you’re having my baby!’ he said before thinking. He stood up to face her over the table when he realised what he’d just said.

‘You’re what?’ Molly asked shocked.

Hermione looked around at all the shocked faces staring at her and Draco. ‘You have no rights when it comes to me, Ferret!’ Hermione said, putting all the anger she felt into her words. ‘None! I’m nothing to you, remember?’

She moved away and fled out of the back door. Draco made to follow her but Ginny got in his way.

‘No!’ She cried out, her eyes blazing and her red hair looking like it was on fire. ‘You stay away from her.’ She looked around him towards Harry who was still sat at the table. ‘And you thought you were helping? Merlin’s balls, Potter, you can’t half be thick sometimes!’ She sent him and her brother a glare and then followed Hermione out of the burrow.

---

‘What on earth where they thinking?!’ Hermione almost screamed at Ginny when the red head joined her. ‘Seriously, Ginny?’

Ginny walked up to Hermione and looked out across the fields she had grown up playing in. ‘I don’t know, Hermione. I guess that just wanted to help...’

‘Help! Help! Don’t they realise that they’ve just made things even worse? Merlin, Ginny, now they all know!’ Hermione bit back a sob. ‘What will you’re mother think?’

‘She’ll think she hasn’t been doing a very good job if you felt as if you couldn’t come to me sooner with this.’ Molly’s voice came from behind them and both girls turned to face her. ‘Oh, Hermione, why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I wanted to... I-I... I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me!’

Molly took the steps needed to stand in front of her and wrapped Hermione in her arms. ‘I’m not disappointed. A little shocked, maybe, especially because of who-’

‘I know!’ Hermione interrupted her. ‘I guess I thought you’d be disappointed because I am! I could kick myself for being such a fool!’

Molly rubbed her hands up and down Hermione’s back. ‘You have a good cry, dear, let it all out and then we’ll sort things out.’

‘How ca-can we sort things out? Harry and Ron- they shouldn’t ha-have-’

‘Shssss, I know and I’ve already given them a piece of my mind. I’m actually shocked that Draco is still alive. I guess we should start counting our blessings.’

‘It’s such a mess!’ Hermione wailed.

‘We’ll sort it all out.’ Molly repeated and held Hermione tighter.

The three women moved over to the wooden bench Mr Weasley had made Molly, so she could watch the sun setting on her home, in the summer evenings.

‘First things first,’ Molly started once Hermione’s tears started to dry. ‘Now this is the most important question; do you want the baby, Hermione?’

Hermione opened her mouth to reply and then closed it again. She was shocked. No one, not even herself, had asked that. ‘I never thought about not having it,’ she whispered.

Molly nodded her head as if understanding. ‘There are options available to you.’

Hermione knew that, she hadn’t thought of any of them. Had not given adoption or abortion on second of though... That gave her her answer, she told herself.

‘I’m having this baby!’ she said, and stuck her chin out stubbornly.

‘Right. Have you been to see a healer?’

A guilty blush ran across her cheeks. ‘I’ve an appointment with a Muggle midwife next Tuesday.’

‘A Muggle midwife? What on earth for?’

Hermione swallowed. ‘I know witches give birth everyday and have done for centuries but... but I just have a feeling I’d feel safer seeing a Muggle doctor.’

‘Why Hermione, you Muggle snob!’ Ginny said with a wink to show she was teasing.

‘Well, Hermione, I don’t trust Muggle technology, I’d feel safer if you saw a healer.’ Molly shuddered and Hermione had a feeling she was remembering when Arthur had experimented with Muggle stitches when he’d been bitten by Voldemort’s snake.

‘I-I...’

‘Why doesn’t Hermione see both and then she can decide which one to stay with based on who she feels more comfortable with?’ Ginny suggested.

‘Okay,’ Molly and Hermione said together.

‘Right,’ Molly let out a small breath. ‘Now comes the hard part... I know you know that Arthur and I will be here for you no matter what. We’re your family and we love you. You also have Harry, Ginny and Ron.’

‘I know, Molly, Ron and Harry have been so understanding... Considering...’

Molly nodded. ‘But a expectant mother also needs to be able to rely on the father-’

‘Please-’

‘Here me out,’ Molly interrupted. ‘I don’t know what has gone on between you two and I don’t really want to because then I might feel even more tempted to murder him. However, he’s going to be your child’s father and there is no way you can deny him that. Malfoy’s and Weasley’s have not always been the most sincerest of friends but the war is over and we should all move beyond the past. Time heals, after all.’

‘You’re telling me to give him a chance?’ Hermione whispered.

‘I am.’

‘I already have done though, I gave him the biggest chance of all. I truly believed that he had changed, I saw the change in him... Only I was wrong and he proved me wrong!’

‘But now you’re having a baby together. Becoming a father changes a man. Just ask Arthur?’

Hermione shook her head. Tears threatening again. ‘I don’t think I can....’

---

Draco followed Harry and Ron into the living room of the burrow and looked around. To say he felt uncomfortable was a understatement. He was surrounded by six Weasley’s and Potter. And all of them where looking at him as if he’d killed the family cat - or worse.

‘Maybe I should go look for Hermione-’

‘You leave her be!’ Mr Weasley told him. ‘My Molly will be calming her down.’

All the Weasley’s were stood facing him. Harry went and sat on a over stuffed arm chair and Ron followed his lead and sat on the couch.

Draco sighed. He felt like he was facing the Wizengamot. He’s gaze kept returning to that of Arthur Weasley’s. He’d always thought that the man was a bit soft and wet. That it was Molly Weasley that ran the family and controlled her husband. But looking into the steely glare of the brown eyed man, Draco realised he was mistaken. This was the looked of a father, ready to protected his daughter.

It was a look repeated around the room and Draco realised just how much Hermione was a part of this family. The Weasley’s all loved her.

‘If you’re going to murder me at least let me say in my defense that I never meant for any of this to happen.’

All eyes seemed to turn colder. ‘I just bet you didn’t, Malfoy.’ The one, Draco recognised as Charlie, said and moved to stand closer to Arthur.

‘I just meant-’

‘I’d stay quiet if I were you,’ Harry spoke up from the chair. ‘You’ll never win, not against all of us anyway.’

‘Remember this then, Potter,’ Draco said slowly. ‘When you’re stood here explaining how Ginny’s having your child-’

Before Draco could take a breath Harry was up of his seat and griping him around the throat and pressing him up against the wall. All the Weasley’s stood back and watched as Harry lost his temper for the first time since the war had ended.

‘Be sure to know, Malfoy!’ Harry spat out, his emerald eyes flashing sparks at him. ‘That when that day comes it’ll be the happiest of my life. Ginny will be standing by my side, as my wife, and accepting the congratulations she deserves! You’ve stolen that from Hermione! Remember that!’

‘Harry,’ A soft voice spoke from the doorway. All eyes turned to see Hermione. Molly and Ginny by her side. Fleur stood behind them, a bundle Draco recognised as a very small baby, in her hands.

Harry slowly released his grip on Draco and stepped back.

Ginny walked to his side and standing on tip toe she kissed him, on the mouth and in full view of her family.

‘I love you...’ she whispered.

Harry reached out a hand and cradled her face. He bent to whisper something in her ear and the silence in the room seemed to stretch out.

Draco looked at Hermione and saw she had been crying. It killed him to know he had been the cause of her tears. His heart ached because he had caused her so much pain.

And she was having his baby!

That thought just kept running around inside his head. He couldn’t shake it off.

And Harry was right. Hermione deserved so much more then this. She deserved a loving husband and a celebration to announce her pregnancy.

He’d robbed her of it all. But no longer! He stiffened his back. He was a Malfoy and maybe to the wizarding world that name didn’t mean anything any more but it did to him. He’s future plans hand been to try and build up the family name and make it something any child of his would be proud of. Well that’s what he’d do. Starting with taking action for his responsibilities.

‘Would you take a walk with me, Hermione?’ he asked her.

She looked at him and he thought she was about to refuse when she slowly nodded her head and walked back into the kitchen.

Not sparing the Weasley’s another look he followed her.

As he walked through the kitchen he heard one of the Weasley’s (he thought it was Charlie) speak. ‘Don’t plan on knocking Ginny up for years to come yet, Potter, or Bill and I might just have to take you for a little walk with the garden shears!’

Draco winced and followed Hermione out of the back door. Avoiding the glare he received off Bill’s wife, as he walked past.

---

A/N; I can not believe how quick this story is coming out of me! It's flying from my fingers as I type.... the bad news, however, is my updates may slow down as I'm back in work :(
But I will keep updating, I promise.

Thank you for all my lovely reviews. They make me so happy :D

I also have a question to ask, I keep changing my mind and (as I'm a very organised person I need to know.... Like now!) which sex you all think their baby should be. I keep thinking male because I think Draco would like a son first but then I go all mushy inside when I think of him with a little girl! Ahhhhh, how sweet and protective would he be????? Ok I think I just made my mind up for myself!!!! Damn, no wait!!! Arggg!!!! Any thoughts would be very much appriciated! Thanks xx