If This Were A Normal Day...

Chapter 27
Hermine Comes Home

Hermione sat on Draco’s bed, sniffing and swiping at her face.

He was eyeing her oddly, almost not sure what to make of her outburst.

“Maybe surprises are a bad idea...” he thought. “I definitely don’t want another display like that!”

“So....umm...” Draco began to speak, but was interrupted by a large tawny barn owl swooping down upon the window seal.

“It’s a letter!” Hermione cried happily, eyeing the envelope. “From Ginny!”

She quickly tore it open and read the contents.

“What does it say?” Draco asked, reading over her shoulder.

Dear Hermione,

How are you doing?? I’ve been so worried! Crookshanks misses you and so do I. Your Mum and Dad have been owling like crazy and I have no idea what to tell them.
Good news about Ron, they’re releasing him in a few days. He has to meet with some kind of counselor every week though. Anyway, hope to hear from you soon! Please owl your parents so they’ll leave me alone!! (just kidding....but not really)
Love always,
Gin

Hermione’s eyes welled up once again.

“What am I going to tell my parents??” she wailed, flopping over on the bed.

“Oh Merlin, not again!” he thought.

“Well,” he began. “You’re eventually going to have to tell them the truth, you know...”

“Yes I know!” she spat at him, “But my parents are not going to be as forgiving as your mother! They put so much pressure on me for good grades and perfect behavior! They’re going to die when they find out I\'m pregnant.“ her face suddenly grew very solemn. “And they’re going to know you’re the one who did it to me! They’re gonna know we had sex!! Oh Merlin, I’m gonna be sick!!”

She clasped her hand over her mouth and darted for the bathroom.

Draco leaned forward and massaged his temples.

“I wasn’t aware that you were ashamed of me.” he called into the bathroom.

“Oh, I’m not ashamed of you!” Hermione called, reentering the room and wiping her mouth.

She seemed quite a bit calmer now.

“My parents are just.....difficult.” she frowned. “They’re very high strung.”

“Well, you used to be too, but you’re okay now.” he smiled.

She smiled back.

“I mean, what are they going to do?” he asked. “There\'s really no need for screaming and shouting. What’s done is done. They’re going to have to learn to live with it.”

“I suppose you’re right.” she frowned.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go see them before we head back to school? Spend the last few days at your house. It might be better if you tell them in person as opposed to sending an owl.”

“Umm....I don’t know..” she said, her eyes full of fear.

“I’ll be there with you. If things get out of hand, we’ll leave. Simple as that.” he patted her shoulder soothingly.

“Okay.” she said. “I mean, what the hell, right? They’re going to find out sooner or later, right? I suppose talking to them is better than showing up with a child 5 months from now right?”

“I would say so.” Draco replied. “It’s settled then. I’ll go talk to Mother and tell her we’re leaving in the morning and-”

“In the morning???” Hermione cried. “I didn’t think it would be that soon....”

“Well, better to get it over with.” Draco said, stepping out of the room.

Hermione’s head spun.

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to be under stress?” she thought, frowning again.

It felt like ages before Draco reentered the room.

“Alright, everything is settled with Mother. She isn’t very happy we’re leaving, but nonetheless, she\'s been informed.”

“I really like your Mum.” Hermione smiled. “She’s a lot nicer than I thought she’d be.”

“Well, she feels the same way about you.” he smiled back.

“You hungry? Dinner’s being served.” he said, stroking her hair.

“No,” she shook her head. “I think I just want to go to sleep.”

“Okay, baby.” he said, giving her a soft kiss and curling up behind her.

*****************************

The sunlight poured into the room, signifying morning.

Hermione woke, but kept her eyes closed. She wanted to savor as much of her last peaceful moments as possible.

She let her skin become aware of everything. The feeling of the soft bed below her, Draco curled against her back, the soft, warm feeling of his breath against her neck.

She smiled to herself, before turning over and stretching her arms high over her head.

Draco stirred, then smiled at her.

He reached out and rubbed her tummy.

“Someone’s happy this morning.” he grinned.

“Yea,” she smiled back. “I slept like a rock.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, petting her forehead.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” she frowned back at him.

“Alright, I’ll get our trunks together and you go have a shower, how about that?” he suggested, smiling once again at her.

“Okay.” she said, half smiling back.

Hermione stepped into the bathroom and flicked on the water. Steam filled the room as she disrobed and stepped inside.

The water hit her body from all angles, massaging the muscles in her back and periodically stinging her legs.

She turned around and raised her hands to wash her hair, when a jet graced her stomach.

It wasn’t a hard hit, but it was enough to get her attention.

She frowned and repositioned herself so not to be hit again.

Suddenly, Hermione felt a small tickling sensation in her lower abdomen.

Frowning again, she moved to the side. The sensation came again. Like small butterflies beating their wings inside her tummy.

Irritated, Hermione reached down and swatted at it.....only to find, no water was hitting her.

She looked down at it curiously.

Thump thump.........thump.....thump thump thump......

Her mouth hung open when the realization hit her.

“Draco!!!” she cried. “DRACO!!”

Hermione jumped out of the shower, only to slip on a pool of water dripping from her body.

Luckily, Draco rushed into the bathroom at that very moment and seized the naked Hermione around the waist and caught her before she could hit the floor.

“What\'s wrong??” he cried. “Are you okay????? What\'s happening??”

“The baby-” she began, but was interrupted.

“What\'s wrong with that baby???” he asked, wide-eyed. “Do we need to go to the hospital???”

“No, no, no,” she said, irritated at being interrupted. “The baby-”

“What\'s going on???” Narcissa shouted, bursting into the room. “I heard screaming and- Good lord! You’re naked!”

“The baby, Mother!” Draco shrieked. “There’s something wrong with the baby!”

“Something\'s wrong with the baby?!” Narcissa cried. “Then we need to go to the hospital!”

“No, no, NO!” Hermione cut in, now holding a towel to cover her nudity. “Everyone just calm down! The baby was kicking. That\'s all! There\'s no problem! I guess I just got a little excited.”

Both Narcissa and Draco’s faces had clear expressions of relief.

They both breathed deep, cleansing sighs and sort of chuckled.

“Please, don’t ever do that again.” Draco said, massaging his temples with his hand.

“I’m....I’m really sorry. I’ll try to contain myself from now on. Umm....guess I’m gonna finish my shower now...”

She looked expectantly at the door, waiting for them both to make their exits.

“Oh!” said Narcissa, blushing slightly. “I’ll just be going then.”

She turned and disappeared from the room.

Hermione re-entered the shower and stepped under the hot water. She jumped when she felt the war body of Draco press against her back.

His hand slid down her tummy and tummy and rested on her lower abdomen.

“I don’t feel anything.” he frowned after a few seconds.

“That\'s because she\'s not moving right now.” she smiled at him over her shoulder.

She noticed an expression of deep thought on his face.

“Honey, she’s probably asleep.” she said, but noticed he was clearly still thinking hard.

She was about to shrug it off when she received a sharp poke to the stomach.

“Wake up!” he demanded.

“Draco! You can’t do that! It might hurt-”

thump.......thump thump.....

“She moved!” Hermione squeaked.

“I didn’t feel it!” he frowned once again, groping her stomach.

“She’s probably not kicking hard enough for you to feel yet.” she said, giving him a sympathetic smile. He obviously wanted to feel the baby and she felt sorry for him.

All traces of sympathy were lost when she seen him gearing up to poke her again.

Luckily, she noticed it and was able to smack his hand away in time.

“Stop that!” she hissed once again. “You really could hurt her!”

Draco huffed.

“You sound like a spoiled child.” she said, glaring at him over her shoulder. “I think being home has brought out the worst in you.”

He waved her off with his hand.

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what going home brings out in you.” he smirked at her before stepping out of the shower.

Hermionie finished bathing quickly and stepped out of the shower.

She sighed when she noticed Draco had already taken her trunk downstairs, meaning all her personal clothes were with it.

She was stuck picking something that Narcissa had bought.

She opened the wardrobe and began to thumb through the different things, finally deciding on a pair of black kakis and a soft pink long sleeved shirt.

She was seated on the bed tying her shoes when Draco entered the bedroom.

“Okay, so I’ve got us a clearance to floo there.” he said. “I’ve also talked to someone about your condition and was informed that its perfectly safe for you to travel that way. So, if you’re quite ready....” he stopped and waited for her response.

She merely nodded.

“It’s going to be okay, I promise.” he rubbed her shoulder soothingly.

She smiled sadly, before following him out of the room and down the stairs.

She paused in front of the fireplace, looking at it warily. Not so much because minded traveling in this manner, but because of the destination.

She watched Draco disappear from the fireplace and her stomach rolled, knowing it was her turn.

She stepped inside and took a deep, foreboding breath and wrapped her cloak tightly around her, before calling out her destination and disappearing as well.

As she arrived, she stumbled, but was luckily caught by Draco.

Her mother was staring at him wide-eyed, but relaxed slightly at the sight of Hermione.

“Dear?” her mother asked. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in school.”

Hermione’s mother wrapped her in a hug and kissed her cheek.

“Well, yes Mum, but....” Hermione began. “I’ve...ah, been given a break.”

“A break?” she asked, eyeing Hermione oddly. “Whatever for?”

“Well, that\'s what I’ve come to talk to you about.” Hermione smiled meekly. “Why don’t we all sit down?”

\"Um, where\'s dad?\"

\"He went to the store honey. What is it?\"

Hermione and Draco took seats on the couch while her mothers sat in the two arm chairs opposite them.

Draco shifted uncomfortably on the couch. It was lumpy and the material was coarse. It wasn’t at all what he was used to.

“Ha, and she thought we were going to live here!” he sneered in his mind.

“Well,......Mum...” Hermione thought hard before picking up where her sentence left off. “This is my new boyfriend, Draco!” she smiled, motioning toward the blonde seated next to her.

“How wonderful.” her mother smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Draco.” her mother paused. “But....they let you have a break from school because you have a new boyfriend?”

“Well, no...” Hermione began. She took a deep cleansing breath, trying to fight back the tears that were already threatening to spill over.

She felt Draco slip his hand over and intertwine his fingers with hers.

“Now, just keep calm....I mean, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing....” she said, snuggling deeper into her cloak and gripping Draco’s hand tightly. “I’m....well....its not that I’m pregnant.....its just the I’m....well.....pregnant.....yea...” she trailed off, staring at the floor.

She heard a small “clink!” and realized her mother’s grasp had just broken the teacup she was holding.

She was staring wide-eyed at Hermione.

She sucked in her bottom lip and waited for the explosion.

“You’re what?!?!?!!???” her mother screamed. “What are you going to do now, Hermione?? You had your whole future ahead of you!!! What, you get a boyfriend and suddenly you can‘t keep your legs together like some common street whore??”

Draco opened his mouth in anger, but stopped when Hermione gave his hand a firm, pleading squeeze.

“How long have you even known this boy?” her mother continued to rant. “How do you know hes not going to kick you to the curb the minute he sees that parenting is not a stroll through the daisies. What will you do then??”

“Well, Mum,” Hermione began, trying to force back her tears and remain calm. “I plan on-”

“Oh, I know what we’re going to do alright!” her mother snapped, interrupting her. “We’re going first thing in the morning and getting you an abortion!!”

Hermione’s face crumpled and she began to sob loudly.

“Abortion....abortion....muggle word.” Draco thought, creasing his brow.

“What\'s an abortion?” he whispered to Hermione while her mother continued to rant and rave.

She leaned forward and began to whisper the details into Draco’s ear, who’s face was growing redder and redder with anger the more he heard.

Hermione’s mother’s rant was broken when she turned to face a livid Draco.

“You,” he said slowly, trying incredibly hard to keep himself composed and not break the woman’s neck where she stood. “will never see my child, nor come near my family again. Is that understood?”

Her mouth simply bobbed open and closed, looking between Draco and Hermione’s father, who also looked too frightened to speak.

Her seized Hermione by her arm and ushered her toward the fireplace, taking quick strides that she was struggling to meet.

He seen her off first, then turning to give Hermione’s family one last, stern look of disgust before disappearing himself.