From Venice with Love

The rest of the holiday went too quickly for Hermione. She was finally feeling better and for the first time since she started at Hogwarts she was sorry to go back to school.

“It’ll be better once school’s over,” Draco promised again as they neared Kings Cross on a cold January morning.

“We’ll see, “she said. “I have to think of a great colossal lie to tell my best friends so that they don’t think I’m under a spell or being blackmailed by you or whatever else they think now.. They’ll be so angry with me when they find out the truth.”

“You can’t tell them yet,” Draco said. “You promised me time.”

“I know,” Hermione said crossly. “I wish they didn’t know I was engaged, that makes it worse.” For the time being, she had decided she was going to hide the ring so it didn’t invite questions from classmates that she couldn’t answer.

“We have to go,” He squeezed her hand tightly for a moment and then walked into the crowd.

She waited a moment for him to get through the platform, and then followed him. Immediately upon entering the platform, she saw Ron, Harry and Ginny standing there waiting for her with unhappy looks on their faces. She heard Draco make a nasty comment to Ron as he walked by, but Ron barely acknowledged him.

“Come on, Hermione, we need to talk to you.” Ginny said.

“In a few minutes. I have to make sure the prefects are patrolling and then I’ll slip away and see you.”

“Don’t try and avoid us, Hermione. If you don’t come by we’ll have no choice but to go to Professor Dumbledore,” Harry told her.

Hermione felt fear shoot through her. “What in the world for? For getting engaged?”

“We saw you outside of the station with Malfoy, Hermione,” Ginny said quietly. “We want to know what is going on.”

“Is he blackmailing you?” Ron asked. “Because if he is I’ll-“

“Honestly, you are not my parents!” Hermione snapped, her patience gone. “We were both dropped off by Alessandro and Gabrielle! He’s friends with my fiancé and I’m going to have to be civil to him. He respects Alessandro enough to be civil to me as well. We are not friends, he has nothing to blackmail me with and I am not going to be constantly explaining myself to you all the time! Now, I’ll be back to see you later.” She stalked off in anger.

After checking on the prefects and making her rounds, Hermione found the compartment they were in. Three apologetic faces greeted her.

“We’re sorry, Hermione,” Harry said as soon as she walked in. “We’re just afraid for you. One minute you’re through with Alessandro and the next you’re marrying him? You have to admit it’s a little strange.”

“Well, it’s been hard being away from him,” Hermione said. “It should be a long engagement if it makes you feel better. I think he just wanted to prove that he was serious about us. I don’t want you telling anyone though.” All three nodded. “Good. Anything else?” Her question was greeted with silence. “Fine. Ron, you should be patrolling. So, has the trolley come by?”

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Later that evening, Hermione heard a knock at her door. She went and opened it, surprised to see Ginny alone. “Hello, Gin. Are you okay?” she asked, letting her in.

“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk without the boys around.” Ginny sat on the bed, looking uneasy. “Hermione, please don’t be mad at me. I’m going to ask you something you may not like.”

“What?” Hermione felt fear creeping into her voice.

“Hermione, getting engaged is very sudden. You had a big fight and the he swoops in during break and proposes? It’s just strange.”

“And?”

“It’s just- are you pregnant?” Ginny cringed as she asked. “If you are, you can tell me, you know. “

Hermione sighed. “Yes, I am. I was going to tell you this weekend but since you asked-”

“That’s why you asked me before break about single parents? Oh, Hermione! How horrible!”

“Yes, well, I’m used to it now. I’ve just got to make the best of it.” Hermione said. “You have to promise that you won’t tell Harry or Ron though. Even if they ask. I mean it, Ginny.”

“I promise,” she replied. “They’re going to want to kill him when they find out, you know.”

“I know. That’s why I’m keeping it a secret as long as I can.” Hermione said, sinking down on the bed. “It’s so horrible, Gin. I mean, Alessandro’s being alright about it but I’m scared. I’m not ready for a baby. Or to get married for that matter.”

“It’s too bad, but you do love him, right?”

“Yes,” Hermione smiled. “I just wanted to wait a few more years before getting married. And now, we’ll barely have time to get used to being married before we have a baby as well. It’s just too fast.”

“I can’t imagine,” Ginny said. “Eighteen isn’t really that young to get married though. Lots of people get married right out of school. Of course, you’ll have to do it before then. When are you due?”

“July. What do you think Professor McGonagall will do?”

“I’m not sure,” Ginny said, “It doesn’t happen that much anymore. Did you…not know any contraceptive charms? I could have told you.”

“I knew,” Hermione said miserably. “At first I didn’t, but I looked it up. I just thought he was doing them. I guess he thought I was. I am so responsible after all.” She laughed bitterly.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Ginny said, hugging her. “We’ll have to start preparing for a wedding.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Hermione said. “He’s supposed to set everything up.”

“Well, I know what to do. We’ll go first Hogsmeade weekend and get you a dress.”

“Something I won’t fit into.”

“Hermione, he’ll want to get married before you start to show, so people don’t talk. It’ll be fine. We’ll have to-“ she stopped dead and stared past Hermione. Hermione turned around and saw Draco standing by the portrait, eyes wide with surprise.

He covered quickly, and his face changed into one of impatience. “We have patrol, Granger. Some of us do have lives.”

Hermione nodded and stood up. “Thanks Ginny. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sure,” Ginny glared at Draco and walked past him into the hallway. Hermione stood up and walked over to Draco.

“She didn’t’ even ask how I got in,” Draco said.

“She was shocked. She’ll think of it later. I’ll make something up. Say I didn’t close the portrait all the way or something,” she sighed. “They saw us outside of the station. We have to be more careful. You know, it’s not just us now. If your father were to find out I’m pregnant-“ she didn’t finish the sentence.

“I know, I’m doing the best I can!” He stopped a moment and lowered his voice. “I already sent an owl inquiring about presidors.”

“Draco, please let me tell Professor Dumbledore. He can protect us.”

“No! Not yet.”

“Why are you so against this?” Hermione asked.

Draco sat down and faced her. “He’ll expect something in return. Spying on my father. Information, things like that. He’ll want me to betray my family.”

“You already have,” she answered quietly.

Draco looked away. “I just can’t betray him like that.”

“You do understand that he would kill me? And our baby?” Hermione said slowly.

“I’m willing to give them up for you, not turn them in. That’s the best I can do right now.” Draco said firmly, still not looking at her. “I’m the one giving up my family and friends.”

“Excuse me? Do you think that my friends will throw me a party?” Hermione got up and walked away, her arms crossed.

“No, but they will forgive you.” Draco said. “Mine won’t.”

“Then they’re not really friends anyway. Who cares if Pansy or Crabbe don’t talk to you?” Hermione said, her voice rising. “I’m the one having a baby. You could always leave, I’m stuck. The baby and I should be your family now.”

“Stuck, are you?” Draco’s eyes narrowed.

“You know what I mean! You always try to turn everything around when you know I’m right.” Hermione was yelling now.

Draco took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “This isn’t helping.”

“It’s helping me. I’m mad and have no one to yell at!”

“By all means then, yell away.” Draco leaned back and looked at her, amused.

Hermione paused. “It’s not fun when you don’t yell back.” Her anger began to ebb away. ”I’m just afraid you’ll decide it’s too much to give up and I’ll be alone with this baby.”

“That won’t happen,” Draco said, moving to her. “I’m going to marry you as soon as possible.”

“Only because you think you have to,” Hermione sniffed.

“No, I would have married you anyway. To be honest, it would have been later on, after the war. This just makes our lives start a little sooner than we thought. I do love you, Hermione.”

“That’s the first time you’ve ever actually said it.” Hermione said, tears welling in her eyes.

“Sorry.” He kissed her forehead. “We need to go on patrol or people will notice.”

Hermione wiped her eyes and they walked out of her room together.