From Venice with Love

Professor Dumbledore’s announcement of Hermione’s pregnancy that night caused a lot of talk in the Great Hall. The Slytherins looked at her like they could kill. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs congratulated her; the Ravenclaws seemed to think she was crazy.

“Didn’t you want to work after graduation?” Ernie asked her in their common room the following Saturday. It was a Hogsmeade weekend and they were getting ready to leave.

“I still may, after the baby is older. Alessandro thought a baby would help his parents’ attitude towards me,” Hermione explained.

Ernie shrugged. “If you think it’s best, congratulations. Watch those Slytherins though. Has Malfoy said anything during patrol?”

“No. He’s friends with my husband, I’m sure he’s just being respectful of his friend.”

“If he gives you trouble, let me know.” Ernie said. “We’ll change the schedule.”

“Thank you,” Hermione walked with him down to the doors, where she met up with Ginny.

“Ron and Harry will be along later.” Ginny said. “They’re practising for the next match.”

“Or Ron is avoiding me,” Hermione sighed as they began to walk towards Hogsmeade.

“He’ll come around,” Ginny sighed. “I promise.”

They talked about school the rest of the way down to town, and the baby. “What do you need?” Ginny asked, as they reached Hogsmeade.

“I need a quill,” Hermione said. “I’ll meet you at the Three Broomsticks, if you’d rather.”

“No,” Ginny said immediately. “I’ll just look around the shop.”

“If you like,” They entered the store and Ginny looked at a book up front, while Hermione walked towards the back, looking for quills.

“Hello, Ms. Granger,” a cold voice drawled behind her. Hermione turned slowly to face Lucius Malfoy.

“Mr. Malfoy,” she said coolly.

“I wonder, have you seen Draco? I have business with him, you see.” Lucius’ eyes never left hers as he played with a book on the counter that separated them.

“I haven’t. Maybe one of the Slytherins have,” Hermione answered, moving slowly back towards the front of the store.

“That’s an idea,” Lucius said, but made no move to leave. “I hear congratulations are in order,” he said, glancing slowly at her obviously pregnant stomach. “You’ve been married. “

“Yes,” Hermione absently put her bag in front of her stomach.

“And expecting as well? How wonderful for you,” Lucius' tone suggested that it was anything but.

“Yes, well, I must be going.” Hermione said, but before she could turn his cane was out blocking her way.

“I wonder, Ms. Granger, when exactly it was you thought I was going to learn about my grandchild.” He said scathingly.

Hermione froze. “What?”

“Don’t think me a fool, Ms. Granger,” Lucius snapped, closer now. “I was in Venice and saw Alessandro. He told me all about your little façade and your thing with my son. Though he was surprised to learn that you were now married and pregnant.”

Hermione gripped her wand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said defiantly. “Ginny!”

“Are you married to Draco? Or is this child a bastard?” Lucius hissed at her. Hermione fumbled for her necklace, scared thoroughly. “Either way, I will not have a Mudblood be the mother of my grandchild.”

“Get out of my way; I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hermione snapped.

“We’ll find out, Ms. Granger. I’ll know as soon as I look into that child’s eyes who it’s father is.”

“You’ll never get near my child,” Hermione whispered. “I’ll die first.”

Lucius smirked at her. “That you may, Ms. Granger,” he said as Ginny came running towards the back.

“Hermione, what are you yelling about?” Ginny froze as she saw Lucius standing with Hermione.

“Oh, look, Ms. Weasley,” Lucius moved his attention to Ginny. “How have you been?”

“Let’s go, Hermione,” Ginny said, ignoring the older man. Hermione edged away towards Ginny, her eyes never leaving Lucius’ cold ones.

He let them go and as soon as they got outside, Hermione’s legs faltered and she fell a little. “He said he knew that the baby was his grandchild,” Hermione whispered to Ginny, who was holding her up as they moved away from the shop.

“We need to get you back to school,” Ginny said. “I don’t think we should go alone though. Are you sure he knows?”

“I think he’s suspicious. If he was sure, I don’t think I’d be here,” Hermione said.

Draco came flying around a corner then, face paler than usual. “What’s wrong?” he said, coming over to her. “Is it the baby?”

“Get away from me!” Hermione hissed. “Your father is here.”

“What?” Draco backed away from her and looked around wildly. “Are you sure?”

“He was in the store with us. Apparently, he spoke with that horrid Alessandro who sold you out,” Ginny told him. “He was most upset to see that Hermione was pregnant.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Draco said, still looking around. “He doesn’t know for sure. I’ll have to say some pretty hateful things about you, but I think he’ll believe me.”


“No! Just stay away from him. What if he gives you Veritaserum or worse?” Hermione said. “What is he takes you away? Just come back up with us to school.”

“It’ll be fine,” Draco said, shaking his head. “I’ll see you back at school.”

“Draco, no!” Hermione stamped her foot in frustration. “It’s too dangerous.”

Harry and Ron saw them and came towards them. “What are you doing?” Harry said. “You realise anyone could walk by?”

“Potter, good. Take Hermione back to school. My father is in Hogsmeade.” Draco said, starting to walk away. “Stay with her until I get back to school.”

“What happened?” Ron asked, looking into Hermione’s pale face. “Did he see you?” Ginny began to tell Ron about what happened earlier.

“Potter, a word?” Harry walked towards Draco, who talked quietly to him for a moment. Harry nodded and Draco began to walk away.

“No!” Hermione said again, but Draco didn’t turn around.

Harry took her arm. “We have to hurry, Hermione.”

“I’m not leaving him.” Hermione knew she was being irrational, but she couldn’t help it.

“Hermione, he’ll meet us back at school. Let him handle this. Let’s go,” Harry began to tug on her arm.

“Harry, I can’t-“

“Oh for Merlin’s sake, Hermione!” Ron snapped. “Quit fighting him and let’s go! You can’t help Malfoy anyway. You’re being here will make it worse. His father won’t kill him or anything.”

Hermione glared at Ron but did allow Harry and Ginny to propel her forward. The four walked in silence until they got back to school.

“Take Hermione to her room and stay with her,” Harry said, as soon as they got in the front door. “I’m going to see Professor Dumbledore.”

Ron nodded, and he and Ginny accompanied Hermione back to her room. They sat there, mostly in silence, until Harry came back.

“Well?” Hermione asked.

“He thinks it best that we wait for Malfoy,” Harry said. “See what he could convince his father of. He doesn’t want you to leave Hogwarts for the rest of your pregnancy though, no matter what.”

Hermione shrugged. “I’m not surprised.” The four of them sat mostly in silence as the minutes ticked by. Dinnertime came upon them, but they were not able to convince Hermione to come eat. Instead, Ron and Harry went down to dinner and brought back food for her and Ginny.

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Ginny said, as Hermione just stared at the food in front of her. “You need to eat.”

“I can’t,” Hermione said glumly.

Ron had brought a chess set back with him and he and Harry played chess as Hermione stared at the ceiling and Ginny tried to engage her in conversation.

Finally, Hermione felt her necklace warm. Grabbing beneath her shirt, she turned it over. “I’ll be there in a minute,” it said.

“He’s coming!” Hermione said loudly, causing Harry and Ron to both jump slightly. They all stared at the door expectantly, and after a few minutes, the door opened and Hermione ran to Draco. “What took so long?” she asked, hugging him tightly.

Draco looked tired. “Sorry, he took me to dinner.”

“Well?” Harry asked.

“I told him that Alessandro got Hermione pregnant and was refusing to take responsibility,” Draco said. “That Hermione made up the marriage because she’s desperate. Sorry,” he said, glancing at Hermione. “He believed me, but I think he’s still suspicious. He thinks we both were shagging her and it could be mine no matter what I said. He will wait until the baby is born to see if I’m lying.”

“So, he thinks I’m a slut?”

“He thinks all Muggle-borns are,” Draco said. “He doesn’t care if I shag you as long as it’s not my baby.”

“Did he say what he’ll do if it is?” Harry asked.

Draco hesitated and said ”We’ll talk later, Potter.”

“What did he say?” Hermione asked.

“Don’t worry about it; I’m sure it’s nothing.” Ginny said.

“No! What did he say, Draco?” Hermione asked again.

“He said we’ll have to take care of the problem,” Draco said reluctantly. “Potter, walk with me to see Dumbledore?”

“What? No, I want to know what he said.” Hermione argued.

Harry nodded at Draco and they both went to the door. “I’ll be back soon,” Draco told her as they slipped out.

“I’m not fragile,” Hermione raged after they left. “I have a right to know,”

“It would just upset you,” Ginny said soothingly. “Trust them. They only have your best interests at heart.”

“Her best interest would be to not be pregnant,” Ron muttered.

“Out!” Hermione ordered. “I’m so sick of your attitude. I let it go for a while now, but I’m done. Out, until you can stop being such a prat!” Ron stared at her a minute, then left the room in silence.

Hermione sat on her bed, suddenly exhausted. “I’m so sick of his attitude,” she told Ginny. “I have enough problems right now. Until he’s ready to stop acting like a spoiled child I don’t want to see him.”

Ginny nodded, but didn’t say anything. Harry and Draco were gone about an hour and when they came back Hermione was half asleep.

“We’ll see you tomorrow, Hermione,” was all Harry said, motioning for Ginny to follow him out.

Draco laid down on the bed with Hermione and pulled her to him. “It’ll be fine,” he said.

“I don’t like you keeping secrets from me,” Hermione pouted. “I’m not a child.”

“I told you everything, just not his exact words which I rather not have heard myself, let alone recount to you. Dumbledore will take care of it.”

“What did he say?”

“We’re to go on as usual,” Draco told her. “You’re not to leave the castle grounds, of course. As soon as school ends, you’ll disappear. There’s no way to know for how long.”

“Won’t your father figure it out if I disappear suddenly?”

Draco sighed. “Maybe, but you’ll be safely hidden away.”

“What about you?”

“They want me to go with you. They’re working on a way to have me disappear.”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“Dumbledore and Snape.” Draco closed his eyes. “It’s alright for now, Hermione. Just relax.” They were both silent and Hermione noticed after awhile that his breathing slowed and he was asleep. She snuggled as close as she could to him and did the same.