A Last Request

Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter or anything else that is not mine.

* Authors Note * - I HAVE INTERNET!!!! Sorry about that my Internet has been out for nearly a week! I have been going absolutely crazy without it! So that is why I haven’t been able to update, I am so sorry. This chapter is a short one. Hope you enjoy it just the same. And now I have uploaded all of the ones the chapters I have finished, I am now working on chapter 5. To be honest i reaaly don't like this chapter that much so i do hope it is alright. Same as always if you want me to post let me know. Reviews sure help the writing monster it gives me that extra something so please review it means a lot and lets me know I’m not wasting my time. As for the fluff and stuff yes there will be a bit of it but there will be more feelings in this than that. Keep in mind I am a happy person, but without drama there isn’t much, so stay tuned. Well thanks again for all of the reviews and a thank you to my beta.

And to Rose I am sorry that it didn’t work for you. I am sorry that you feel how this is cliché; I guess most love stories are if you think about it. Also that you feel that this is a just another ‘misunderstood Draco’ story, hmmm… that’s not what I had in mind but I guess we all see things differently, thanks for your review just the same.

Again, thank you to all those who left reviews you are so awesome! I love you! Please keep it up! Enjoy! Let me know if you would like me to email you when updated.



Chapter Four
Wink


Classes couldn’t have lasted longer that next day. Mondays usually seemed to take their time to move into the rest of the week, but this particular Monday was excruciating. With me being busy over the weekend, mostly spending my time slumped over a tub, I spent most of my extra time that day trying to get things finished so I didn’t get a chance to talk to Ginny or to Calvin.

At dinner that evening Ginny wasn’t there. One of the girls in her year told me that she had some work to catch up on in the library. I suppose I wasn’t the only one that didn’t get much done. Well she was after all with me preparing a potion to help me. I always thought that the Gryffindor colors were always her colors, scarlet for her hair and gold for her heart. She was a Gryffindor through and through.

It was extremely difficult to concentrate on anything that day. Just the thought that he, Draco Malfoy father of my child, was alive. Lots of questions plagued my mind. How did he survive? Should that even be a question? Why did it take him so long to contact me? What’s he doing for money?

For the short time that I did have an appetite it seemed to have been destroyed the evening before. I force fed myself and headed to the grounds for a brief walk, must keep in shape. I read that the better you kept fit the easier the birthing process went. I thought for sure that I wasn’t going to see Calvin for a few more hours so when I saw him I was quite happy.

“Hey beautiful!” Calvin said. I rolled my eyes but smiled sweetly.

“Calvin, there is something I wanted to tell you… you and Ginny. I wanted to wait until I had you both together. I really do not enjoy repeating myself. I was just about to take a walk out side since it is quite nice out, join me.” I said still heading in the direction of the front doors.

“Oh I’ll go get her I just saw her in the library. We’ll meet you there.” He said turning towards the stairs.

“Calvin… she and Harry are back together.” I said hoping he wouldn’t be too disappointed. His smile faltered for only a second.

“Figures. Well good for them. He’s more her type anyway. You know the good-looking type. I’ll get her anyway. See you in a few.” He took off before I could say anything. I gave him an empathetic look and put my hand over my heart. It’s not that he wasn’t horrible looking but in some sort of way he was right. He was what one would consider a big person. He wasn’t fat he was just large. It also wasn’t as if his face wasn’t attractive it was just that… how do I put it without sounding… superficial. Look lets just say he wasn’t Harry, Ron or even Draco and leave it at that. He was very funny and had a great personality through.

I walked down towards the lake and sat on the grass that was slightly higher than the lake making it perfect for someone to dip his or her feet of in. The weather was surprisingly hot being as it was only halfway through April. The really warm weather didn’t come about for another month or so, give or take a few weeks. I made sure I could be seen before I discarded my shoes and socks.

I stuck my feet into the water slowly, the iciness of the lake shocking my senses. I didn’t have to wait to long before I saw them walking briskly down towards me. They settled next to me and waited for me to speak, well sort of.

“So Hermione what’s up?” Said Ginny.

“I got this last night.” I said handing them the note Draco had sent me.

“Huh, ‘You gave me the strength.’ For what?” Calvin asked.

“Who is this from Hermione?” Ginny asked.

“Draco Malfoy.” I replied.

“Are you sure?” Ginny asked again.

“Yes pretty sure I mean who else could it be from?” I asked. Ginny shrugged.

“You gave me the strength, how corny.” Calvin mumbled. Ginny elbowed him.

“What? Well he could have said something else.” Calvin complained.

“Like what? Besides I think it’s nice. It’s a nice thing to say.” Ginny said handing the note back.

“Calvin’s right. I mean he could have said that he was all right or… something.” I agreed. Ginny shrugged again.

“You’re happy about it right? He did at least write you. It wasn’t much but it’s something.” Calvin argued.

“Yes, I am. It is something.” I agreed. I smiled because it was true I was happy. I grazed my feet gently across the top of the waters surface feeling the chilliness prickle my skin.

“Awe, Hermione have you seen you have a little bump.” Ginny said bringing me out of thought. I looked down. So I did. Tiny but if you knew what my stomach looked like before you’d notice.

“So I do. I didn’t notice.” I smiled and rubbed it.

“Call me a guy but what are you talking about?” Calvin said as he studied my belly.

“You’re a guy.” Ginny and I laughed out. He rolled his eyes.

“Well if you knew what it looked like before you’d be able to tell.” Ginny replied

“How well did you know her stomach, hmm Ginny?” Calvin suggested wiggling his eyebrows and earned himself a dip in the lake. The look on his dripping wet face was priceless, had us in a fit of laughter for a good hour.

At breakfast the next morning post came and I had received a letter from my parents saying that they would really enjoy having brunch with me that Sunday, if Headmistress McGonagall permitted it. I hoped that she did. I really needed to tell them about my pregnancy. I really didn’t want to wait until school was out and I wasn’t going to do it through the post. But I wasn’t sure if McGonagall would allow it as I did just spend the entire weekend away. I’d find out soon because my mother sent a letter asking McGonagall for permission.

To my luck in Charms that day we learned about advanced illusion and concealment charms. It was just what I needed for my, situation. The only problem is that although you can’t see it doesn’t mean you can’t feel it. So I had to make sure to keep my distance from people especially when I got bigger. It would be odd to bump into someone who felt like they had a belly but didn’t look like it. It wouldn’t take long for someone to figure it out.

I walked down the hall after classes were over for the day and was about to head back to my room to adjust my clothing. Although I wasn’t that big my clothes were starting to fit a little snug. My bra seemed to be shrinking by they way my chest was basically spilling out of it. Lets just say I was becoming quite uncomfortable and needed an adjustment.

I had slipped my index finger inside the band of my waist trying to stretch it out a bit when McGonagall seemed to pop out of nowhere startling me. She eyed me strangely as I smiled. For a moment I was worried that she was just like Dumbledore and was perfectly aware of the situation. He always seemed to know things.

“Miss Granger, I received a letter from you parents this morning. They request your attendance for brunch this Sunday as you should know.” She stated. I nodded.

“I understand that I was gone all weekend and was gone a full weekend a few weeks ago so I understand if it is not permitted.” I said.

“Yes, well lets continue this in my office. There are a few issues I wanted to discuss with you.” She said walking towards her office. I followed naturally. I was very nervous. Why did she want to go to her office to discuss ‘issues’? What issues? She did know didn’t she? I am in so much trouble. Oh no, what if I get expelled? ‘Relax Hermione,’ I scolded myself. If she didn’t know, she would if I didn’t calm myself.

We arrived and she said the password. The stairs were revealed to us allowing us to get on. We rode up to what was formally Dumbledore’s office. We walked past the waiting room and headed into the office. The smell was the same and in fact not much had changed in a very eerie sort of way. She walked around her desk and signaled for me to sit as she did. I accepted by sitting down and waited for her to proceed.

“Hermione I understand that I had asked you to stay this year. You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. So I do not feel right not letting you go this weekend to be with your parents. With the way things are it’s best if we all spend time with those we love. So of course you may go,” McGonagall said. Tears were in her eyes. Now it couldn’t be my up coming visit that was causing it.

“Professor, are you all right.” I asked as I braced myself for the answer.

“Oh um yes, it’s just. Oh well you will hear it soon enough. It hasn’t been confirmed as of yet but I have just received word that a student, a former student might have… been killed.” I could feel the color of my skin drain and my chest has never felt heavier, I thought I was going to be sick. I was debating if I should ask whom it was. Did I really want to know?

“Who… who is it professor?” I asked my voice sounding as if it were someone else’s.

“The young Draco Malfoy. I just got word this morning.” She continued sadly. All right now my stomach never felt heavier. “Of course it’s not official, but just the thought… he’s just so young and still could have… Well it’s almost time for dinner I’m sure you’ll want to ready for it.” McGonagall said dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. I nodded and stood up.

“Professor. Sometimes no matter how much we want to help someone to give them the chance to do things that we believe they could be capable of doing, we can’t. Not unless they want the chance or could even see it the way we do. I know Professor Dumbledore saw something in him as he does most and tried to help… I guess what I am trying to say is that I think you’re doing a brilliant job Professor Dumbledore would be very proud of you. I know that I am and so many others are…” I didn’t even get the chance to finish; I didn’t even see her coming.

Her arms flung themselves around me, Professor Minerva McGonagall, cried into my shoulder. At the moment I was glad that I wasn’t further along for she would have found out my secret, or perhaps not in her state. I held her while she whimpered out things that sounded much like ‘tried so hard’, ‘difficult shoes to fill’, and ‘means so much to hear’. The rest was harder to pick up.

Finally after a few minutes she pulled herself away wiping her eyes and adjusting herself.

“I am so sorry for that. I don’t know what came over me.” She said feeling slightly embarrassed. I smiled.

“Professor, it’s all right. We all have our moments. I am happy to be here for you.” I said.

“Thank you Hermione. You know,” She started and turned toward the portrait of Dumbledore. “His portrait hasn’t said anything, nothing in the months that it has hung on the wall. All he does is sleep and watch, nothing else. I have never seen that before.”

We both watched him for a while. He looked back at us neither party saying a thing, just staring. When McGonagall turned away from him he winked at me. I was about to say something when there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it on my way out.” I said. I waved a goodbye as I walked over to it throwing one last glance over my shoulder to the portrait. He just stared back.

Professor Sprout was on the other side of the door. Apparently she was frantic about something. We greeted each other and I let her by before I let myself out shutting the door behind me. Professor Sprout was on the other side of the door. I could still hear her hysterical voice as I walked away.

I walked back to my dorm thinking about what McGonagall said. About Draco and about the portrait, why did he wink at me? I reached the portrait and walked through and as if the room itself had impacted me all the thoughts of Draco possibly being… what small hope I had before seemed to wither away… what did I expect, for him to join our side? For us to live happily ever after? What matter did it make? It’s not like I planned on it in the first place right? If I didn’t then why was I so upset?

I didn’t realize that Ginny and Calvin where waiting for me when I walked in. I kept on walking toward my room.

“HERMIONE!” Well that got my attention. I stopped and glanced over at them staring at me confused. I didn’t even know who yelled it perhaps it was both.

“Hermione, are you all right?” Ginny said as she moved closer to me followed by Calvin.

The tears that threatened to spill over the edge of my lids finally won the battle as they fell silently down my cheeks.

“Hermione what’s… what’s wrong?” Calvin asked standing in front of me.

“I just came from McGonagall’s office.” That’s all I could get out before I took a deep breath to finish.

“Oh… my, she knows doesn’t she? And she has kicked you out!” Ginny said shocked. Calvin cut in.

“She expelled you! I can’t believe it… look we can just go down there and explain and…”

“What? No, no she didn’t. She doesn’t know about that. That’s not it.” I cut in.

“Then what is it Hermione?” Ginny asked concerned.

“She called me in there to tell me that I was able to go see my parents on Sunday. She also told me that… that Draco Malfoy might be… might have been killed.” I said.

“Might have, I am not sure I understand.” Calvin said.

“So they don’t know for sure?” Ginny asked.

“No, but she was upset about it. Why then tell me that he might be if she wasn’t mostly sure about it. It’s not like her to say something if she didn’t believe it.” I said as the other two remained quiet only nodding.

We stood there for a few minutes until Calvin spoke.

“We really should head down to dinner, it’s about to begin.”

“I’m not really hungry, I think I’ll stay here.” I replied.

“Me neither.” Ginny said simply.

“I’m not feeling very hungry at the moment either.” Calvin agreed.

“I want to lay down. Will you two stay with me? I really don’t want to be alone,” I said. I was starting to feel that way lately. They nodded and followed me to my room.

I lay down on my bed, Ginny sat down on the end of the bed and propped herself up against the post and Calvin pulled up my desk chair and sat down on it.

We sat in silence until an owl came barreling though my open window. It flew straight towards Calvin causing him to dive to the floor.

“BLOODY BIRD!” He shouted as a few feathers floated down towards him, he swatted them away.

“Oh Calvin it just was finding a place to land.” Ginny said walking towards my desk to it. Calvin huffed as he sat back onto the chair making sure to keep an eye on it. “I’ll get it for you Hermione.”

As Ginny reached for the tiny piece of parchment wrapped on it’s leg the owl snapped at her several times signaling her to step back.

“All right, all right. Hermione I guess it wants you to take it.” Ginny said sitting back in her previous spot.

I got up and walked towards it. It was the same owl as before. It stuck out its leg for me and I untied the parchment and gave the bird a treat, sending it on its way. It made sure to fly right by Calvin and screeched happily when Calvin jumped and yelled.

“Damn thing’s mocking me!” Calvin grumbled.

“Who’s it from?” Ginny asked.

I nervously unrolled the piece of parchment. My brow furrowed as I read it first silently.

“It says ‘Soon’.” I answered.

“What does that mean?” Calvin asked.

“Does it say whom it’s from?” Ginny asked.

“No name, just like the one before. I’m not sure what it means. But I’m positive that it is from Draco, only…” I started.

“Only what? Do you think he’s still alive?” Ginny asked as I handed Calvin the note for him to get a closer look at it.

“I’m not sure. It depends on when he was supposedly, you know and when it was sent. It can take days for an owl to deliver a letter.” I said.

“That’s right. He could have just sent it or had sent it days ago. Depends on the distance and or when he wanted it to be delivered,” Calvin agreed.

“So he could either had just sent it or it could have been a week ago?” Ginny asked.

“Yeah, so it doesn’t really help us understand or know weather he’s alive or not,” Calvin replied.

“But there is hope, we’ll just have to wait and see.” I said tying to hold back a smile. There was hope… maybe. “You know I think I am starting to get a little hungry.

They agreed and we walked down to dinner as the possibilities swarmed our heads.

The next morning the papers had said that Draco was presumed dead but there was no body. They said the ministry wasn’t expecting one. The paper said the authorities wouldn’t give out any information on the situation but there was reason to believe it to be true.

“Well the ministry pretty much confirmed it.” Calvin said.

“Oh yeah, because they are so reliable.” Ginny said sarcastically.

“They’re not I take it?” Calvin asked.

“No for the most part anyway. But they could be right on this. Who knows?” I said sadly.

“Well if you ask me I think it’s a bunch of rubbish. That’s all that comes out of them anymore, absolute rubbish!” Ginny started firmly. I nodded with a smile knowing why she felt that way. We all did with the things that were said about all of us, especially Harry.

“Well let’s not get our hopes up, we’ll just have to wait and see.” Calvin said. Ginny and I both nodded. It was true so we were back to where we began, uncertainty.

The news spread faster than an airborne illness. Rumors and gossip was all that took place for the rest of that week. Even the teachers joined in forgetting about their teachings.

Friday couldn’t have come sooner. Class used to be one of my most favorite places. Now it was a constant reminder of my situation. Everywhere I went it was there. It was enough to make a sane witch go crazy. And that is exactly how I was feeling. One thing I did feel strange about was the reaction from some of the Slytherins that Draco used to hand out with. Crabbe and Goyle seemed sad and even lonelier than they had already seemed that year. But the way Pansy Parkinson was acting was… not like I would have thought. She seemed smug, not at all sad about it.

After dinner that Friday night I decided to take a walk around the lake. I took the magic music player that Fred and George invented and sent me. I would say it was the magical version of an MP3 player.

My stomach seemed to grow double its size over that week. Now I really needed a concealment charm on it. My mum had once told me that she had gotten quite big with me and she showed with me almost immediately. Well it seemed that I was doing the same, so maybe I’ll get away with not having stretch marks like she did. You couldn’t even tell that she had a baby. She swears by coco butter. Funny thing is so do most witches according to what I’ve read. Even better than potions, they say.

I took off my robe and laid it on the ground along with my books that I brought along with me. This week was by far the warmest I had ever seen at this time of year, it was in the upper 80’s. I took off my tie and jumper and set them on my robe. I rolled up my sleeves and unbuttoned the top two buttons. I was still rather warm so I removed my shoes and socks. That definitely made me more comfortable. The soft cool grass gave a cushion for my feet as I swayed around and dipped my toes in and out of the water listening ‘My Mischief Magic’ by a wizarding group called Grown Back Down.

I like everyone else in the world loved music. It just seems to help no matter how bad or distracted you felt. In fact sometimes it can draw you away from the world so much that you don’t notice someone watching you. Like someone was watching me from the forest.

I didn’t even realize someone had walked up to me until I had opened my closed eyes. My eyes widened as they fell on a black-cloaked figure standing in front of me…