Times Of Surrender

A little more changed about this chapter then in chapter five. The transport is slightly different and a few other things. But really, I like this chapter before and didn’t want to change much.

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Chapter Six

Hermione rolled over in bed and looked at her alarm clock. The digits on the front read eleven thirty-five. She yawned and wiped the sleep from her eyes before the realization hit her. It was Friday morning and her appointment had been at ten o’clock. Jumping out of bed she hurried down to the phone in the kitchen and dialed the number for her doctor’s office.

“Doctor Eva Cassidy’s office, how may I help you?” It was the receptionist with the very cheerful voice that had called Hermione only a couple of days before.

“Yes, my name is Hermione Granger and I was supposed to come in and see Dr. Cassidy this morning at ten. I needed to know if I can reschedule?”

“Oh yes, Miss Granger, sorry you couldn’t make it in time this morning. Let me check the schedule, one moment please.” There was a pause on the other end of the line and then she was speaking again, “The soonest we can get you in would be three weeks from now. We are jam-packed until then. Would you still like to reschedule?”

“I can’t wait that long, I’ll check around and see if I can get in any sooner somewhere else and then come back to Dr. Cassidy’s office for the next appointment. Thanks.” Hermione said good-bye and then hung up. Maybe she should try and go to a medi-witch because she had magical abilities. Would her being a witch cause a difference in her pregnancy? Unsure of the answer, she fire-called one of the wizarding OB-GYNs to see if somebody could see her.

A woman whose desk was situated next to the hearth looked at the fire to see Hermione. “Good afternoon this is Petra Roth’s office, how may I assist you?”

“Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. I was calling to see if there might be an opening for a consultation with Dr. Roth.”

“Sure, dear, when would you like to meet with Dr. Roth?”

“I was shooting for as soon as I possibly could.” Hermione said through the fire.

“We’ve got a few open hours later this afternoon, when would you like to come in? I have a one thirty, a three o’clock, and a four o’clock spot open.”

“I’ll come in at one thirty if that’s alright.”

“One more thing, is this going to be your first visit with an OB-GYN?” The woman asked considerately.

“Yes, this will be my first visit.” Hermione answered.

“Alright then, I’ll have to schedule the appointment for a first time visit, they always take a little longer. Make sure you get here a little early so that you can fill out paper work. We’ll see you soon.” The receptionist closed the floo and Hermione looked at her watch. It was already noon!

She hurried upstairs and ruffled through her armoire. She pulled out a pair of white Capri muggle jeans and a black silk spaghetti strap shirt. She hurriedly dressed and slipped on a pair of black flip flops. Usually not one to wear make-up, she wasn’t going to look in the mirror. However she wasn’t happy with the way she looked. There were dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and her face was rather pale.

She opened her bathroom drawer and pulled out her small bag of make-up. She rubbed a touch of powder cover up over her face and then quickly applied a little smudge of pink eye shadow over her eyelids. Knowing that her eyes would look funny without mascara, she plucked the thin bottle from her bag and tried to apply it without causing clumps. Satisfied with how it looked, she added a modest amount of pink gloss to her lips and then put her make-up away. Now her face looked wonderful, but her hair didn’t. Pulling her wand from where she had tucked it into her pants pocket, she pointed it at her head and mumbled an incantation that would fix the mess. The magic that had flown from the end of her wand had pulled her hair up into a tight ponytail, the pulled up hair curled itself into tight little ringlets that lay in a rich beautiful mass. Her bangs had been curled so that they rested just above her eyebrows.

She gave herself a once over in the mirror, plucking her purse from her bed, and then thumped quickly down the stairs. She walked hastily into the living room and stopped abruptly. Looking at photos above the fireplace was Draco Malfoy. His back was turned to her, which gave her the advantage of pulling her wand out and pointing it at him. He turned to her with a smug smile as if he had known she would do it.

The look on his face faltered momentarily but he quickly composed it. "Well, well, Granger, you’re looking rather decked out. Have a hot date with Weasley?” He snickered at his own meanness.

“What do you want, Malfoy, I don't have time for your games.” Hermione looked at him heatedly.

“As I recall, Granger, you had plenty of time for me before.” The corner of his mouth moved into a nasty knowing smile. He knew she was getting exactly what he was talking about when her face went red.

“Oh shut up, Malfoy, I’ve got an appointment.” Hermione decided that he wasn’t there to harm her and she hesitantly put her wand away. She looked in her purse for her set of keys to the house and her car. She then turned her attention to him, “You’ll have to be going.”

“I’ve come to speak with you, Granger, don’t try and tell me what I am or am not going to be doing.” He took a few steps towards her as she headed for the fire. “Don’t walk away from me, dammit!”

“I’ve got to go, Malfoy. I have a previous engagement that I need to be at by one thirty.” Hermione opened a canister and grabbed a handful of floo powder. Draco followed her out and rattled off at her again.

“Well. I’ve taken time out of my schedule to come and speak with you and you’re going to bloody well listen or I’ll make you. I don’t have time to play these games with you either and I intend on leaving as soon as possible.”

Hermione turned to him and really looked at him for the first time. He stood before her in muggle clothing, a black button up silk shirt and a pair of black slacks. On his feet were black dress shoes that looked rather nice with his attire. How typical it was for him to be wearing all black, Hermione thought to herself smugly. The wind was teasing locks of his pale blond hair.

“Don’t threaten me, Malfoy, perhaps if you had sent word I could have arranged to meet with you to talk about whatever it is that you need to talk about. However, you didn’t and I have something else I need to be doing that is rather more important. You’ll just have to come back some other time.” Hermione turned back to the fireplace, ignoring him.

“Where are you going that is more important than to talk with me about our situation?” He stepped closer to her.

“Anywhere is more important than you, Draco. I’m going to my first doctor’s appointment for my baby; I can’t afford to be late.” She turned her head and glared at him.

“Our baby, don’t you mean?” He asked cruelly, “Shouldn’t I be there to see if this little abomination really is mine?”

“You’re not invited.” Hermione stated brusquely.

“Or really? You can’t make me miss the appointment with you, I must know if it's mine. I’m sure you can find out if you ask.” Draco stepped into her and grabbed her arm as she said the doctor’s office name. She stepped toward the fire before it registered that he was hanging on her. They were pulled into a world of spinning furnaces.

They exited through the furnace that she had been talking through earlier and she turned to him quickly, “Listen to me and listen to me closely, you’re not to say or do anything while you’re here. It’s ridiculous that you even want me to see if this child is yours, I know damn well that it is since you were the only one I have been with. But, just to prove your smug irritating self wrong, I’ll ask for proof.” She turned and walked away leaving him staring after her open mouthed. She’d said he was the only one she had been with; she’d given him her virginity? And since when did she get an attitude like that? He walked after her to catch up.

For the most part he stayed quiet as she filled out her paperwork and then waited for the medi-witch. She came out almost as soon as her paper work was finished and motioned for them to follow. They ended up in a rather large pale yellow room. There were pictures of babies and fetuses hanging on the walls and there were small models of the stages a baby went through as it grew in the womb which were magicked to move just like the real thing. Draco looked at them with a funny look on his face.

Hermione was directed to sit on a paper covered bed that sat in the middle of the room. There was also a long counter with a sink and a small leather covered bench couch against the wall opposite the door. Draco helped himself to the couch and crossed his legs staring intently at the medi-witch.

“Hermione Granger, I’m Petra Roth. It’s very nice to meet you. And you’re?” She held her hand out to Draco.

“Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” He clasped her hand tightly and gave it a shake.

“You’re the father I’m assuming?” She asked with a pleasant smile.

“Supposedly, I’m here to find out for sure.” Draco said quietly as he gave Hermione a look that said he didn’t believe it.

“I see, well, Miss Granger, can you answer a few questions for me? I’ll need to get your basic information. She pointed her wand at the quill and file of papers with Hermione’s name on them. The quill jumped into action poised to write whatever it was that it was told. “Can you tell me what symptoms you’ve been having?”

“I’ve been nauseous lately, I frequent the bathroom more now, I’ve been rather worn out lately as well, and my breasts are tender.” Hermione said the last with a slight blush not wanting to meet Malfoy’s eyes. She knew he was enjoying the show and she hated that she was reacting. Maybe she could beat him at his own game.

“Those are all very normal signs of the beginning of pregnancy. How have you been feeling emotionally?” Dr. Roth leaned her back into the counter and watched the couple before her. She could see that the boy wasn’t so much interested in anything that was being said, it almost seemed like he was playing a game with the girl. She’d heard the Malfoy name more than once and knew their kind.

“Well this pregnancy was a complete accident. I’m just worried that I don’t know what to expect, or feel, or how to feel about it. I’m just fearful in general, I suppose.” Hermione looked the medi-witch straight in the eyes and ignored Draco as best as she could.

“When was your last menstruation?” The quill was writing things down furiously on the papers before it. Hermione watched it take the time of her silence to dip itself into the ink well.

“I’m positive that it was on May tenth.” Hermione looked at Draco and was pleased to see the look of disgust on his face.

Doctor Roth looked at a calendar on the wall beside her and counted the time. “You’re estimated date of delivery is February fourteenth. I would say the date of conception would be May twenty third.”

Draco’s eyes widened slightly but he said nothing. “Really you can tell that just by looking at a calendar?”

“Oh yes dear, are you still curious about the paternity?” She asked cheerfully. Her short brown hair bobbed around her face.

“Yes,” Draco said quickly before Hermione could protest.

“Alright; Miss Granger, is that alright with you?”

“This is absolutely ridiculous, but alright.” Hermione said uncertain of what to expect.

“Okay, may I see your hand Miss Granger?” Hermione held out her hand and watched as the medi-witch pointed her wand at the index finger of the offered hand. Hermione felt a slight pinch and saw a light dot of blood seep to the top of her skin. The doctor took a swab and wiped the blood away. “Mister Malfoy, your hand too, please.” She did the same to his finger and turned away from them.

“How will my blood help figure if Malfoy is the father?” Hermione asked and looked at the small pin point of blood on her finger.

“I’ve used my wand to draw blood directly from the embryo in your womb, I’ve pulled it directly though to your finger so that I can sample the DNA.” She didn’t look at them while she tested the two different bloods for a connection. She turned back and showed them the reaction that of the test. “As you can see, Mr. Malfoys' DNA is a direct match with your unborn child.”

Draco sat on the bench couch and looked at the proof, proof that he was in fact a father. The awareness of his new-found situation felt like a weight dropping into the pit of his stomach. He swallowed hard and leaned back. His eyes connected with Hermione’s and it was her turn to give him a smug look.

“Alright, Miss Granger I’ll need you to get into this gown so that I can do an internal check. Mister Malfoy, you might want to leave to room.” Draco nodded and walked out of the room with the doctor while Hermione changed. When she was ready Hermione opened the door for the doctor to come back in. Draco stayed in the hallway sitting in a small chair beside the door. He could hear everything that was happening inside the room from where he sat.

“Go ahead and lie back on the table please. You can put your feet in these stirrups for better support.” Dr. Roth pushed Hermione’s gown away from her genitals and began to inspect them. Hermione held her breath while the doctor poked and prodded her private area. The inspection was over in only a few minutes and Hermione was allowed to get dressed again. Dr. Roth invited Draco back into the room. “So far everything seems to be in order. You’re embryo is currently three weeks old and as far as I can tell seems to be in good condition. I’ll do an ultrasound when we're finished and you’ll be able to see it’s progress so far. Can you tell me about your family history Hermione? Has anybody ever had any chronic illnesses, diseases, or complications during pregnancy?”

“Not that I know of, my family’s always been very healthy.” Hermione stated in a matter-of-fact sort of tone.

“How about your family, Mister Malfoy?”

“No, my family hasn’t ever had any of those.” Draco looked at the medi-witch.

After a load of questions Hermione and Draco were ushered out of the office. Hermione had a list of recommended reading, prenatal vitamins, and pamphlets of information for herself to look over. She also has a small picture from the ultrasound. Though there wasn’t very much to see, the wizarding ultrasound was much better then a normal muggle machine and the picture was very detailed. Draco had gotten one as well along with the DNA result that he clutched in a small plastic bag to keep safe.

Hermione scheduled another appointment for the following month and then walked out to her car. Now that she had more information about the baby and the pregnancy, she felt a lot more confident that she could carry the baby and raise it as well. Dr. Roth had talked to her for over an hour just about what she could expect and when certain things would be happening with her body. Draco had paid more attention through the second half of the lecture. He actually seemed like he was enjoying hearing bits and pieces of the information.

Hermione hadn’t paid any mind to it though. It wasn’t as if it were true; he couldn’t possibly be interested in the pregnancy or birth of a half-blooded child, even if it was his. She walked to the end of the room and got ready to put more floo powder into the fire.

“Can you take me back to your house so that I can floo home?” He asked not looking at her. There was a bunch of pamphlets in his own hands that the doctor had given him for good measure.

“My house so you can floo? Why not just floo to your house from here?” She questioned snappily. Before she stepped into the fire she asked, “What did you want to talk to me about, Malfoy?”

“Nothing, I’ll talk to you about it some other time. I must be getting home.” Draco climbed into the fireplace and called Malfoy Manor. He disappeared and she was left looking into the greenish flames.