My Best Friend and Roommate

I'm on a roll today. This part was supposed to be a little thing at the beginning of a chapter, but then it got too long, but I couldn't stop.

Disclaimer: Same as before.

Chapter Eight

December 2000

November went by like a blink of an eye, and soon December was upon them. Hermione was into her third month, feeling the best she had ever felt since getting pregnant. With the morning sickness now gone, Fleur just had her on a potion to help keep the baby healthy, and all she had to worry about was getting to her monthly appointments on time. Though she was barely showing, she was starting to get that all too well pregnant belly, and wore her cloak to hide it. Harry and her agreed that they didn't want their personal life in the spotlight. With Hermione pregnant, the reporters and photographers would be after her, endangering the welfare of her and their unborn child. There was also some movement from the time from time to time. One night Hermione actually woke up Harry for him to fell the baby kick. Of course, the second his hand was on her belly, the baby stopped all movement.
As Christmas approached, holiday shopping became less and less as they crossed each person from their list. Shopping for each other proved to be a task. However, Hermione was almost done with her shopping for Harry. All she needed was that new book on Quidditch she wanted to get for him. It was a Flourish & Blotts a few days before Christmas that Hermione feared for her unborn son's life for the first time. Hermione left the apartment after Harry went to work in her Christmas cloak. It hid her small bump that was forming under the layers of clothing that she wore. Harry insisted that she dressed warm whenever she went out. She had browsed the Sports section briefly before finding the book. She had taken off the shelf, and turned to go pay for it when she heard a voice she hadn't heard since Hogwarts. "Well, well, well," the voice drawled, "If it isn't my favorite little Mudblood." Hermione turned around to see Draco Malfoy come out of the Dark Arts section.

"Malfoy," she said, "It's going to take more than just the name 'Mudblood' to get to me. You've been calling me that since second year."

"Fine," he said, "Then how about the future Mrs. Malfoy?"

"What?" she asked.

"Haven't you heard?" he asked, "There's talk of a marriage law being discussed. If passed, it says that any halfblood or muggleborn must marry a pureblood by their twenty-first birthday. They say it's going to help with the dwindling numbers."

"I'm already married," she said, and for the first time Draco saw her rings. He bent his head to get a closer look at the ring.

"Where did the Weasel the money for that kind of ring?" he asked.

"I didn't marry Ron," she said.

"Krum?"

"I married Harry," she said. She turned to go to the counter, but Draco cut her off, and her hand went under the cloak to cover the bump. 'Malfoy better not do anything stupid.'

"Potter?" Draco spat. He grabbed her left hand causing the book to fall to the floor. "Where did he get such a ring like that? That had to cost him a bundle."

"For you information, Malfoy, it was his mother's ring," she said, "Now let me go." This demand only caused him to tighten his grip on her wrist, and force her into the bookcase behind her.

"During our years at Hogwarts you were able to get away with things. Bad mouthing my family, back talking to me and slapping me. Well, not this time. With this new law, a pureblood can lay claim to any Mudblood he wants. I think I'll claim you, Granger."

"It's Potter," she said. Draco scoffed as he let go of her wrist. She put her left hand to join her right on top of her stomach. The baby was moving a lot, as if he could sense his mother was in trouble.

"Not if I can help it. I'll finally have something of Potter's, and he can't do a thing about it." Draco turned to leave but then turned around to face her again. "I believe I owe you something from third year," he said before slapping Hermione across her cheek. Hermione let out a shriek, and craddled her cheek as Draco stalked off. Hermione refrained from crying until she got the book paid for, and headed to the Ministry. She needed to see Harry. The first person to see Hermione was Ron, who after some persuading to the Auror head, got to be Harry's partner.

"Hermione, are you all right?" he asked seeing her tears. She had started crying when she entered the phone booth to enter the Ministry, and hasn't stopped since.

"I need to talk to Harry," she said. Ron left a female Auror with Hermione, and went to get Harry from his office. Harry was finishing up paperwork on his latest visit with Lucius Malfoy when Ron bursted into his office.

"Ron, what the ...?"

"It's Hermione, Harry," Ron said, "She's in tears." Harry was out of his seat faster than he's caught the Snitch, and followed Ron. Seeing his wife crying, Harry ran over to her, and got down on his knees.

"Mia, what's wrong?" he asked. Hermione, having no ability to say anything, undid her sleeve to show her wrist. All the Aurors gasped as they saw a large purple and black bruise in the shape of a hand cover her wrist. It was then that Ron noticed the bruise on her cheek, which was turning blue and purple. "Baby, who did this to you?" Hermione shook her head still crying. "Sweetheart, I have to know so I can fix this." Hermione managed to gain some composure to tell him;

"Malfoy."

"Draco?" Ron asked. She nodded her head, wiping her tears. Harry had a murderous glare on his face that made even the toughest Aurors in the room shiver. He kissed Hermione on the head softly.

"Do you want to press charges against him?" he asked. Hermione shook her head hurriedly. "Are you sure, love?"

"Yes," she sobbed out. Harry stood up, and headed for his office. A female auror handed Ron some pictures, and he followed Harry. He was getting his coat and scarf on.

"Harry, we can still press charges on him," Ron said.

"It won't do any good if Hermione won't testify," he said putting his coat on.

"You can't kill him, Harry."

"No, but I can threaten him."

"You're going to lose you cool," Ron said, puzzled when Harry handed him his coat.

"That's why you're going with me. Bring the pictures with us," he said, "If I'm going to threaten someone I want the proof to back it up."

"Should I bring a restraining order?" he asked.

"Good idea."

After getting a warning from his wife about not killing Malfoy, Harry and Ron headed to Malfoy Inc. to have a word with Malfoy Jr. Ron had collected a restraining order, gotten signed by the Minister and a judge, and had the pictures of a bruised Hermione tucked away in his Ministry bag. "Just keep calm, and get out what you want to say, Harry," Ron said, "It won't do you any good to attack Malfoy in front of several witnesses, who are all pureblood by the way."

"I don't plan to do anything physical, Ron," Harry said, "Just as long as Malfoy keeps his yap shut."

"So, what are we going to tell the secretary?"

"I'm paying Lucius a visit," he said, "It pays to be Malfoy Sr.'s parole auror." The elevator doors opened, and they walked onto the office floor. The secretary, who was Pansy Parkinson, looked up to see her two former classmates walk up to her desk.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Where's Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Which one?"

"Both," Harry replied.

"They are both in a meeting, and left strict orders not to be disturbed."

"Oh, good, I'll interrupt." Harry walked down the hall to the meeting room, ignoring Pansy's protests.

"Hey, you can't go in there!" she shouted. Harry shoved open the meeting doors using his magic, and the every wizard and witch in the meeting room looked over to see one very angry Harry Potter.

"Mr. Potter, what an unexpected surprise," Lucius Malfoy said. Harry ignored all evil looks from the purebloods that sat in the room. They all were Deatheaters, but it couldn't be proved. "Uh, everyone, I believe you know Mr. Potter." Nobody said anything. "Yes, this is my parole auror." Everyone went back to their papers.

"Holding a Deatheater meeting, Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Of course not," Lucius said, "I thought we cleared everything at the last meeting, Harry."

"We did, Lucius, and it's not you I want to talk to," he said, "It's your son."

"My son?" Lucius turned to Draco who was lounging in his chair.

"Father, there's no need to be alarmed," Draco said, "I just had a run in with Potter's Mudblood wife." Ron had to restrain Harry from charging at Draco.

"He's not worth it," his whispered to Harry.

"Keeping a leash on him, are you Weasel?"

"Actually, I'm here to prevent him from killing you, Malfoy," Ron said. Draco chuckled.

"Draco," Lucius warned, "Stop baiting."

"Ron, the photos," Harry said. Ron unzipped his bag, and pulled out the pictures of Hermione's wrist and cheek. He handed them to Harry who gave them to Malfoy, Sr. "Your physically assaulted my wife in his little run in with her." Lucius looked through the photos, and glared at his son. "Fortunately for him, she doesn't want to press charges."

"Then why are you here?" Lucius asked.

"He's here to threaten, Father," Draco asked.

"What gives you the gall to attack my wife, Malfoy?" Harry asked. Draco opened his mouth to reply, but Harry cut him off. "No, don't say one word until I am finished." Draco chuckled as he sat back in his chair. "Ron." Ron handed the restraining order to Harry. Harry took the paper, and tossed it onto the table. "That is a restraining order, saying that you are to keep a distance of five hundred feet between you and Hermione. You come anywhere near her, and you will be arrested. You attack her again, I'm tossing your father back into Azkaban."

"Harry, don't you think ...?" Lucius started to say.

"Lucius, I'm talking, and it's Mr. Potter, not Harry to you." Lucius cleared his throat before sitting down. "Draco, you are a selfish, arrogant, pathetic excuse for a wizard, and I pity any woman who has to marry you, unless it's Parkinson, of course. You two are made for each other."

"I'm touched, Potter," Draco said.

"You touch my wife again, and I'll kill you with my bare hands, and you know I can do that. I used them killing Voldemort. I have no problem using them on you." Harry picked up the pictures of Hermione, and handed them back to Ron. "Okay, I'm done threatening. Let's get out of here."

"With pleasure," Ron said putting the pictures back into his bag. He followed Harry to the door, and stopped to pull it shut. Before closing the doors, he poked his head back in. "Oh, just wanted to say that you're lucky that I didn't let him kill you, Draco. Have a nice day." And with that said, he shut the door. A very angry Lucius looked over at his son, who didn't seemed to falter.

"Draco, do you have any idea what you have done?"

"What?"

"I suggest you keep to this order or we'll both be in Azkaban."


AUTHOR NOTE: I apologize in advance if some of you think it was too short.