Times Of Surrender

Chapter Eight

Hermione had already dressed and was ready to meet with her parents for the evening. She’d tidied up her little house and had taken the time to jump into the shower. She had dressed in a knee length black tapered skirt, a pale pink tank top, a pair of black slip-on shoes, and silver hoop earrings finished the relaxed outfit. Her hair was done up again, this time half was pulled into a ponytail and the rest lay in straightened locks. She hadn’t bothered with make-up for the night. But now, minutes before her parents were to arrive, she was having second thoughts on that choice.

Anxiously she brushed her skirt to shake it free of wrinkles. She was nervous about speaking with her parents; she couldn’t think of how she was going to tell them about the baby. Should she just say it flat out and hope that they were okay with it? Or should she take it slowly and beat around the bush, try and make them a little more prepared for what they were going to be hearing. How on earth anybody could be prepared to hear that a seventeen year old girl would be having a child, Hermione didn’t know.

There was a knock on the door and she jumped with a start. She looked at herself in the mirror on the wall in the living room for a once over and then pulled the door open to allow her parents entrance. She gave them a warm smile in greeting.

“Hermione, dear, how are you? You look lovely this evening.” Erma called and hurried through the door to hug her daughter.

“I’m doing just fine, Mum. How have you and Dad been?” Hermione squeezed her mother and then stepped back to smile at both of them.

“Oh we’ve been just fine, sweetheart.” Oliver declared with a wicked grin across his face. “How’s living alone been treating you?”

“It’s fine! I’m enjoying having my own space now. You know, something that I can call all my own? Please, come on in and sit down.” She waved her hand toward the sitting area of the living room.

“Did you go speak with the doctor about how sick you’ve been lately?” Mrs. Granger asked and set her purse on one of the end tables before taking a seat.

“Yes, I was going to speak with you about that before we got started with dinner and the movie.” Hermione said as she ruffled through her purse to pull out the money for the pizzas she had ordered.

“Nothing’s wrong, is it?” Mr. Granger asked taking a seat on the couch beside his wife.

“You could say that.” The girl said quietly, she set the money down on the table by the door and then turned her attention to her parents. Both were wearing worried expressions and Hermione felt more hesitant to tell them the truth about her sudden illness.

“Well don’t keep us waiting, Hermione, what’s the matter?” Mrs. Granger bit her lip nervously.

Hermione sat down slowly in her white armchair, tucking her skirts as she went. Sighing, she began, “Well, you see, there isn’t anything really wrong with me illness-wise.”

“Well, what is it then?” Both of her parents asked together.

“Well…I’m…I’m pregnant.” She said quickly and watched their faces to see their reactions. Her mother gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Mr. Granger didn’t react at all, shock hadn’t quite set in.

“Hermione, how? I know how, I mean who, when?” Erma asked quickly.

“It happened with a boy during the last couple of months during school.” Hermione said softly.

“Who may I ask is the father?” Mr. Granger boomed suddenly making both his wife and daughter jump.

“No need to raise your voice, dear.” Erma stated trying to calm her husband.

“His name is Draco Malfoy.” She said not meeting her fathers gaze.

“Malfoy? You mean the boy you said would torment you, Ron, and Harry? The pale haired boy at your graduation?” Oliver asked more quietly.

“Yes, that’s the same one.”

“Dear, how could you think about having a baby with a boy you don’t even love? You’re hardly old enough to be a mother.” Erma said giving her daughter a quizzical look.

“That isn’t fair, Mum, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Hermione said defensively.

“Yes I had you very young Hermione, but you’re not even in love with that Draco Malfoy boy.” Erma declared.

“I might not love Malfoy, but I am pregnant and I am going to be a mother in only eight months time. Either you’ll accept me for it or you won’t.” Hermione crossed her arm across her chest and leaned back in her chair.

“We’d accept you no matter what, Hermy. We’re just worried about you being a single mum on your own with a baby at such a young age. We’re not mad at you, dear.” Erma claimed matter-of-factly.

“I’m worried about it as well, but I’ve decided that I’m keeping this baby and I need your support. I would like to have my parents behind me in case I need to fall back on them.” She leaned forward and took her mothers hand in hers. “I know that I’m young. I know that I’ll be a single mum. But I also know that if I put myself to it that I’ll be a good parent. I won’t give my baby away and I refuse to have an abortion. I’m keeping it.”

“Congratulations, Hermione; I suppose I should have said that to begin with. It’s not my place to tell you when you can or cannot have children. I can’t tell you who you should have been with and who you shouldn’t have. Those are all things that you have decided and you’re an adult now. I accept that, and I'm proud of you for staying true to yourself.” Erma squeezed her daughters hand reassuringly.

“And you, dad, are you angry with me about this baby?” Hermione looked past her mother and stared challengingly at him.

“I don’t know how it would come about, you getting pregnant by a young man you don’t like, but you are an adult, darling, and I love you no matter what. Even if I'm not happy about it and I don’t approve of you being a young mother, you’re my daughter and I’ll always be here for you and my grandchild.” Oliver said warmly, having had a moment to process the information.

“I’m glad you’re both alright with this. I was worried that you’d disown me or something terrible like that.” There was a knock on the door and she got up quickly to answer it. “It must be the pizzas I ordered.”

She didn’t bother looking out of the peephole; she just pulled the door open with a smile and then paled. Standing on her porch was Draco Malfoy. He was again dressed in all black, almost as if he hadn’t changed out of his clothing from the day before. He was leaning against the concrete edging of her porch looking at her haughtily.

“Who is it, dear?” Her mother called from behind her.

“Are you going to invite me in or are you going to be a bad host, Granger?” He said quietly enough for only her and him to hear.

“What are you doing here, Malfoy?” She bit out in a harsh whisper.

“Why, I’ve come to see the expectant mother of my child.” He stated as if she should have already known.

“Oh, Mr. Malfoy, funny seeing you here? Hermione was just telling us the news about the baby; congratulations. Come on in.” Erma said and waved him onto the house.

“Mum…I think Malfoy was just leaving…he’s got other engagements,” Hermione insisted before he could walk through the door.

“Oh…well…” Her mother said hesitantly.

“I think they can wait a little longer.” He said brushing past her into the house. He knew full well that he was unwanted and it made the visit a little more meaningful.

“Good, we were just waiting for the pizzas to arrive. I’m Erma by the way, this is my husband Oliver.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said with a charming smile as he shook hands.

“How did you get here, Malfoy?” Hermione asked shutting the door loudly.

“Oh, I had one of my family’s drivers bring me by. He’s waiting for me out in the front.” Draco said with a smile.

“So you’ll be leaving soon, grand. What is it that you needed exactly?” Hermione asked trying not to seem completely rude to him in front of her parents.

“No hurry really, he’s paid to wait for me as long as I wish. He’ll be alright out there until I’m ready to go.” Draco walked forward to the armchair that had been previously sat in by Hermione and took a seat himself.

“That’s nice; your family has a driver! Sometimes I wish we had, I get tired doing all of our errands sometimes.” Erma said. She looked toward her husband; he hadn’t said anything so far.

The bell rang again and Hermione turned to it again. There was a young man standing outside holding the hot pizzas. She paid him and took the pizzas into the dining area. She stepped into the kitchen and gathered plates and napkins for everybody to eat. Nice of her mother to invite Draco to dinner. As if she wanted to see him right now, right after breaking the news to her parents. What impeccable timing the prat had. And now she had to sit and eat dinner with him as if it was the most normal thing in the world. How much worse could her evening get?

She paused beside the kitchen door as she gathered a hand full of napkins. Her father was speaking quietly with Draco. “Young man, do you understand the seriousness of this situation?”

“Yes, sir, of course I do.” Draco said lightly.

“What do you plan on doing? Do you plan on making her an honest woman?” Oliver asked.

“I…I…” Malfoy stuttered and Hermione’s mom interrupted him.

“Dear, he’s only just discovered that he’s to be a father. Don’t ask about that yet, he’s hardly had time to decide.” Erma said in defense of Draco’s stuttering.

“Well, it’s the thing to do.” Oliver said flatly.

“Hey, are you going to come in and eat or not? The pizzas are getting cold.” Hermione called from the kitchen. Her parents and Draco stood and made their way toward the dining area. She had set the plates out with glasses beside them. There were different sorts of beverages scattered on the table top. The pizzas was sitting in the middle of the table open.

“It smells delicious!” Mrs. Granger said sitting down. She quickly helped herself to a slice of pizza and a cup of strawberry soda.

“What is it?” Draco asked taking and seat. He looked at the rounded food that was covered with different toppings.

“There's a cheese pizza and Hawaiian pizza, Malfoy.” Hermione said taking a piece of it for herself.

“Oh that’s right, you’re a wizard! You’ve probably never had pizza before have you?” Mrs. Granger asked wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“No, I haven’t; normally our house elves prepare the food and serve it. I’ve never tried this muggle creation.” Draco said, but he helped himself to some of the pizza as well. It smelled delicious and he couldn’t help but take a small bite.

“So, Draco, tell us about your family.” Oliver said from across the table.

Hermione watched him stop eating out of the corner of her eye. He was trying to think about something that he could tell her mum and dad. Probably a lie, Hermione thought angrily.

“I’m an only child. My mother’s name is Narcissa and she’s spent the better portion of her life raising me. My father is Lucius, he’s got a fortune of money under him, but he is trying to find something to busy himself with.” Draco said dryly.

“Your family's got money then. If you aren’t going to make our Hermione an honest woman, you’ll at least be able to help her with the baby financially.” Her dad stated wryly.

“Yes, sir.” Draco said fixing her father with an even stare. The man may be Hermione’s father, but Oliver was no better than he.

The rest of the dinner conversations were mainly about Hermione and Draco’s situation. Draco wouldn’t say but a few words to every question that was asked. Just like him! He’s always been so secretive and scheming! Hermione had to bite her tongue many times over the hour that they spent eating, cutting off nasty retorts that she wished she could say in front of her parents. They finished their meal and Hermione’s mother grabbed her purse.

“We’ll cut the evening short this time around, Hermy. Next time we’ll stay for the movie. Come on, Oliver, let’s leave the children alone.” Erma twined her fingers around her husbands and led him out.

“But, Mum, you don’t have to leave on Malfoy’s account.” Hermione protested following her parents in a swish of skirts.

“Oh nonsense; lets go dear. Good night, Mr. Malfoy.” She called over her shoulder and closed the door behind them.

Hermione stared at the door for a long moment after her parents left. They’d left her there all alone with Draco Malfoy. Angrily she turned on him and jabbed him in the chest with a finger. “What in the bloody hell do you want, Malfoy!”

“Watch it now, Granger, I’ve actually come to help you.” Draco said bitterly.

“How could I possibly ever need your help?” Hermione said a little less angry this time.

“My father's back from Azkaban. He’s managed to get his time cut short and he’s back. He heard me speaking with my mother about the baby and he’s not happy about it.” Draco smoothed the front of his shirt habitually.

“So what, he’s not happy about it.”

“That’s right, not happy. He insists that you get rid of the baby or he’s going to take care of it himself.” Draco said a little more urgently than he had expected to.

“I won’t do that.” Hermione said taking a step back from him. Perhaps her dream, something she thought would mean nothing, was going to happen here and now.

“I figured as much, Granger. What are you doing, I’ve come unarmed!” He said to her impatiently.

“I won’t give up my child, Malfoy; I just won’t.” Her hand went to her stomach protectively.

“And I couldn’t ask you to do that. Which means that we’ve got a problem.” Draco said with a loud sigh.