Name: Promises
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Draco gets a letter from Lucius telling him to meet him in the Potions room. He wanted to talk to his son, but his meaning of 'talk' is different then the real meaning.
Genre: Angst
Secondary Genre: Drama
Soundtrack to Chapter: Bad Religion: Godsmack.

Kid:(9/29/05) Yes yes. Thankfully I got the sixth chapter done! I'm so happy! So, do you hate me now, Herm-lovers? Hmmm.. Sorry, I had to. I've been wanted to make Ron and Hermione have a child for a while now, but I couldn't figure out when. Sigh Guess I found it out, eh? Oh,and I'm sorry the last chapter was so short, but I thought that was a good note for it to end on, so I didn't bother with making it longer. Maybe this one will be. Or maybe, just possibly, I'll start a trend for myself of much shorter chapters. I doubt it! Or, at least, I hope not. Well, if my stories get better, but the chapters get longer, I think I'd be okay with that.

Updates: Well... Kagamimashita Ai is still on it's third chapter, my Suikoden story isn't going anywhere right now, and I have an Ikkitousen story ready, but there isn't a catagory for it yet. I'll have to suggest it later on. Not much other than my originals.

Forward Noble Steed!

Fuyu: Noble steed? Kid, are you okay?

Kid: No, I'm not. I've never been okay, but today I'm a bit hyper! bounces around on a pogo stick whee! whee! Bounces onto Fuyu Oops. Sorry bout that Fufu.

Fuyu: uggghhhh... conks out

Kid: Oops... Kay, there went the romance and the comedy of the story for now! Fuck it. -. Hah!

Chapter Seven: Spotlight, Recomings, and the View From Insanity

Hermione Granger was pregnant. They always say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Hermione certainly wouldn't consider getting knocked up 'honey', but for some reason, people seemed to be hovering around her more often. Mainly asking about the baby. And who the father was. She didn't tell them, of course, but they must have expected differently, because she couldn't seem to get them to leave her alone. They always seemed to find her. And it was even worse when they went to Hogsmeade. Seemed the entire wizarding community knew of her fuck up. She couldn't get away from it!

But then, it was some of the biggest news in Hogwarts since Draco and Harry started snogging each other. Imagine that! Hermione, the smartest girl in Hogwarts, slipping up and getting pregnant, no doubt. Yep, she was in the spotlight. Everyone knew her and her situation now. But that didn't worry her. No, not really.

What worried her was how much she liked being in the spotlight.

It made her feel important, like others really liked her. Like everyone really liked her. Well, except for the Slytherins, of course. But who cares about them? They never really mattered much anyway. The only ones that really mattered was her, Ron, Ginny, and possibly Harry, if he ever came to his senses. Hermione scoffs. From the way things were going, she guessed she might as well kill him, Blaise, and Pansy (too bad she didn't last time), and maybe Snape too, just to be sure. One can never be too sure, can they?

But then, maybe with this situation, she could get Harry to come back. She'd have to make a few... Sacrifices, but those wouldn't matter if she got her Harry back. But speaking of sacrifices, where was he?

The school loomed in the darkness, showing it's brilliance through the gentle light of the full moon. Overhead a few bats call, seeking their prey, one of the many. A few dim lights shone in the windows, giving Hogwarts an eerie look to it, even if it is one of the safest places you could be. Or, at least, it was one of the safest places. It wasn't anymore, with, not only this new Harry that was creeping up, but also because of the Blood Line. Already there were already seven at least in the school. What chaos that would be, if they found out with no warning. Hah, what a spectacle. What fun! Draco lets a small twitch effect his lips before slowly sitting down at the forest's edge. He leans his head back and sighs. What a nice night.

He, according to the Dark Lord's orders, was supposed to sneak in tonight and kill the child while it was still early. But that wasn't Draco's style. No, he'd go in, act as if he'd gotten away from them, still hiding the Dark Mark, and act like the broken toy that Voldemort believed him to be; that he almost was. Gain the faith, or trust, whatever it was to get close to the mudblood, then he'd kill it. But nothing less than the best for her and the kid. No, he'd make it worth remembering forever. Make the comeback and the re-leaving something that would make even Severus' blood run cold. Wouldn't that be something? A former student making one of the- no, the most feared professor's scared of him. Partly from what Severus himself taught the toy.

Now, the only thing that he had yet to think of was, how exactly to get in there. Sure, he could apparate, but the school had apparation guards around it. There was the casual walking in, but that was just to... Almost just what he wanted to do. He was still Draco Malfoy, wasn't he? He could go in all beaten, bruised, and bloodied like, but he didn't want to take the risk of scarring himself. Not really his thing. Draco sighs, resting back against a tree on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Choices choices. Such a hard decision. Maybe he would try the 'walking in casually'. It did seem to fit him the best. But wouldn't that be even a bit suspicious? Hmm..

Draco looks around, then it hits him. This was the place that he had realized that the 'infatuation' with the Golden Boy wasn't just an 'infatuation' anymore. Almost at this exact spot. It had been a rather long day, as Draco remembered, and everyone was getting on each others nerves. Even Hermione and Ron for Potter, and Blaise for himself... He had been right there, at the spot of burned grass. Now that he noticed it, Draco never really understood why the grass or even moss never grew back in that one spot. Well, anyway, to go on with the memory lane stroll, Draco had found, finally a spot that no one else was and he couldn't really be 'caught red-handed' on being in the Forest, but he guessed that with the way things were going, he would still be punished for being so very close. He didn't care at that moment though, because as soon as his (very bloody hot!) arse hit the ground, he found he wasn't alone. He looks down at the acorn that had so wonderfully hit him in the head, then looks up for the messenger.

Not only was he not alone, but his alone space was being held by none other than the not-really-wanted enemy. Harry smiles and waves at the blonde before jumping down and dusting himself off when his feet fail him and come out from under him. Giving the other boy an embarrassed laugh, the nervously looks around.

"What do you want Potter?" Draco asks cautiously. Sure, he wanted to drag the other boy so far in the forest that no one could hear him scream from the ahem, sexual, cough cough torture he'd put him through, but he couldn't let that be know now could he? He watches as Harry just shrugs. His nervousness, it seemed hadn't lessened yet. What could the Boy-Who-Lived have to say or want enough to be nervous about it, especially for Draco Malfoy. "Potter, if you don't want anything, then leave. You are taking up my very important air." He says in a more menacing tone, though it doesn't seem to faze Harry.

Then suddenly: "You don't always have to call me Potter you know. At least, not when we're alone." Harry didn't look at Draco to see his reaction He just turns around, throwing up a hand. Going into what Draco now considered temporary insanity, the Slytherin jumps up and grabs Harry's arm, swinging the boy around to face him. Harry yelps a little out of surprise, he could guess, and almost tries to get away. Almost.

It quickly turns into one of those magical moments. Those you always hear about, where the sun begins to shine brighter, the birds chirp more clearly, and your senses just seem to spread. You notice more around you, but you also don't pay them enough attention to really notice it until later, all you notice is the person in your grasp. Looking back on it, Draco realizes his breathing had slowed greatly, and though his heart beat stronger, it slowed down as well. Yes, it was one those magical moments where you reach up and touch the cheek of the person in your arms, and you almost laugh at the look on their face, and you would had it not also been for the fact that you saw the same emotion in their eyes that you felt. Cupping Harry's chin, Draco almost brings their lips together, but in the same amount of time that it took for him to do so, he had already pushed the boy to the ground, trying his best not to run from the scene, just to forget that it happened.

Now that he really thought about it, he didn't know why he pushed Harry from him that day. Maybe he wasn't really ready to accept the fact that he was, if not already in love with him, he was falling and quickly. But either way, it seemed to have set off a chain of events. Harry and he couldn't seem to stay away from each other for weeks after that, and eventually, by a chance meeting in the halls after curfew, they finally had to admit that they wanted each other, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, whatever. So they had each other. But that didn't mean that their relationship was a known thing. They made sure to keep up appearances, with a little lessening each and every week or so, just to let others get used to it. When they finally, officially announced it, the only ones that it came a shock to was Ron Weasly, Cho Chang, and (or so it seemed) Ginny Weasly. Even Nevill had figured it out by then, though they all had the sneaking suspicion that Hermione had something to do with that.

A shiver runs up the boy's spine. It was almost time to go in. It was way too cold outside to prolong it any more. So, getting up and dusting off his pants, he strolls along the grounds of Hogwarts, thinking of his speech as he walks.

Ron sighs. "Serilda, you can't make me do this anymore!" He whines, holding his head in his hand. "I'm sleepy and I'm in a lot of bloody pain." He looks down at the small bit of blood in the bowl that Blood had sat in front of him. He hears her sigh and partially sees her throw her hands up in exasperation. They had been trying all day to get him too learn these powers of hers, but they didn't seem to be doing any better.

"Fine, Ron Weasly. Have it your way. But when I go on, and you don't have enough power to defend yourself or that child you fathered, you only have yourself to blame." She picks up the bowl and tips it toward her lips, swallowing the liquid inside like water. "Go on, go to bed." She turns her back to him, and listens silently as she hears footsteps.

"I've told you Serilda." Said girl turns her head slightly to acknowledge that she heard him. "It's Ron. Not Ron Weasly." A smile can almost be detected in his words, but she never really finds out. By the time she had turned around, he was gone. Serilda smiles. Dispite the complaining she put him through and the way she always told him he needed to work harder, the boy did seem to be coming along nicely. He was doing better than many of the newly appointed God's did.

Serilda sniffs, in an attempt to be a little angry (that didn't seem to be working). Smelling something odd, she sniffs again, then turns, an almost amused look covering her features. So, someone had decided to come back eh? She laughs, then sighs. Let's go give the Shadow a nice warm welcoming then shall we?

She strolls down the halls nonchalantly for a little while, then bursts out into a complete sprint across the entire castle, pushing many people out of her way. By the time she had got to the main hall, she had slowed down, not running into so many people now, but still just as excited. A frown finds it's way on her lips easily. Her powers were slipping away, and quicker than she expected. This boy, Ron, was either taking more out of her than she thought, or she was just getting older than she thought. But enough of that, she tells herself as she comes to a halt in front of the door leading to the outside of the castle. She had an important meeting to commence. Though it sounded like fun, the yelling she knew that would follow didn't. Headache relief didn't come with the job, sadly.

Opening the door, she laughs quietly to herself.

The rain outside pelted the windows, making it seem like the glass would give in at any minute. The shadows were given a mind of their own, dancing to the beat of the now only heartbeat in the room. Heavy breathing interrupts the dance of the shadows slightly as the boy moves from one end of the room to the other, muttering to himself. With a loud clank, an object falls to the ground, and for a moment, everything- the boy's breathing, the gentle movements made by the silhouettes- everything stops. A gentle, but enraged sob escapes the boy's lips as he wraps his arms around him.

"No.." He whispers to himself, beginning to rock back and forth in an effort to calm his nerves. "I didn't do it! I couldn't have!" The sobbing boy covers his face with his hands, and immediately pulls away, looking blindly at the blood he knew was there, and was now on his face. He lets a strangled cry out of his throat, and jumps at the thunder clashing. He looks, then at his work. The body hanging halfway off the bed in an attempt to escape it's cruel fate, that caught it anyway. The boy's features twist in a look of horror. The body's hair was matted with the blood that was still leaking out in odd places, it still made a "drip plink" sound as it fell from the tips of the hair to a puddle. He could still see their face, forever locked into a silent scream, a cry for help that would never be answered, and tears that still fell down the rosy cheeks. It seemed the blood had yet to fall completely out of the face. Well, that would make sense, the boy thinks as the scene comes to not be a disturbing picture to him now. The way the body is positioned, most of the blood will have went to the face. Or at least the head.

Laughter floats around the room. Laughter that soon becomes sobs once again. He quickly picks himself up and runs for the door, then at the open doorway, he turns back and looks at the body.

Draco takes in a deep breath and exhales slowly. No, he wasn't ready for this, but the Dark Lord had Ordered it, so it had to be. The blonde reaches out to open the door to Hogwarts when it suddenly swings open, pulling it with him, landing him sprawled out on the floor. After a couple of seconds of trying to realize what had happened, he jumps up before anyone could see him lying on the floor. Behind him, Serilda stifles a laugh. She waves at the boy in front of her, who turns slightly red.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" He nearly yells. "I could have broken something!" The Shadow Dragon dusts off his clothes as he turns his back on the girl to go to Dumbledor. "I hope you have a good reasoning for being here, Blood." He spits out venomously.

"I do, and I hope you do to, dear Brother." She catches up with the boy and matches his stride bit by bit. He scoffs.

"I'm not related to you. And I do have a reason." He says, stopping abruptly. Serilda smiles, and a gleam in her eyes makes the Malfoy want to back up a few steps, that he doesn't. He wasn't a Malfoy for nothing, you know. "What is it?"

"That reason you have so greatly been sent back here for has already been pull off." Serilda laughs at the Dragon's look, and spins around on her heel. "The girl has already been killed. She's lying in a bed, all by herself, bleeding, making the ceilings leak with her blood, and the child too. But the child isn't in her womb. A strange thing indeed, don't you agree, Shadow?" Serilda turns around to face the person she was supposed to be speaking with. Instead, she seemed to be talking to herself.

Draco's breath comes out in heavy takes as he runs through the halls, people gasping at the sight of someone running through the halls, and who that someone was. He didn't have time, though, to stop and have a nice chat over biscuits and tea. If Hermione was dead, that meant one of two things: Harry had killed her to keep the semi-god child from entering this world, or Blaise had killed her because of Pansy. Whichever it was had went mental apparently, for taking the fetus out of the womb. At this moment, it didn't really matter. He just needed to find out who had killed the mudblood.

'Please Merlin, don't let it be Harry! Anyone but Harry.' Draco silently prays, to whatever God would hear him. If it was Harry, that meant he really had joined with Voldemort, and all of his efforts, and all of the torture he had been put through would have been for nothing.

He was not going to let this end it all.

Kid (5/3/06) I'm so sorry for the long wait for those of you who actually still keep up with this anymore. I have still had a writers block the size of Nebraska. It sucks and I hate it! I didn't even get to work any on my original stuff. But hey, anyway. I haven't got anything else to say, so I'll end it here. Baibai.