Well, I have decided that this is the perfect chapter to end on. So yes, this is the last chapter. Thank you all for following this project so well. It has really meant a lot to me to keep getting all of these reviews telling me how much you all love this story. After this chapter, I will continue writing in All's Fair in Love and War for those of you who are reading that one as well. Again, thank you all for reading. This is the last chapter.
Chapter Twelve
Don't Stop Believing
Hermione sat on the windowsill in the Common Room staring out over the grounds. Students were lounging around the lake and beneath the shade trees, celebrating the completion of final exams. The months had flown past since Draco had confessed his love for her.
Things had been going well for them since that night. She stayed in the Head's Dorm and woke up in Draco's arms every morning. Harry had finally accepted their relationship and Ron was making his best efforts, which isn't saying much. They kept their relationship quiet to everyone else in the school, however. Hermione and Draco were both well aware of the ramifications that would come from the Gryffindor Princess and the Slytherin Prince falling in love with each other.
'They will all know soon' Hermione thought to herself as she watched the Giant Squid surface to frighten some first years.
Draco was not in the Dorm at the moment. He had gone to discuss his final exam with Professor McGonagall. He had merely gotten an E, whereas his girlfriend had gotten a perfect O.
"Prideful little git." Hermione had muttered to him when he told her of his plans. She was glad he had left the Dorm for a bit. A package had arrived for her that afternoon and she wanted to open it in privacy. Nothing could have prepared her for the events that followed.
She was shaken out of her reverie when Draco walked into the Common Room. He noticed his beautiful princess sitting on the windowsill and walked over to join her. He wrapped his hands around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"You seem troubled, 'Mione. What's on your mind?" Draco asked, noting the wrinkle in her brow. She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Do you love me?" She asked, the contents of the package flashed behind her eyes. Draco smiled and quickly pressed his lips to hers in a brief, sensual kiss.
"Yes. I love you, Hermione." He said softly, resting his forehead against hers.
"No matter what?" Draco looked at her curiously at this question. But he replied just the same.
"No matter what." He replied, still smiling. Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes and Draco felt his smile disappear immediately. "'Mione, what's wrong?"
"Please don't be mad." She whispered. Draco's eyes flashed a mixture of emotions; concern, fear, anxiety to name a few.
"Hermione, what's going on?" Draco asked, fear evident in his voice.
"Promise me you won't get mad." She whispered again.
"I promise."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but words would not come to her. She reached down and tugged on one of Draco's arms, still wrapped around her waist. He let his arm be removed from her waist and she laced her fingers with his, before letting his hand rest, palm down, on her stomach. Flashes of the day sparkled in her eyes as she waited.
Sending the order form in.
The package arriving to the Head Dorm in the mid-morning.
Draco leaving to go talk to the Professor.
Unwrapping the package to find a box.
Waiting.
Seeing the double line.
"Oh Merlin." Draco breathed as realization washed over him. "You're pregnant."
Hermione nodded slowly. Draco's eyes widened and his hand jerked away from her stomach as if he had been burned. His eyes burned with a fire that frightened Hermione.
"Draco…" She said cautiously. He took several steps away from her and gave her a stare that froze the blood in her veins.
"How could this happen?!?" He shouted at her, pacing back and forth using all self control to not break anything.
"You said you wouldn't get mad." Hermione said in a voice that was begging him to calm down.
"I'm not mad, Granger. I'm far past mad. I'm about to pass FURIOUS!!!" He shouted; temper getting the best of him as he hurled a book from the nearby table to the far wall. Hermione shrunk back into the window.
"Draco, I'm sorry. Please stop! I'm sorry!" She sobbed as tears fell down her cheeks. She reached out to touch him but he froze, staring at her hand like it was diseased.
"I have to go." Draco said suddenly. He was gone before Hermione could even protest. Her knees gave way and she fell to the floor. She curled into a ball as sobs racked her body. Draco had not reacted the way she had hoped. She wanted him to rush back in and scoop her into his arms, begging her to forgive him. He didn't return.
The sun set over the grounds and the moon rose, stars twinkling in the night sky. Draco had not returned. Hermione pulled herself off of the floor and walked silently into Draco's dark room. She saw one of his school shirts lying on the floor, and she picked it up. His sweet scent was still heavily laced in the fabric. She walked into her room carrying the shirt with her. She pulled out a nightgown and stripped for bed. She gazed at the shirt lying on her bed next to the nightgown. She choked back a sob as she pulled Draco's shirt on, reveling in his scent.
She loved him. She knew that if he still loved her, he would return. He would come back to her and apologize for his actions. They would raise their child together. She was only a month and a half along. She needed a father for her unborn child. She needed Draco.
She went back to Draco's room and lay down on his emerald bed.
She waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited…
Two Years Later:
"Pa…pa…papa! Papa!" The small child said for the first time. A wide grin spread across Hermione's face but was soon replaced with a sad smile.
"I wish your papa was here to see this." Hermione said softly. She heard someone enter the house at the front door. Hermione looked up to see her husband of just three months enter their house, a bag in his hand.
"Sorry I'm late, love. I stopped to get dinner." Her husband said, kissing his new bride quickly before turning to the small child in the high chair.
"Isabella said her first words." Hermione said proudly, gazing first at her husband and then her child. Hermione's husband raised an eyebrow before turning to look at the toddler.
"Papa!" Isabella cried, reaching her arms out. Hermione's husband beamed with an indescribable pride.
"I love you, Isabella. And I love you, Hermione." The husband said, kissing his daughter on the forehead, before kissing his wife again.
"I love you, too, Draco."
FIN