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C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - T W O | Ventus

spell. shoots a gust of hurricane-strength wind from wand.

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THEY ARRIVE IN HOGSMEADE.

The night is warm and the fragrance of hot pastries and savory roasting meats fill the air. Students chatter as they exit shops and despite Christmas being over, the streets are illuminated with twinkling strings of holiday lights.

"Why are we here?" Glancing away from the crowd, her eyes rise to Draco's face, curiosity sparkling boldly in her irises.

"Follow me, please."

And she does.

They weave through the students and streets, heading further from the liveliness of the village and into the darkened housing district, where they eventually stop in front of a quaint two-story brick house.

Draco raises his wand.

"Lumos."

An orb of light bursts from the tip of his wand and darts for the overhead lantern above the front door; once illuminated, she sees that the wood has been painted a deep maroon and the accents cast in gold.

"Who lives here?"

"I had hoped you might - with our child, of course."

"Why?" Hermione stares up at him, lip quivering and mind buzzing with questions. So many questions.

"Let's go inside. We can talk more in there."

The interior she had assumed would be empty, but the opposite is true. There's expensive furnishings, including luxurious sofas, a solid oak dining table, and bookshelves full of the classics and even some titles she's never heard of. Upstairs is the same; lavish linens and comforters cover the beds in the guest and master bedroom; the bathroom is immaculate with black tiling and back splash. At the end of the hall, in the final room, is a nursery. The walls have been painted a warm maroon with a golden overlay that has been placed with a delicate technique Hermione can only relate to that of stucco. A crystal chandelier hangs from the vaulted ceiling, illuminating the room in a soft glow. The wooden crib to her left matches the golden patterning on the wall.

She walks over to the crib, her fingers lightly grazing the smooth wood. She's hesitant to touch the emerald green blanket hanging over the edge.

Footsteps approach then Draco is beside her, staring into the crib as well. He picks up a golden stuffed lion; gazing into its black eyes with a gaze that borders melancholy.

"Pansy said she didn't know the sex. Are you keeping that bit a secret, or something?"

Hermione still hadn't opened the letter and she couldn't find the courage to admit it aloud.

"Aren't you even just a little curious?" Dropping the toy back in its place, he directs his gaze to Hermione.

"Sort of. I mean, I had Emsilia put the results in a sealed envelope." Her cheeks blaze under his quizzical stare. "I guess, if you wanted, we could find out together? Only if you'd like to of course. We would only have to go to my dorm to grab the envelope."

For a moment, a smile creeps upon his face, then it vanishes.

"I'd love to, but I have to get back to the Manor before it gets too late. If we could postpone until another time, I'd enjoy sharing that experience with you. I feel as though I have already missed out on so much."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

She wants so desperately to reach out to him, to kiss him and tell him that she needs him and loves him. She wonders if it's because of the house or the fact that he is engaged to someone else, but she's known that her feelings for Draco never ceased to exist. They have grown and blossomed into something she has never experienced before.

It's too late, though -

She forces herself to look away, saddened by the realization.

"Also, I want you to have this. Keep it on you at all times." In his outstretched hand is a necklace, a thin silver chain with a small flat plate in the center, laying horizontally.

"When you need me, this is an immediate form of contact you can use. Press the plate to your lips, repeat the incantation, and I will receive the emergency message through my own charm. I will come as quickly as I can. That's a promise."

"What is the incantation?" She finishes clasping the necklace around her neck.

"Deco nunitus."

The metal begins to vibrate on her exposed chest and glowing letters sear through the thin metal, revealing a phrase - un tutuer viendra. Her eyes rise to his, curiosity forces a smile to cross her lips as she asks what it means.

"It's a French phrase," he replies, "Meaning a guardian will come."

Stepping forward, she closes the gap between them, embracing him and burying her face in his chest. Then, his arms wrap around her carefully.

"Thank you for everything."

"You're not alone. Not anymore. I promise that I will be here tomorrow." He kisses her head before letting go of her. His eyes meet hers. "Goodnight, Hermione."

After he is gone, she heads upstairs for a shower, and when she gets out, she takes a peek in the kitchen. The refrigerator is stocked with the essentials, but she goes for the blueberry muffins that are on the counter top. She takes several bites, admiring the moistness and the orange peel that accent the strong tang of the blueberries, and she can't help but wonder if these delicious treats are from Honeyduke's or from the hands of Draco himself. Either way, she enjoys every bite until nothing more than crumbs remain on the plate before her.

With a full belly and a trip to the loo, Hermione decides to head up to Hogwarts to gather a few of her most needed items - like a toothbrush and some clothes, but as she shuts the door behind her, a voice calls out to her.

"Long time no see, Granger."

Hermione gasps and twirls around to find someone sitting on the stairs below her. His face is shadowed but something about his voice reassures her that she needn't call on Draco to come protect her. Instead, she demands his name.

"I'm hurt that you don't recognize me."

"That's not exactly fair. You're lurking in the dark. I can't even see your face."

The male stands and illuminates his face with Lumos.

"You're Theodore Nott."

His smirk widens as he approaches her.

"That I am, love, and you're coming with me. It's time we had a chat about your part in all of this."

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