Auribus Teneo Lupum *Dramione*

Chapter Thirteen

Life seemed to finally be settling down for Hermione. Her daughter was growing right on schedule, despite her early and dangerous birth, and her charity was finally starting to take shape. She still had a long way to go, of course, but the plans were coming together and she had already had several meetings with the Minister and had begun to lock down what her mission would actually be. It filled her with joy to know that everything she worked for was coming to fruition, that all her hard work and sacrifice had been worth it.

Draco had gone back to work and she finally realized what it was like to be married to a healer. Often times he left early in the morning and didn't return until well into the night. She was thankful that she had always been a self sufficient woman, or she would have struggled to fill all of her alone time. Of course, she wasn't ever actually alone; little Thena was always close to her mother.

All in all, the past seven months had been pleasant, and that had allowed her to think about her feelings regarding her husband.

She snorted to herself at the thought. Feelings regarding her husband. Life had been so busy that they hadn't had any real time to just sit together and talk. No more stolen kisses, though he did often kiss the top of bed head before he left for the day. They still shared a bed, and she would often find herself in his warm embrace when she woke in the middle of the night to feed her daughter, but she found she wanted more.

Maybe sex was too much at this point, seeing as how Ron had been her only one and she still had some remaining issues with her stomach. It had always been flat through her teen years and early adulthood, but pregnancy and birth had left her with a little pooch that wouldn't seem to go away. She didn't want to feel self conscious, but she would look in the mirror after a bath and wish she had her old body back. Her hips had widened as well, and as a result most of her clothing no longer fit. She didn't want to admit she needed larger clothing, so she made due with what she had.

So, while sex wasn't even on her brain, romance was. She found herself longing for an embrace or warm words. Maybe she should suck it up and get over it, or maybe she should gather some confidence and make a move herself.

She jumped when she heard a knock at the door, her right hand flying to rest over her chest. She looked up the clock and wondered who would be at her front door a little after two on a Wednesday. Glancing over to see if Athena was still asleep she made her way downstairs and looked through the small peephole in the door. She couldn't contain her gasp when she realized it was none other than Ron Weasley standing on her porch, looking grim.

Part of her wanted to pretend that she wasn't home, but a small part feared something had happened and he had come to deliver the news.  She squared her shoulders and opened the front door, keeping her face neutral so she didn't convey the shock and worry she felt.

"Hermione!"

Her eyebrows lowered slightly as she wondered why he sounded shocked to see her. It was, after all, her house he was standing in front of.

"Why, yes, it's me."

He took a step back and looked her over, something that made her feel gross. "You look good."

She rolled her eyes, irritated and nervous. "What do you want, Ron? It's been months since we last spoke."

He swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing. "Can I come in?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't." She felt proud of herself for that, for not letting him into her home where her daughter slept upstairs.

"Hermione, I need to talk to you and I really don't want to do it standing on your doorstep." She didn't like the tone her took, as if she was inconveniencing him.

"Then you probably should have written a letter and set up a time."

Sometime visibly snapped and his features hardened. "I'm not writing a bloody letter to set up a bloody time to meet with you."

"Then either say what you came to say or leave. Seriously Ronald, what could you possibly have to talk to me about?" She knew what it could be, but she prayed that it wasn't. She didn't know if she was ready to handle that conversation.

"What could I possibly have to talk to you about? Do you have any idea what I've been through in the past few months?"

She sighed. "I don't know how what you're going through lately has to do with me."

He took a step closer and she straightened her spine. "Did you know Lavender cheated on me? Yeah, before, during, and after the baby was born. Guess what else?"

She felt dread squeeze her heart, almost already knowing where he was going with this story.

"It's not my baby. Nope, had the charm done. Some bloke from up north is the dad. She wanted to stay, but I kicked her out. Ain't raising a kid that isn't mine."

She couldn't believe this was the same man what she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. It amazed her that she hadn't ever noticed his true character, and couldn't help but compare it to her husband's character.

She found Ron incredibly lacking.

"So, imagine my pain. Left alone, embarrassed, and without a family. Then I saw you. I don't think you saw me, but you had that little baby with you. And then I got to thinking."

She sighed, trying to already prepare for what was about to come.

"I realized, we were together around the time for her - it's a girl, right? - to have been conceived. I thought it was weird that you would have fallen into bed with Malfoy so soon after me, and that got me thinking."

He looked at her and against her better judgement she met his she's.

"That baby is mine, isn't it?"

There it was. The very thing that she never wanted to come out and never wanted to face. Her head felt light and she took a step back, wanting to run into her home and shut the door. To shut him out forever. As she took another step back her back met a solid warmth and she turned her head to see Draco standing behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, warm and reassuring, and gave them a squeeze.

"Weasley, how good of you to stop by. Couldn't help but overhear what you were talking about and I have to say, I don't appreciate you trying to intimidate my wife. Of course, I doubt that's possible, but the action is still there." He then moved back and pulled Hermione gently with him.

"So, you're welcome to come back at a later date - when I'm here, mind you - and we'll discuss this farther. For now though, it's time for you to leave." And with that be shut the door and charmed the lock.

Hermione sank back, feeling boneless and utterly tired. Draco wrapped his arms around her and clutched her to his chest.

"We'll take care of it, don't worry."

She clung to him, hoping he was right and allowing him to comfort her.