Giving Into Temptation

Chapter Fifteen: Fainting and Falling

    After Luna left, Ron snuck back into his room. What in the bloody hell was he thinking? He couldn't just get over Hermione and fall madly in love with Luna. Things didn't work like that. Luna wasn't his type. She wasn't Hermione. He sank onto his bed, resting his chin in his hands. Yet he couldn't deny that he had felt something when around Luna. Something he hadn't felt when he was with Hermione. He didn't know what it was, and he really didn't want to find out. No, no, no. He was still too heartbroken...the wounds were too fresh....He would put Luna out of his head and focus on his job, the only thing in his life that was somewhat stable.

    "Ron?"

    Now it was Harry bothering him.

    "Yeah?"

    "Can I come in?"

    "Sure..."

    Harry entered the bedroom and took a seat next to Ron. "So...feeling guilty, aren't you?"

    "How'd you know?"

    "I'm your best friend."     

    "I can't like her, Harry."

    "Why not?"

    "Because!"

    "That's not an answer, Ron. Give me one good reason and I'll let it go."

    "I was engaged! I thought I was going to get married! I lived with the girl I loved and everything in my life was in its proper place."

    "That's not true, Ron, and you know it. You loved Hermione but you weren't in love with her. If you were you would've been home and all that. You would've made damn sure it wasn't so easy for Malfoy to woo her away from you. If you really, truly wanted to keep her, you would've found a way to do it. But you don't fight because you don't want to. You don't want her."

    "Yes, I do."

    "No, you don't. Stop lying to yourself, mate. Hermione is happy with Malfoy. She's having his baby. Don't keep torturing yourself. Let yourself be happy, too. You deserve happiness as much as she does. And if Luna's the one to give it to you, don't push her away. Because you might just be letting go of the real love of your life if you do."

    "Thanks, Professor Lupin."

    "Aww...I don't sound like him, do I?"

    "And exact replica, actually."

    Harry shook his head, a smile on his face. "I'll have to tell him you said that when I see him."

    "You do that. Now, can I go to bed?"

    "Oh yeah...sorry. See you in the morning."

    "Yeah...morning..."

    Harry left the room, shutting the door softly behind him, and Ron laid back in his bed. What Harry said was all fine and wonderful, but he had no idea what Ron was really feeling. He'd fallen in love with Ginny and that was that. Now they were married and expecting their first child. Harry didn't have to worry about Ginny finding someone else. Ron sighed and closed his eyes...preparing for a dreamless sleep. But as he sank deeper into the darkness behind his eyes, he found visions of Luna awaiting him.

                    ~    ~    ~

    Draco stormed into Hermione's home, slamming the door shut behind him.

    "Draco, is everything all right?"

    "No, not at all. My stupid wretch of a mother was impossible! She wouldn't even listen to a damn thing I had to say. She's such a...a god awful bloodsucker! She's like a Dementor! She saps all the happiness out of you!"

     "Draco...you shouldn't say such things about your mother."

    "If you knew her, you'd say the same things. And I can't wait till the others in my family find out. Oh, it's going to be right fucking picnic!"

    "Well, since you're in such a mood, I think I'll go to the Healer myself."

    "What?"

    "She wanted to see me about a magical sonogram."

    "A what?"

    "It's to show me the baby."

    "Oh! Well, I want to go."

    "Are you sure? Because if you act like this at the Healer's and embarrass me I will turn you back into a ferret. Remember fourth year?"

    Draco's face paled considerably more so than normal and Hermione stifled a laugh.

    "I will be on my best behavior."

    "Well, that isn't too reassuring," Hermione giggled.

    "I solemnly swear that I will be the perfect boyfriend."

    Hermione started and Draco wondered if he'd said something wrong. "What is it, love?"

    "You...you called yourself my boyfriend..."

    "Oh...well...aren't I?"

    "I suppose so. It was just odd hearing you say it like that."

    "Sorry..."

    "No, it's okay. I like it. You're my boyfriend." Hermione smiled and took Draco's hand. "Let's Floo to St. Mungo's, shall we?"

    "St. Mungo's?"

    "Er...yeah, Draco. The wizarding hospital. What's wrong?"

    "I can't go back there. I do not want to run into anyone that's associated with my mother."

    "Draco..."

    "All right...but only because I love you."

    Hermione squeezed his hand tighter as they stepped into the fireplace and Draco tossed the Floo powder, clearly stating their destination. When they arrived at the wizarding hospital, Draco did his best to look inconspicuous.

    "Draco...honestly...no one here cares about whether you had a spat with your mother. No one knows about it...so stop trying to hide behind that statue!"

    Draco blushed as he moved from behind the statue and followed Hermione down the corridor. When they finally ended up at the right room, Draco barely nodded at the Healer that motioned them inside.

    "How are you, Ms. Granger?"

    "I've been feeling a bit sick. But that's normal, isn't it?"

    "Of course. Many mothers to be have morning sickness. Now, I want you to lie down here on the examining table and expose your stomach for me."

    Draco stood at the head of the table, watching as Hermione took off her traveling cloak and unbuttoned her blouse. The Healer mixed a potion at the counter, humming to herself. Hermione glanced up at Draco and he gave her his most reassuring smile.

    "All right. This may be a bit cold. But I have to put this on in order for the spell to work properly."

    Hermione nodded, although Draco could tell she was a bit tense by the set of her shoulders, so he reached out and placed a hand at the base of her neck, just as a reminder that he was there for her. He felt her relax as the Healer smeared potion onto her stomach. Then she pointed her wand at Hermione's belly button and muttered an incantation. A ghost-like image rose above Hermione's stomach and Hermione let out a small gasp.

    "Hmm....let's see..." As the Healer moved her wand around, the image moved with it. "Ah...there it is..." She froze the image and pointed with a delicate, gloved finger at a small speck in the lower part of the picture.

    "That's...that's our baby?" Draco whispered in awe.

    "Yes, it is indeed."

    Draco felt tears come to his eyes...and then he felt suddenly dizzy. This was the beginnings of a new life. A human being that had been made by Hermione and himself. He was going to be a father. Seeing this made it so much more real.

    "Draco!" Hermione cried as Draco slumped to the floor in a dead faint.

    "Don't worry, Ms. Granger. It happens to a lot of first time fathers. Actually, your friend Harry Potter did the same thing when he came in here with his wife Ginny. I actually expect it." the Healer laughed.

    Hermione gazed down at Draco, the hint of a smile on her face. She was so going to make fun of him when he came to. But her gaze was pulled back to the frozen image that showed the minuscule embryo.

    "Healer...?"

    "Yes?"

    "Is that...are there...two?"

                    *    *    *