Chapter 3

A/N: Here is the third chapter for you! I hope you'll enjoy reading it.

The seconding phase for the Dramione Awards is over, and those who made it into the second round should be announced soon. You really shoud go and vote in the final round, there are so many good stories running!

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Chapter 3

They sat down and talked for a long time. Since he already knew how she had started her rather exotic job, Hermione told him everything about Sophia. She told him how torn she had been when she learned that she was pregnant, hesitating between the joy of having created a new life out of love – because it had been love for her – and the fear of being too young and not fit to be a mother.

She told him how desperate she had been when Sophia's father, Christophe, had told her to get lost. She revealed to him how it had been Molly Weasley who had pulled her out of her misery and helped her to find a flat where she could live with the baby, since the small sublet room she lived in at that time wouldn't do.

Draco choked when the witch colourfully described Harry and Ron's reaction when they learned of Christophe's betrayal. It had been very hard indeed to keep the two from beating the man up. Even though they had been in Auror Academy, and it could have meant their expulsion at that point, they wouldn't have hesitated for a second.

All of them had helped her find and pay for the furniture she owned now. It wasn't new, certainly, but it was good quality and clean. Molly had lent her the antique, handcrafted cradle from the Prewitt family, and George had set about producing a baby-safe line of WWW products, so that Sophia never ran short of the newest toys. Some were even educational – Hermione was still certain that was due to her good influence on the mischievous redhead – and the whole line had proved to be a great success.

Much to Hermione's relief, Draco seemed to want to stay true to his word. He asked a lot of questions about her daughter and admired her pictures appropriately. Since Hermione had left her daughter in Molly's care when meeting him, they agreed to set up their first encounter on neutral ground, at a park with a huge playground. Sophia tolerated the potion she was on astoundingly well and was thus fit enough to go out and play.

After they had arranged a time for the upcoming day, Draco left with a peck on her cheek. Just before he disappeared, he smiled at her and spoke.

"Wow good."

*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Tell me again why you are meeting the amazing bouncing ferret?" Harry pouted.

"Because he offered his help and his only condition was to meet my baby. Really Harry, the man helps me out by supplying an incredible amount of money – how can I deny him that?"

"I told you I would..."

"I know! I know you would sell your house. I know you would take a loan out for me. But you know what? It wouldn't be enough! You'd have to pay back the money I already owe the goblins, because you bailed for it with your house.

"And I know that George would sell the patents of his jokes, too. And it probably would be enough to pay for the treatment. But how could I ask him to do that when there is another solution? How could I let you sell the house? Draco has enough money to pay for ten treatments without even noticing a drop in his funds.

"You are the best friends I could ever ask for, and that is why I couldn't do such thing to either of you. If it were a choice of taking up your offer or letting my baby die, obviously I would do it! But don't you see? There is a perfect solution that won't harm anyone.

"Please, Harry. Don't make this harder on me than it already is."

Hermione watched her friend pleadingly. When he sighed and then shrugged, she smiled, glad that he had finally come to his senses.

"I am still not sure why he'd help you. It's not like you were the best of friends. Are you sure he has no hidden agenda?"

"Harry James Potter! There is no hidden agenda! So, if you'd kindly let me be on my way, I'd really prefer not to be late."

The witch flung the nappy bag over her shoulder and put Sophia securely on her hip. She blew her friend a kiss before Apparating away, leaving the disgruntled young man alone in her flat.

Harry dragged his fingers through his hair.

He still didn't like this whole idea. What possessed Malfoy to pay for Sophia's treatment? True, he hadn't caused any trouble at all since the war, but he still didn't trust him. You don't put years of enmity aside just like that. And how had he got wind of Hermione's situation anyway?

He sighed once again and decided to leave. Hermione's mind was set; there was no point staying now that she had already left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione was the first to arrive at the playground where they had arranged to meet Draco. It was a nice day, and a lot of other children were already playing in the sandbox. The brunette put her daughter down. Sophia had always been a very social child, not shy towards others her age, but since she had fallen ill, she was somewhat subdued and kept more to herself. Hermione reached into her bag and pulled some sand moulds out for her daughter.

Just then a shadow fell over them and the little girl snuggled closer to her mother.

"Hermione. And you must be Sophia?"

The toddler put her thumb into her mouth and stared at him without blinking. Hermione blushed.

"She usually isn't that shy. It's only been since we started seeing all the healers recently. She doesn't like them." She turned towards her daughter. "Are you a baby, Sophia? No. Then take your thumb out, please. This is Draco Malfoy. He's Mummy's friend. Won't you say hello to Mr. Malfoy?"

The blond wizard had crouched down on the fringe of the sandbox. "Hello, Sophia. I am very pleased to meet you. Would you let me play with you?"

The little girl watched the young man with a rather weary expression, but then struggled to break free from her mother's arms. Apparently she had made up her mind about the stranger, because she passed him one of her favourite sand moulds and enthusiastically started putting sand into another.

Hermione was amazed at how comfortable Draco was with Sophia. He seemed very much at ease and had her little girl giggling in no time. Since it was a magical playground they had met at, and the moulds were enchanted, too, the animals they had made with them were now moving around the sandbox. With the wizard's help, the little girl built a magnificent sandcastle before they retired onto a picnic blanket to have tea.

"She's exhausted," Draco observed when the little girl crawled onto Hermione's lap and fell asleep sucking her thumb.

"Yes, she is. She still needs her nap in the afternoon. When she doesn't nap, she's excruciating." Hermione put a small pillow under the girl's head and smiled. "In an hour she'll be as fresh as a daisy. You are great with her. You'll be a great dad one day. You want to have children, I presume?"

"I don't know. Obviously, I will have to have children at some point or another. In my position I have no choice, really. And I adore children, but then again... I don't want to muck it up. It's not as if my father was the best role model I could have wished for."

"You're not your father, Draco."

The wizard sighed and watched the sleeping child with an expression akin to tenderness. "I know. But I have the same genes, and he brought me up, too. What if I turn out like him? Aloof and violent? Hurting the people I am supposed to love?

"What's the guarantee that I will not one day raise my hand or wand against my wife and child? Every child deserves good parents, not some fucked up son of a Death Eater."

"Don't say that! You're more than that! You're better than you think!"

"Oh, Hermione, don't pretend! You know it's true. You wouldn't have let me near your daughter at all if you didn't need my help!"

She hesitated on hearing his accusation, because unfortunately he was right. "That's not fair, Draco! I would have let none of my clients near my family. It has nothing to do with who you are!"

"Yes, right, I forgot about that. I was just a client." Draco suddenly sounded bitter and unhappy. "Do you think that all the things I told you were a lie? I asked you to be my girlfriend! I wanted to be with you and your daughter. But to you I was obviously nothing more than some client."

"No, Draco, please! You know that you are more than just a client to me. You're the only one I would consider worthy of getting to know my child. I wouldn't have asked any of the other men to help me. You're the only one I trust enough to reveal who I am."

She knelt next to him, cupping his face tenderly in her hands. He was so handsome, it almost pained her to look at him. It was incomprehensible to her how this man could be the same person as the bully she had known at school. She had grown attached to him somewhere along the line. Although she wasn't quite sure when it had happened, Hermione knew for certain that she cared for the man who was now sitting on the blanket next to her daughter.

"You got to kiss me..." she whispered, her lips almost touching his. "Kisses are the one thing I ever give for free. And only when I want to." The witch leaned even further into him until her mouth touched his shyly.

For Draco that was all it took. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her into his lap. The park and the playground faded away while they kissed. They savoured the flavour of each other, and the blond was reminded of their first real kiss. Hermione tasted just as sweet as she had then. She felt different in his arms, though. She was too thin; even through her shirt he could feel every rib.

With Draco's strong arms around her, Hermione felt as if she was in heaven. She was safe, and for once all her worries seemed to fade away. He would help her with the money and to find a suitable donor for her baby. And his kiss was a promise of more; he would not abandon them like Christophe had. His lips teased and appeased her equally.

Draco's mouth softly coaxed hers into submission. She followed his lead, letting him plunder her lips with fiery passion and loving caresses. His tongue touched every point he could reach, while his hands slipped under her clothes and fondled her back tenderly.

They broke out of their bliss when a red ball hit Draco on the back of his head. "Ouch!" he exclaimed and smiled down at the witch in his arms. She looked thoroughly kissed and stared at him through heavily lidded eyes.

Draco could see how tired she was. Not the kind of tired you were after pulling an all-nighter, but the kind of bone-deep, dead tired that came from deep sorrow and worry. He kissed her forehead and lay down next to Sophia with her.

"Sleep. It seems Sophe is not the only one who could use a nap."

The wizard guarded their sleep until the little girl woke up. To him they were the allegory of everything innocent and pure. Most people would probably see things differently. After all, she was a single mother, one who had sold her body, Draco had to remind himself. But for him she was so much more.

When Hermione finally woke from her deep and exhausted sleep, her first reaction was panic. Where was her baby? Where was Draco? She didn't know how long she had slept, but the sun had started to disappear behind the trees, and there were only a few people left in the park. She couldn't remember when she had last slept so undisturbed and unworried. But now – where were they?

When her vision cleared, she could make the two of them out in the playground. They were sitting on one of the swings together, Sophe secure in Draco's lap. He had his head inclined, apparently listening with rapt attention to the little witch's stories. Smiling with relief, Hermione started to pack their things. They would have to go home soon. With the sun declining, it would not be long before it became too cold for the summer clothes they were wearing.

She approached the swings slowly after she had finished packing, smiling softly at the vision of the two blond people. Draco rocked the swing carefully back and forth, chuckling from time to time at what Sophia was telling him. She was babbling quite a lot these days. She had a way with words, even at her tender age, and Hermione was sure that one day she'd be the bane of anyone in need of some peace and quiet.

"Ready to go, you two? Have you had a good time?"

"Mummy! Draco and me swinged!"

"Draco and I, baby. And you swang."

"No! We swinged!"

"It's... All right, all right! You swinged. Never mind the grammar."

At this, Draco chuckled once again and got up with Sophia still in his arms. "We had fun, didn't we, Sophe? And now I think it's time to go home."

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco had gone home soon after they returned from the park. They had agreed a meeting to make the necessary arrangements at Gringotts for Hermione to be able to access one of Draco's accounts. Even though she had told him that that wasn't necessary, he felt that this would be the easiest way to proceed.

The wizard had been able to schedule an appointment with one of the leading healers specialising in oncology the following week. He was very sought after and usually didn't do home visits, especially not in Europe, since he was from America. For once, Hermione was grateful for what money could do. She would have hated to submit Sophia to the trouble of international travel in her condition.

After his visit, the healer had initiated a scan through all the available medical wizarding databases to find a suitable donor, but it would take some time until the results were available. He had also changed the potion the little girl was on to a newer improved one. He had nevertheless made it very clear that there was no way around a transplant. The cancer was too aggressive and running rampant in Sophia's body, and although the potion managed to keep it at least a little in check, it was hard to tell how long this would work.

Hermione had found a part-time position in a potions lab that paid a decent wage. Four years of studies were not for naught after all. Without the pressure of University fees, she was able to live quite comfortably with her little girl, especially since Molly still refused to let Sophia go to a childcare facility.

Even after her meeting with Draco in the park, Harry was far from happy with his involvement in Hermione and Sophia's lives, but could hardly do anything about it. While the two female members of the Weasley clan had been quick to accept the wizard – if he was generous enough to help Hermione out with such an amount of money, he couldn't be too bad, surely? – the males proved to be much more difficult. 'One should never trust a Malfoy! A kneazle can't change its spots!'

However, Hermione was happy; at least, happier than she had been during the weeks between the diagnosis of Sophia's disease and her subsequent meeting with Draco. He was a frequent visitor and regularly took them out to playgrounds, zoos and other places a child enjoyed.

They had not slept with each other since she had revealed to him her true identity. They had kissed and made out quite a bit, but each time Hermione tried to go further, Draco had stopped her. This was not because he didn't feel attracted to her anymore; the witch had felt the hard evidence of that through his pants. To be honest, she had no idea why he wouldn't; it wasn't as if it was something they hadn't done before!

But as the weeks advanced, Hermione grew more and more depressed. The three biggest databases had been scanned to find a witch or wizard who could be a donor for Sophia, without success. There were some smaller ones left, but it wasn't very probable that somebody would be found in these. However, neither Draco nor Hermione were ready to give up. For the time being, the little girl's health was quite stable, but nobody was sure how long this would last. Every friend and relative, colleague and friend of friends had been tested – paid for by Draco. None of them was a match.

It pained Draco to watch her suffer. Of course, he, too, was very concerned for Sophia's health. The little witch had very much grown on him. It was impossible not to love the child. She was just lovely in every imaginable way: intelligent like her mum, mischievous like her adopted uncles and beautiful to boot. She had a head full of dark blond curls, brown eyes and a cute little nose. Her cheeks weren't always rosy, due to her illness, but the spark in her eyes made up for it.

The way Sophia looked, she could very well have been his daughter. In fact, people never doubted the paternity of the little girl when they went out together. The first time a witch had told them that she looked 'just like her daddy', Draco had beamed with pride. This, combined with the fact that Hermione had not objected to him being referred to as Sophia's father, left him wanting to shout for joy.

It was undeniable that his love for her mother made it very easy for him to fall for the toddler. Since that fateful day when Hermione had unveiled her identity to him, he had discovered anew the woman he thought he had known before. If he had fancied himself in love with Philippa, it was nothing compared to what he felt for Hermione. She was everything Philippa was, and so much more.

He had probably harboured some small, secret crush for the Muggle-born witch for some years. He had abhorred her at school, that much was true: the poster child Mudblood, besting him in every imaginable way and even daring to punch him! Him, Draco Malfoy! He had never understood what some people, Viktor Krum for example, seemed to see in her. Granted, she was pretty, but in such an ordinary way. There were so many other witches that cleaned up at least as well and had the right blood!

But the day the snatchers had brought her and her friends to the manor... How could he not be rendered speechless by her courage? Admire her determination not to give away anything even under torture? Draco thought that that had probably been the first time he saw her for what she was: a loyal, powerful, loving, strong and beautiful witch. Seeing her blood trickle down her skin, blood as red as his, had made him realise that she was as worthy as he was, if not more so.

If a Muggle-born girl could be such a good witch, if her blood had the same colour as his – what was the difference between them? How could he think himself better than her? He, who had stood there like a coward watching his insane aunt torture the one girl who had always been the incarnation of everything good?

*~*~*~*~*~*~

His mother had noticed the change in Draco, too. A Muggle-born, single mother was certainly not the ideal girlfriend for her son, but it was better than having him pining over some random escort. She had been worried for a while that he might actually want to pursue the witch seriously. At least that was what he had insinuated at the time. Surely he wouldn't want to stay with Ms. Granger for good, would he? He seemed to have some sort of romantic hero complex, but with that she supposed she could live. After all, it could be worse.

However, as the time dragged on, Narcissa grew more and more curious about the girl. Draco seemed so infatuated with the young witch and her daughter that she couldn't ignore it anymore. He was at home less and less, either working or visiting Ms. Granger and the little girl he affectionately called Sophe. She was nevertheless astounded when he announced that he would bring the two over for lunch the following week-end.

"Sophe loves horses, and I thought she'd like to see the stables," Draco explained to his mother.

"I see. So that's why we own Shetland ponies now, is it? I was already wondering as they are hardly the size for us to ride."

The wizard blushed. He had bought the skewbald mare and her fully grown foal only the week before, after a heated discussion with Hermione over the question of whether a little girl of not even three years needed riding lessons. Sophe had always approached the ponies in the petting zoo without showing any sign of fear, but Hermione had told him it was ridiculous to have a toddler taking lessons and that she couldn't afford it anyway.

Since he knew that Hermione would never let him buy anything as expensive as a pony for her daughter, he had simply told her that he still owned his old pony which had later had a foal. It had taken him some time to lay his hands on two ponies that fitted the age and his description, but he had succeeded. A Malfoy never got caught lying! At least not when he could make the lie a truth with his money. Well, half-truth.

"Yes, well, if she asks, I got her for my fifth birthday and her name is Sprinkle. And her son is called Snitch."

His mother merely lifted an eyebrow. He was certainly going to some lengths to impress the witch. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea if she got to know her, after all.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione fidgeted nervously in her seat. It hadn't occurred to her for a second that she would meet Draco's mother when she visited the Manor. The question hadn't even crossed her mind; she had simply assumed that Mrs Malfoy wouldn't be interested in meeting her. Clearly, she had been wrong.

Draco and Sophe had left to visit the stables, leaving Hermione alone having tea with the elegant woman. She felt inadequate and insecure, having dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt. But the other woman turned out to be more pleasant company than anticipated.

At first she had been afraid that Narcissa Malfoy would take offence at the fact that her son had offered her such substantial financial support. But the older woman had only shrugged – a gesture that Hermione would never have associated with the willowy pure-blood – and told her that Lucius had lost far more money betting on race-hippogriffs.

And she didn't even seem to find it reprehensible that Hermione had asked somebody who had previously been her enemy. 'A woman has to do what she can for her child. Don't forget that I am a mother too,' she had told the brunette witch.

"So, Sophia's father is French? That's what Draco told me."

"Yes, that's right. He was an exchange student at LMU. Handsome, intelligent..." Hermione smiled sadly. "I fell for him the first moment I saw him. He seemed so different to the average English pure-blood. I really believed him when he told me that he loved me and didn't care if I was Muggle-born.

"And now he's even refused to get tested to see if he could be a donor. But Draco probably told you that."

Narcissa huffed impatiently. "The French are no different to the English, if not worse, believe me. After the war, things started to change here. But on the continent... Well, they didn't have the experience we had. The higher up in station, the worse.

"What is his name, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't, since it's not exactly a secret. I couldn't put him on the birth certificate because he refused to recognise his paternity. But I won't prevent my daughter from knowing his name. It's Christophe de Clermont-Tonnerre."

"Oh, that's rich. Cécile would die of shame if she knew that her precious son had fathered a half-blood." Narcissa grinned maliciously. Hermione felt uneasy; she had not meant to give out any blackmail material.

"I didn't want to..."

"Oh, don't worry. Cécile and I are hardly what you would call friends. We know each other a little socially, but that's about as far as it goes. I won't go spreading this around, rest assured." The witch patted her hand and took another sip of tea. "But isn't one of the Weasley boys married to a Delacour?"

"Yes, Bill is. He married Fleur Delacour. Why?"

"Sometimes it's good to have memorised the entire family trees of the European pure-blood families. Fleur Delacour is a second cousin of your chèr Christophe. You said that he refuses to get tested to see if he's a match for your daughter?"

Hermione nodded, confused.

"I think, my dear, an international Floo call is in order..."

When Draco and Sophe returned from their outdoor activities half an hour later, they found a dazzled Hermione and a devilishly grinning Narcissa. For a second, Draco worried what his mother could have done to her, until he noted that she didn't look dazzled-upset but dazzled-hopeful; a look he hadn't seen on her face ever since they had got the results from the bone marrow register.

Once she saw him, Hermione jumped up, right into his arms, hugging him and her daughter tightly. She hid her face in his shoulder, and he could feel his shirt dampen. Carefully, he pushed her chin up and made her look into his eyes.

"What's wrong, Hermione?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. It's just your mother... She has come up with the best plan ever! She has found a way to get Christophe to get himself typed. Everything is wonderful! Just wonderful!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fleur Weasley and her husband enjoyed their trip to France very much. Although they had come with a clear mission, they were determined to have a good time regardless. Molly had gracefully offered to take care of their child while they were away, but they had declined. After all, Fleur's parents got to see their grandchild far less than they'd like to.

To announce Fleur's second pregnancy officially to the family, her mother Amélie had organised a big, lavish garden party. Amélie's garden parties were known to be quite the event; nobody ever declined an invitation. Chatting happily with some of her cousins and far removed aunts, Fleur put her delicate hand of the forearm of Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre.

"You can imagine her situation?" she continued leaning into the other woman confidentially. "Left all alone and pregnant! Of course she didn't know the man was spoken for; I can assure you she is a very reputable young woman. Only she didn't associate with the same stratum of society that he did. Really, how was she supposed to know – he never told her!

"Anyway, she decided that she'd keep the child nonetheless. She didn't ask him for anything at all, not marriage, not money, nor any other support, not that he'd offered it!"

"Zat's abhorrent of him!" Laure gasped audibly at Fleur's story.

"Mais ma chère, ce n'est pas tout! In fact her child fell ill. Leukaemia. She didn't even ask for money when she tried to find a donor, but wanted the biological father typed, to see if he was a match." Under her lashes, Fleur glanced at a visibly pale Christophe de Clermont-Tonnerre who was standing behind his wife. He had already guessed who she was talking about.

"Certainement il ne pouvait pas refuser..."

"Si. He refused to take the test. So at the moment she's really crushed and doesn't quite know what to do. But I think once she gets over the first shock, she'll probably decide to go and tell his wife.

"As I told you, she's a lovely girl. But if he destroys her life, she'll not hesitate in destroying his. It's for her child's sake after all!"

"Quel salaud! 'e certainly deserves 'is wife knowing about zee indiscretion. I'd never forgive Christophe if 'e did somezing like zat. I am so glad zat Christophe would never do anyzing to 'urt me, n'est-ce pas chéri?" She smiled up at her husband, who reassured her with a nod and a smile.

Bill Weasley used the moment of silence to dive in and offered to take a walk through the extensive gardens with Christophe. The cold smile and the deathly glare in the redhead's eyes told the other man everything he needed to know, and he followed without protesting.

Draco stood patiently, waiting in the shadow of a tree, a stack of parchments in his hand. To somebody who didn't know him, he looked collected and untroubled. Those who did know him, however, would have tried not to come too close to him. His eyes were steely grey; the absence of any warmth was frightening.

When Bill made his way over with the other man; he smiled his coldest smile. A flicker of incredulity shot through Christophe's eyes when he saw him.

"You? What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"I've got some business with you, de Clermont-Tonnerre. You left my girlfriend pregnant."

"What? I didn't... I wouldn't... I thought this was about the Mudblood!"

With a growl, both Bill and Draco were at the young man's throat.

"Don't you dare call my girlfriend that! Don't you even dare think it!" Draco seethed through his teeth.

"I didn't know she was your girlfriend. She can't... She – she was a virgin!"

"Which makes your behaviour all the more despicable. You impregnated a girl who trusted you enough to make you a gift she could only give away once! And then you leave her all alone to care for her child. You disgust me.

"But that's not why I am here. We have an... offer... to make. Well, maybe not exactly an offer, but you will see. You agree to get typed, and to act as donor for your daughter in case you're a match. In return Hermione offers not to say anything about your child to your wife or your family.

"Furthermore, you will sign these documents and renounce every paternal right you might claim on Sophia. This will also make you free of every obligation – be it material or emotional. If you sign these documents, you can be sure that Hermione will never sue you for support of any kind or put your name on the birth certificate.

"And all of this for a bit of typing and possibly a completely pain free and harmless donation of bone marrow –isn't that great?" Draco smirked, but it wasn't a smirk that eased Christophe's mind. In fact, it had the exact opposite effect.

Christophe squirmed uncomfortably. "What's in it for you?"

"A girlfriend who doesn't beat herself up over the fact that she couldn't get her father's child tested. That's enough for me."

The other wizard didn't hesitate long before he signed the agreement. Since Hermione had already approved them, they glowed golden and were transferred directly to the Malfoy family notary. Draco watched the other man coldly before turning to Bill.

"Congratulations to you and your wife, good luck with the new baby and thanks for your help."

"Anything for Hermione. She's like my little sister. I didn't even know we were related to that little leech who put her into that situation. I am glad we could help. Your mother is a genius," the other man responded without acknowledging Christophe's presence.

Draco only nodded and Disapparated with a 'pop'. The appointment for Christophe's typing had already been arranged in a French magical hospital. The only thing he had to do was show up. And he would show up since he had just signed a magical contract.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco appeared in the middle of the cosy kitchen of The Burrow. Hermione ceased her pacing and turned on the spot. She stared at him wide-eyed and asked in a breathless voice, "How did it go? Did he agree? Is he a match?"

"He is."

With a strangled cry, Hermione jumped into his arms and hugged him close. "Oh my God! Thank you!" she breathed. She kissed him soundly, laughing and crying simultaneously. Draco grinned and kissed her back.

"It's not me who made him a match. I am happy that he is though. And I am happy that you're happy."

They stood in a fierce embrace, oblivious to the fact that Molly had come in at one point and quickly tiptoed out again when she saw them standing there. Now the older witch was standing in the garden, Sophia on her hip. She was quite excited for Hermione; it would do her good to have a new man in her life.

Certainly, she had never lost hope that the young witch might opt for one of her boys – after all Charlie and George were still single – and she would never have thought that the new man would turn out to be Draco Malfoy of all people. Yes, she'd have to get used to the idea, but to be honest, the man had already won when he stepped up to advance the money for Sophe's treatment.

"Hmm, little Sophe, how would you like Draco Malfoy as your stepfather?" she asked the little girl playfully.

"Daco? Daco nice. And Spinkle. And Snitch."

"Stepfather? Draco Malfoy? W – w – what?" Seemingly out of nowhere Harry and Arthur appeared next to them and the younger wizard wondered if he had heard her right.

"Ah, nothing, Harry dear. I was just..."

"Meddling. As always." Arthur smiled affectionately and kissed his wife and granddaughter on the cheek. "They finally came out then?"

"You knew?" Molly and Harry asked at the same time, enraged at the idea that he might have held such significant information back from them, but he merely chuckled.

"Come on, the two of you! If a man pays a fortune for a child's health, then he's either the father or in love with the mother. And we all know who Sophe's father is.

"Besides, haven't you seen the way they look at each other? Do I have to point out how much time the two of them are spending together? Really, you would think it was obvious." Still chuckling, Arthur then entered the house to change into more comfortable clothes for the rest of the evening.

Molly and Harry stood dumbfounded and gaping like flobberworms. When Hermione and Draco exited the house just a few minutes later, the Boy Who Was Ignorant stared at them incredulously. They had obviously been warned by Arthur but still looked a bit startled. Hermione blushed furiously under the scrutiny of her long-time friend.

"So it's true? You two are..."

"Well, yes," Hermione answered nervously. Draco only smirked and drew her close, daring Harry to say something.

"And for how long has this been going on?"

"A few weeks..."

"A few months..." they answered simultaneously.

Harry only raised his brow and waited for Hermione to explain.

"Okay. Draco is right. We have been seeing each other for quite some time. It was just a casual thing, nothing serious. A bit of dating, having fun. I didn't tell him about Sophe at first. I actually stopped seeing him when I found out that she was ill."

"And she took me back when she needed my money," Draco said with mock hurt, but it was obvious that he wasn't serious.

"Yeah. Well, you know the rest." The witch shrugged, seemingly nonchalant, but biting her lip nonetheless. "Are you upset?" she ventured when Harry didn't respond for a moment.

"Upset?" He tussled his hair the way he always did. "Not upset. I just wish you had told me before."

"I didn't know when or how to tell you," the witch responded meekly.

"You could have told me when you went to meet him with Sophia."

"Oh, you mean your hidden agenda moment?" Hermione grinned. "Do you think you'd have been very open to that kind of information then?"

The wizard blushed. "Probably not," he admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"Anyway, that's not important now. We've got great news! Christophe is a match! We have an appointment at St. Mungo's tomorrow!" the witch beamed.

"Is that true? Oh sweet Nimue!" Molly sobbed and Harry drew his friend into a bone crushing hug. "I am so relieved! Everything will be good now!"

"Yes!" Hermione laughed and cried at the same time.

Sophia didn't take all the excitement too well though. She started squirming restlessly and tried to get out of Molly's arms, reaching out for Draco who seemed to be the calmest person in the garden. The wizard took the unhappy toddler and turned around to Hermione.

"Maybe we should go. We have an appointment at eight tomorrow morning."

The Muggle-born nodded and hugged everybody goodbye before they Disapparated together into her flat. They put Sophia to sleep not long after they arrived. The little witch tired quickly nowadays, and although she had had a long nap in the afternoon, it didn't take long before she was sleeping soundly.

To celebrate the good news of the impending surgery, Hermione cooked a nice dinner for the two of them, completed by a bottle of red wine Draco had contributed. They took their time with dinner and neither were entirely sober by the time they finished. Much to Draco's delight, Hermione had found an open bottle of firewhiskey in one of her cupboards, probably forgotten by one of the boys.

So when Hermione asked him to stay overnight, he agreed.

They stood awkwardly in her bedroom at first. Hermione pulled back the duvet and retrieved the large t-shirt she usually slept in. She blushed. "I didn't expect you to stay over... I would have changed the sheets if I had known," she fidgeted.

"Don't be stupid." Draco toed his shoes off and unbuttoned his shirt.

"Do you need something to sleep in? I could lend you one of my sleep shirts."

"Hmm..." the blond seemed to think hard. "I believe I have a better idea. Why don't we..." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. "...sleep naked?"

Hermione giggled as he pushed her top up her body and over her head. "White lace. Why am I not surprised?" Draco grinned when he finally had free access to her bra-clad breasts. "Is it a set?" He wiggled his eyebrows wickedly and knelt down before her.

"Oh, you will have to find out on your own, I think." She giggled some more and helped him with the button of her jeans.

"And it is a set!" Draco grinned and kissed her between her belly button and the hem of her lacy knickers. He slowly slipped her trousers down her legs, showering every inch of skin he uncovered with small kisses. When she finally stepped out of her trousers, he stood up again.

"Your turn," Hermione breathed. "You are wearing far too many clothes!" She first pushed his already open shirt down his shoulders and then caressed his torso, finally following the line of blond hair disappearing into the waistband. With expert hands she unbuckled his belt and undid the fly. She then reached tenderly into his pants, stroking his half-hard member through the silk of his boxers.

"Witch! Stop teasing me!"

More giggles. By Aphrodite's sweet tits, had she ever giggled before when they were engaged in such activities? It was so girlish, so damn sexy! He pulled her up by her shoulders and kissed her hard. He walked backwards, one arm around her waist, the other hand buried in her glorious curls. When he felt her double bed behind him, he let himself fall onto it, pulling Hermione with him.

They kissed, nibbled, bit and licked some more, and before long both of them were heavily aroused and panting. Draco struggled to get out of his pants. They had entangled themselves between his legs, and to get rid of them didn't prove to be an easy task. It earned him more giggles from Hermione.

Impatiently, he flipped her over onto her back and finally succeeded in shedding the superfluous garments, including his boxer shorts.

"Who is overdressed now? Hmm?" He crawled up her body, pressing his hard cock against her and claiming her mouth with another searing kiss. With one hand he helped her into a half sitting position, propped up on her elbows, and grasped behind her to open the bra clasp with a smooth move. Hermione's breasts sprung free from their confines, and he simply had to admire them.

He stared at her for some time before he latched onto her small nipples with vigour. He sucked and laved one until it was hard and reddish from the assault. The young woman arched into his touch and wrapped her legs around his hips. She moaned with disappointment when he withdrew his mouth from her breast. He gave the other nipple the exact same treatment while he fondled her round bum through the lace of her knickers.

Hermione was searching for friction, grinding her crotch against his hard prick, trying to get him to nudge her clit just a tiny little bit... She was on fire, burning with desire. She wanted his hands, his lips, his tongue on her pussy, on her clit. She wanted to feel his thick cock inside her, pounding into her hard.

"Draco, I want you now! Please, make love to me now!" she whispered desperately.

Smirking, Draco pulled her lacy undergarments down her legs and threw them carelessly over the foot of her bed. He buried his face between her legs, inhaling her scent deeply. With a lazy lick along her slit, he made Hermione buckle helplessly, moaning and panting.

"So you want me?" he whispered against her pussy lips, the vibration of his voice going straight to her sensitive bundle of nerves.

"Yes, Draco... I want you so much!"

With a smile, he kissed his way up her body until his hips were once again settled between her thighs. He teased her with his cock, nudging his glans gently against her over sensitive clit. He kissed her slowly, sensuously.

Then suddenly he became serious.

"Hermione? Tell me that this is... that this is a proper relationship. It will be, right? You, Sophia, me. Just the three of us."

"Yes! Oh Gods, yes! I only want you in my bed. But now please, please make love to me!"

She looped her legs firmly around his bum and tried to get him closer. With a satisfied smile, Draco obliged her urging and thrust deeply into her. They set a quick pace, lost in their lust and each other. Hermione's fingernails left deep scratches on his back; he left a chain of love bites on her neck.

He filled her completely, fitted her as if he were carved out of her flesh, as if he were a part of her. With each stroke he completed her, body and soul, her hips coming up, meeting him in their frantic rhythm. Draco felt her hot wet walls around him, sucking him in deeper and deeper. He buried his nose in her hair – she smelt like honey and Sophe's cookies, better then the most expensive perfume could ever smell.

"Hermione," he groaned, feeling the telling tightening in his balls. He ground his pelvis purposefully against her crotch, stimulating her clit effectively. Hermione sucked in a deep breath and moaned loudly as her climax washed over her like a wave. Draco followed her, her clenching cunt being the last push he needed to go over the edge.

They made love several times that night, sharing their relief and hope by worshipping each other's bodies. Just before Draco could drift into a deep and exhausted sleep, he felt Hermione crawling out of bed, throwing his boxers at him and putting on a tank top and soft shorts herself. When he looked at her questioningly, she only shrugged.

"Sophia comes to cuddle when she wakes up in the morning."

"Are you okay with her finding me in your bed?"

"I am. She's already used to your presence in our lives, and I think she should get used to you in my bed, don't you?" She seemed insecure about the last thing, but Draco smiled and drew her into his embrace.

"Right," he agreed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The potion works basically like Muggle chemotherapy, only much faster and without the side effects. Thanks to very advanced disinfection charms, you will be able to stay with your daughter before and during the transfusion. It is scheduled for this afternoon.

"The procedure is very safe. The success rate is close to a hundred percent. There are very few relapses, far fewer than in the Muggle world. Sophia will have to stay at the hospital for a couple of days after the surgery, but by the end of the week, she should be able to go home with you.

"Do you have any questions?"

Hermione threw a short glance at Draco, who had been listening intently, and then shook her head. "No, I don't think we have."

"Good. A nurse will help you prepare your daughter and administer the potion." The healer smiled encouragingly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione watched hypnotised as the reddish-brown bone marrow trickled into the slim plastic tube and through the needle into her daughter's vein. After all the months of worrying, this seemed almost too easy. The stem cells would find their way into Sophia's bones all alone, no big surgery or the like needed. She should start getting better soon.

Hermione looked up when a hand passed her a steaming cup of tea. She smiled.

"Thank you, Draco."

The wizard smiled back and took his place in the chair next to her. In about half an hour the transfusion would be over and the healers would wake up Sophia. For the moment she slept a potion-induced sleep.

"Hermione?" Draco put his own and Hermione's cup on the table next to Sophe's bed. "I've meant to ask you..." he took her hand hesitantly and caressed her with his thumb.

"Yes?"

"Would you... I mean... would you allow me to put my name on Sophia's birth certificate?"

The witch simply stared at him without saying a word, so Draco rushed on with what he had obviously repeated in his head a thousand times.

"I know that we don't know if it will work out between you and me yet. I hope it will, but in case it doesn't... I'd hate to lose Sophe. I love her as if she were my own. Please, would you allow me to become her father?"

"I – I don't... Are you sure?"

Draco looked frustrated. "Of course I am sure! Do you think I'd ask something like that if I wasn't sure? I have thought about it for weeks. If you would let me, I'd like to adopt your daughter."

*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N(2):

 

My beta, laurielove, brought up a question about stem cells. I decided to clear that issue up for everybody, because I think that it might be interesting for all of you.

There are two categories of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. The former are won from bone marrow or from the umbilical cord blood. While embryonic stem cells can still develop into different cell types and might one day be used for multiple medical purposes, the use of adult stem cells is more limited. But it's usually the adult stem cells that you use to cure leukaemia.

I am neither a nurse/doctor, nor a medicine student, but the procedure about bone marrow transplant I described should (hopefully) be more or less accurate. I have the information from Wikipedia and have cross-checked with different medical sites.

By the way, it is pretty easy to get typed and included into a donor database. It's not even necessary to draw blood anymore – so there is no excuse left not to do it... :-)

jamies_lady told me in her review that in England it's the Antony Nolan foundation that deals with the typing.

In Germany, it's the dkms (amongst others). If there are people who know about where to go in their country, let me know and I'll update this note.

 

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The epilogue will be up soon. But I warn you in advance, it's much shorter than the chapters!

And now... I really appreciate your feedback... Please hit the review button!