Breakfast at Natalie's

"Draco, I'm pregnant."

Her words hit him like a Stunning Spell. His mind reeled, scrambled with incoherent thoughts.

"Is it mine?"

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he regretted it. She turned away from him and spoke in a low voice: "I knew you wouldn't take it well."

"No, I..."

He reached out a hand to touch her shoulder, and she flinched as if his fingers had burned her.

"I'll take care of the baby myself," she said.

"Hermione, I'm sorry," he said quickly, ashamed of himself. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

"Even if you hadn't said it, you were still thinking it," she spat, turning to glare at him. "And to answer your question, I don't know. I don't know whose it is."

She sighed wearily.

"We can get a paternity test, can't we?" he said cautiously.

"Well, yes." She looked at him, her expression unreadable. "But they take a while. We probably won't know the results for a couple weeks."

"We can get one before we leave for our cruise," he prompted. "That way we can have the results when we get back."

She shifted underneath the blankets, but didn't say anything.

"Hermione," he said softly, "it doesn't matter to me who the father is. Of course, I want it to be me...but even if it isn't...I'll help you take care of the baby. You're my family now. You, Cassie, Riley, and Natalie. There is no one else left for me."

"You really mean that, don't you?" she said quietly.

"I do," he answered. "But I think you should get some sleep now. I'll call St. Mungo's when they open at eight tomorrow morning. I'm sure they can squeeze you in for an appointment."

He gave her a kiss on the forehead, pulling the blankets up to her chin. Then he felt his way to the door.

"Draco?" she called in the dark, as his hand rested on the doorknob.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," she said. "For everything."

He didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded, even though he knew she wouldn't be able to see him in the dark. He shut the door quietly and walked down the hall to his own bedroom and climbed into the bed.

I'm going to be a father, he thought, with a mixture of joy and anxiety. Then, smiling to himself, he rolled over and went to sleep.

------------------------

He woke early the next morning and immediately phoned St. Mungo's. A female receptionist answered.

"Good morning," she said in a chirpy voice, "St. Mungo's, how may I help you?"

"I'd like to make an appointment for, um, Hermione Grang--Whittaker," he said.

"Purpose of the appointment?"

"Er...a paternity test," he said nervously, twisting the hem of his shirt with one hand.

"A paternity test," repeated the receptionist, struggling to disguise her astonishment. To her credit, she recovered quickly. "Ah, that would be with Healer Madgewick, on the Sixth Floor. What time?"

"Your earliest appointment," said Malfoy.

"That would be eight-thirty this morning, sir," said the receptionist. "That's in twenty minutes. And you need to get here five minutes early."

"That's fine," he said. "Thank you."

He hung up, his hands shaking. Why in God's name was he so nervous about making a phone call? Putting the thought out of his head, he went upstairs to wake Hermione.

"Hermione," he said, gently shaking her. "Hermione."

She groaned, rolling over so that she faced away from him.

"You have to get up," he persisted.

"What do you want, Draco?" she opened her eyes to look at the clock. "It's ten after eight in the bloody morning."

"Yes, I know," he responded calmly. "I made you an appointment for eight-thirty, but we have to get there five minutes before.. So you have to get up now or we'll be late."

She sat up suddenly, her hair sticking up in the back. "St. Mungo's!"

"Yes, exactly," he said, roaming around the room in search of her clothes. He found the closet and pulled out a pair of charcoal gray pants and a light pink sweater. "Where do you keep your socks?"

"In the drawer, dammit," she said, throwing the covers aside and getting up. "I'm late for work!"

"Well, good thing our destination is St. Mungo's then," he said, striding over to her with the clothes.

"Not now," she said, "I have to shower."

Quicker than he could respond, she dashed into the bathroom and shut the door. Within seconds, he heard the sound of running water. Setting the clothes down atop the rumpled bedspread, he went downstairs into the kitchen. Rummaging around in the cupboard, he found the strawberry granola bars she liked so much, taking two. Her purse was sitting on the counter, so he shoved the bars in there along with the house keys. He grabbed a bottle of iced pumpkin juice and took a swig. The chilly liquid cooled his parched throat. He reached back inside the refrigerator and got one for Hermione too.

He took another drink from the bottle, and then he realized that Hermione was eating for two now. He'd heard about pregnant women's bizarre food cravings, so he was loath to get her something else to eat. Maybe he'd convince her to take an hour off so that he could take her to get a proper breakfast. As he was thinking this, the sound of running water from upstairs stopped, and he remembered that her clothes were still on the bed. Abandoning the half empty bottle, he rushed upstairs.

He ran into the room, grabbing the clothes, just as he heard her shout, "Draco, where are my clothes?"

"Right here!" he said, stumbling forward and reaching the door just as she opened it. He tried to stop, but found that his balance was off with his arms flung out in front of him, holding her clothes. He teetered forward, crashing into her.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, as her towel slipped and they both smacked into the tiled flooring.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" he said, scrambling off her and helping her up.

She nodded. "I think so," she said, gazing down and touching her stomach gingerly.

"The baby..." said Malfoy, his eyes wide in terror. "It's not...I didn't..."

"The baby is fine," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Just a little bump, that's all."

"Are you sure?" he said, picking her clothes up from the floor and handing her an item of clothing, all the while avoiding the sight of her nude body. "I mean..."

"I'm fine," she repeated, stepping into her underwear. "The baby's fine."

"Shirt please," she said, holding out her hand. He stuffed it into her hand, still averting his gaze. She looked up at him, then sniggered.

"What?" he said, holding up the pants as she doubled over in laughter. "Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"

"You," she said, her giggles subsiding. "You, the ever fearless Auror, who will face down all kinds of criminals, but who's afraid of seeing me in my underwear."

"I'm not afraid," he said in an affronted tone. "I'm just..."

"Embarrassed?" she said, stepping into the pants and smirking as she stepped around him to go to the closet. "Unbelievable."

"Chasing criminals is my job," he said defensively, looking at his wristwatch. "We have five minutes. That gives us just enough time to Apparate and get to the Sixth Floor..."

"Which shoes should I wear?" said Hermione, coming out with two pairs of shoes.

"Does it matter?" She gave him a look. "Okay, okay, um, wear the black ones."

She slipped them on. "I'm ready," she said, smiling at him.

"Good," he said, already halfway out the door. "Let me get your purse...it's in the kitchen." He grabbed it from where he'd left it, along with the two bottles of pumpkin juice. "I've put two of those granola bars in there, and I've got a bottle of pumpkin juice...I know you like coffee in the morning, but I was in a hurry...I should take you out to get some real breakfast...you have to eat enough..."

He looked up and saw her standing there in her coat, gaping at him.

"What?" he said. "You don't want the granola bars?"

"No, it's not that," she said, closing her mouth and studying his expression.

"Have I got something on my face?" he said, feeling around.

"No, it's nothing. Come on, we're going to be late." She was smiling to herself as they stepped out into the wintry air.

------------------------

The Apparated to St. Mungo's and quickly made their way to the sixth floor, where they stepped into the waiting room at Healer Madgewick's office. The lady at the desk greeted them cheerfully, telling them that the Healer would be out in a minute. Indeed, at exactly eight-thirty, the door opened and a woman with brilliantly red hair stood in front of them, looking slightly puzzled.

"Hello, I'm Healer Madgewick," she said, shaking Malfoy's hand. "I presume you are Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker?"

"We're not married," they said in unison. The Healer looked amused.

"Well, that hardly makes a difference in my field of work," she said brightly. "Did you bring your child with you?"

"Right here," said Malfoy, gently patting Hermione's stomach.

"You understand that I cannot do a paternity test on an unborn child," said Madgewick. Malfoy looked crestfallen. "However, I can perform an ultrasound so you can see your baby."

She ushered them inside, where they entered a dimly lit room with a large screen and an examination table.

"You will need to change into this," said Madgewick, handing Hermione a dressing gown. "I'll draw the curtain to give you some privacy."

She pulled the curtain around them and left the room.

"Ugh, I hate these," complained Hermione, tugging her sweater off. "I feel so exposed."

Malfoy turned so that his back was facing her. He still felt uncomfortable about seeing her without her clothes on. Footsteps announced that Healer Madgewick was back.

"Are we all set then?" she said, closing the door to the room and pulling the curtains back. "You can sit in the chair next to her," she said to Malfoy, drawing her wand. He stiffened, and she seemed to sense his anxiety. "I'm not going to hurt her," she promised.

She tapped her wand gently on Hermione's stomach and moved it in slow circles. On the large screen, Malfoy could see something that looked to him like television static.

"Do you see your baby?" said Healer Madgewick, pointing to the screen. "Right there, that tiny little thing."

"My baby," murmured Hermione. Malfoy stared at the screen in awe.

"Would you like a photo?" asked Madgewick.

"A photo?" said Malfoy. "How?"

"I'm going to print the image on the screen," said Madgewick, pressing a small button on the side. There was a whirring sound, and a machine on the counter that Malfoy had not noticed spit out a square piece of paper. She handed it to Hermione. Since it was a wizard photograph, the image moved. Hermione touched it with her fingertips reverently.

"Thank you," she said.

"It was my pleasure," said Healer Madgewick, winking at Malfoy. "Now, you're about four weeks along, I'd say, give or take a few days, so you'll want to come back for routine check ups. You can make your next appointment with Delia at the desk before you leave. It was nice meeting you both."

She left them so that Hermione could get dressed again. Malfoy turned and saw Hermione sitting motionlessly on the examination table, staring at the picture.

"Hermione?" he said, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"She said four weeks," said Hermione.

"I know, I heard."

"Four weeks...four weeks...that would put it about the end of November or the very beginning of this month," she said, counting backwards on her fingers.

"And?" said Malfoy. He had no idea why this was so important.

"It's yours," said Hermione. "We don't need the paternity test."

"I...what?"

"Six weeks ago, I left Joseph. Four weeks ago, we...you know." She blushed.

"So that would mean..." he said slowly, as the meaning of her words dawned upon him.

"It's yours," she said. "No question about it."

He surprised her by flinging his arms around her and giving her a bear hug. When he let go of her, she looked slightly taken aback by his excitement, but also pleased by it. He helped her dress, and they made an appointment with the receptionist, who waved goodbye to them from her desk. They got into the lift and stopped at the Third Floor.

"Do you really have to work today?" asked Malfoy, as they stood in front of the closed doors of the Children's Ward.

"This is my shift," she said.

"I'm sure we can convince someone to cover for you," said Malfoy. "Especially when they hear the news."

"We're going to tell them, just like that?" said Hermione, astonished. "Natalie doesn't even know yet. My parents don't know. Shouldn't I call them first?"

"Come on, Hermione," he pleaded, "they'll know eventually. Please? Let me take you out to eat. We can get breakfast crepes at that French place you like so much."

As if on cue, Hermione stomach growled. She hadn't been to the French café in months, and just the mention of the crepes were making her ravenous.

"Alright," she said, giving in.

"Victory!" said Malfoy, pumping his fist into the air; Hermione rolled her eyes. They walked into the Ward together, Malfoy's arm protectively circling her waist.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy," said Lina, another Healer that worked on Hermione shift. "It's been quite a while since we've had a visit from you."

"I've been busy," he said, feeling guilty.

"I see," she said, smiling slyly when she saw that he was holding Hermione's hand. "Well, if you wouldn't mind, I think Hermione looks like she wants to get to work."

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd let me take her out to breakfast," he said.

"That's an unusual request," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I can work a later shift," said Hermione, the same time that Malfoy blurted, "She's pregnant."

"Oh my," said Lina, rushing over to give Hermione a hug. "Congratulations! When's the baby due?"

"Should be sometime in August," said Hermione, blushing furiously.

"You can take her to breakfast," said Lina, grinning at Malfoy. "Just bring her back for the afternoon shift."

"I will," he said, as they walked towards the door.

The two of them said nothing as they walked to the café, but they understood each other perfectly.