Hey guys! Well, I finally have chapter 12 up thanks to the use of Prongsy's computer. =] It's not finished obviously, but read to the end and then read my little message. =]

Chapter 12: Changes
Draco milled through his thoughts as he sat under a big oak tree. Tears were still falling freely down his face. He shook his head and tried to wipe them away, but felt defeated when more came back down. He was holding a picture that had been taken months before. It was of Hermione running from the camera, not wanting to be caught by the film. She was smiling, laughing, throwing things at Draco. He smiled at the memory and brushed more tears away. Suddenly the silence was broken as Draco let out a short scream of pain. He looked down at his arm in anguish and cursed. He put the picture back into his robes and jumped on his broom.

*****
Hermione flipped through her book furiously. She knew it had to be somewhere in there.
“Harry!”
She threw the book at the door and looked under her bed.
“Oi!” Harry ducked and the book grazed his hair. “Trying to kill me?”
“Where is it?!”
“Where is what?”
“The picture of Draco!”

Harry frowned and ruffled his hair. He walked over and picked Hermione off of the floor.
“Harry, I need to find that picture!”
“Hermione! It’s no good torturing yourself. It’s been three months. You need to stop this.”
“I’m not torturing myself.”
“You haven’t been yourself since he left that night. And I kinda miss you bugging me to do my homework. Now I actually have to do it on my own nagging. Do you know how hard that is?”

Hermione smiled slightly and sat down next to him.
“I just don’t know what to do, Harry. The pain won’t go away. I still love him so much, and I know he didn’t leave because he wanted too.”
“But you can’t keep holding on to someone if you don’t know if and when they’re ever coming back. He hasn’t written to you or anything, Hermione.”
“I never got to tell him…”
“Tell him what?”

Hermione sighed and frowned.
“I’m pregnant.”

*****
“But my Lord, how can I go back there?”
“I’m sure you will find a way. You’re not an idiot, Draco. You know as well as I what will happen if you don’t get me what I want.”
“I understand, my Lord, but – “
“NO! No questions, no doubts! I don’t care what you have to do, just get it done!”
Draco bowed quickly and backed out of the room. He shut the door quickly and made his way outside. Frustrated, he kicked his broom and screamed out in anger. He didn’t want to go back. He couldn’t face all those people. The ones he loved, the ones he hated, the ones he just couldn’t keep composed around. He looked down at his broom and sighed. He picked it up and mounted it.
“Time to go back to bloody school.”

*****
Harry stared in disbelief.
“Uh...you’re, um…what?”
“…pregnant.”
“Are you…sure?”
“I’ve taken the test enough times to know.”

Harry let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck.
“How, uh…how far along are you?”
“…almost three months.”
Harry sighed and fidgeted where he sat.
“It’s okay. I’ll help you with whatever you need, Hermione.”
“You’re too nice to me, Harry. You really don’t need too.”

Harry looked down at her and pulled her chin up and quickly kissed her lightly. They both pulled away as quickly as the kiss began. Hermione blushed and Harry distanced himself by getting up and walking to the door.

“I’ll…uh, save you a seat at the table.”
“Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“Stay.”
Harry turned around and looked at her curiously. “What?”
“Don’t leave.”
“Don’t you want to get uh…going to class and…and stuff?”

Hermione had gotten closer to Harry. She smiled and wrapped him up into a hug. He struggled with his thoughts but hugged her back, tightening his grip around her waist.

“I just want to be with you right now.”
Harry smiled and rested his head on top of hers.

*****
The Great Hall was louder than usual that morning. It had been a few weeks since Harry and Hermione’s kiss. They had walked in holding hands, and they quickly sat down before too much was brought up about it. No one seemed to notice. Harry filled a plate and placed it in front of Hermione. She looked at it wide-eyed and looked to Harry.

“You don’t expect me to eat all that?”
“Yes, I do.” He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “You’re eating for two now, remember?”
“I’m not a disposal, Harry, I have limits.”
“Eat as much as you can. Please?”

Hermione rolled her eyes and picked up her fork. When breakfast was over, they made their way to Potions class. Commotion was still wandering around the school. Hermione wasn’t too concerned with what people were talking about, but Harry was naturally curious.
“Hey, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, Harry.”

Harry smiled and walked over to Neville and Seamus, who were talking with a few other people.
“Hey guys.”
“Hey Harry.”
“Heard the news?”
“What news?”
“Malfoy’s back.”
“WHAT?!”
“Came back early this morning.” Neville said.
“Thought you and Hermione would already know. Considering they were so close a few months back.” Seamus said.

Harry looked over to Hermione with a worried look on his face. Walking back, he sat down and began flipping through random pages of his Potions book. Hermione watched him, curiosity welling over her face.

“Um, Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing?”
“Reading.”
“Why are you reading?”
“I need to learn this potion.”

Harry stopped when he realized what he just said. He put his head in his hands and breathed slowly.
“Okay, I’m going to tell you. But you have to promise me not to completely freak out.”
“Harry, you’re being silly. Just tell me.”
“Well, okay. Um, Draco is…here.”

Hermione’s face went pale. There wasn’t really any emotion as far as Harry could tell, but when Hermione looked back down at her book, he grew concerned.
“Hermione?”
“Yes Harry?”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. Let’s just finish this potion so we can go back to the dorm.”
“Hermione?”
“Harry. Just drop it.”

Harry sighed and looked over to the group of people now forming around Draco. 'She’ll come around. Eventually.’ Harry sighed at the thought and went back to making the potion.

*****
Okay, so I need some ideas for what Draco is looking for and how the Harry/Hermione sitch should be handled. So if you could PM me, that would be awesome. And duh, you'll obviously be credited in the next chapter. =]
Please and thank yous!

--Padfoot