Disclaimer: As an added disclaimer, I don't own the song or the lyrics to "She Will Be Loved", belonging to the band Maroon 5. Also, for future reference, I don't own any songs I use in this story unless I directly state so.
Chapter 2: You Can't Turn Back Time
"Aunt Jen, it wasn't my fault, it truly wasn't. Well, it was, but it wasn't. You'll see why." Once Rhia started to tell Jenny what was going on, she just couldn't seem to stop. "It was all so innocent, really. He and I started talking because he was the first Malfoy ever to be put in Gryffindor, or any house other than Slytherin, for that matter. Then we became really good friends, and we dated most of the year. At the last Hogsmeade outing we went on, we went off by ourselves and had a little too much butterbeer. You know what that stuff can do to a person if you have too much of it. Anyway, I honestly don't remember much about what happened after that. And now… now…I-I'm…pregnant," she finished in a whisper as she fought back tears, but lost.
Jenny had listened in silence to her niece, and now her head was spinning. She hugged the teenager in her arms, giving her a shoulder to cry on, literally. `This is SO not good,' she thought numbly. `Hermione is going to have a cow, maybe ten. Her whole life she and Harry have been plagued by Draco and Lucius Malfoy, and now her daughter is not only head-over-heels for a Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's SON, but pregnant with his kid!'
To Rhia she said, "The only thing I can say here is you need to go talk to your mom, big time. I can't help you this time, and the longer you wait to tell her, the more upset she'll be."
Sniffling, Rhia wiped her sleeve across her cheeks and said to her aunt, "Can you come with me? Just for support. I don't want to face Mom on my own. Please?"
All of Jenny instincts were screaming at her to stay out of this mess and as far away from Hermione as she possibly could for a few days, but instead, against her better judgment, she said, "I guess I can. Just enlighten me of something, Rhia. Who's this Malfoy kid's father and what's his name?"
"His name," Rhia said after taking a deep breath, "is Drayden Malfoy, and his father is…Draco."
Jenny stiffened, imagining the scene this was going to cause. The Potters and the Malfoys had never gotten along. How was this poor kid going to be happy when he or she would be forever trapped between the two feuding families? How were Rhia's parents going to handle this?
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Hermione was sitting in the family room reading a book when Jenny and Rhia came into the house. She was immediately aware that something big had taken place, but what she wasn't sure. She laid down her book and waited for one of the two to say something.
When neither one did, she said, "Alright, what's going on?"
In the background "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 was playing.
(All the words in italics (lyrics) are being sang in the background on Hermione's radio)
Beauty queen
Of only 18
She had some trouble
With herself
"Mom, I need to tell you something. Just listen until I finish," Rhia said, looking anxious. She looked somehow younger and yet older than she actually was.
He was always
There to help her
She always belonged
To someone else
"Okay…" Hermione said apprehensively. Her coffee-colored eyes, pools of ocher light, reflected her fears for her daughter, but she didn't say anything.
I drove from
Miles and miles
And wound up
At your door
I've had you
So many times before
But somehow
I want more
I don't mind
Spending everyday
Out on your corner
In the pouring rain
Rhia began to tell her mother what had been going, starting with the part about a boyfriend. "He's really sweet, Mom," she said, not telling Hermione his last name. "Drayden and I really care for each other. Anyway, we went out on our last Hogsmeade trip and I think we both had a little too much butterbeer. Honestly, I don't remember much after that, except, well…" Rhia's voice trailed off, not wanting to say the words that would shatter her mother's heart. Her hazel eyes gained a far away look to them, and Hermione waited patiently to hear the rest of her daughter's story.
Look for the girl
With the broken smile
Ask her if she wants
To stay a while
She will be loved
And she will be loved
Tap on my window
Knock on my door
I want to make you
Feel beautiful
I know I tend to
Get so insecure
Does it matter
Anymore
The moments ticked slowly by. Rhia couldn't seem to find the courage or the words to hurt her mother this way. In spite of everything, her mom had always been there for her, been there to reassure her and tell her everything would be all right. What would her mother think of her now?
It's not always
Rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise
It moves oh so long
Hermione sat immobile, not being able to endure this tense silence, but not finding the words to ask Rhia or Jenny what was wrong. She dreaded hearing the words she knew were pending, but she just wanted this all over, wanted everything to be alright once more. Then again, perhaps things would always be upside down starting from this point on out.
My heart is full
And my door's always open
You come anytime
You want
Jenny sat in supreme silence, hoping Rhia could do this on her own. She really didn't want to get drawn into this if she didn't have to, but she knew that Rhia might require some assistance, too. However, she was content to wait it out for the time being.
I don't mind
Spending everyday
Out on your corner
In the pouring rain
Look for the girl
With the broken smile
Ask her if she wants
To stay a while
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
At that moment Sierra entered the room and sat importantly down on her favorite chair, even though she knew she wasn't allowed on the furniture. Hermione glared at her, but the Siberian husky just ignored the death glare and looked her straight in the eyes. "Alright, there's only one way to say this," the dog said suddenly. "Hey STUPID, haven't you figured out what your daughter is trying to tell you? What she's trying to say is that-"
I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things
That make you who you are
I know that goodbye
Means nothing at all
'Cause that makes me
Catch her every time she falls
Harry entered the room and glared at the dog. "Did I just hear you call Hermione stupid? Look who feeds you and gives you a home you little-"
Tap on my window
Knock on my door
I want to make you
Feel beautiful
"HARRY!" Hermione protested loudly. "Put that dog back down! She was trying to say something to me!" Harry grudgingly set Sierra back down none-too-gently on the floor, taking the chair for himself. He glared at the dog. Sometimes he went overboard on protecting Hermione.
I don't mind
Spending everyday
Out on your corner
In the pouring rain
Sierra shook herself, silently snarled at Harry, and began again. "As I was saying before he interrupted me, what you haven't figured out yet that your daughter is saying is that she's expecting her boyfriend's kid." To herself, the dog grumbled, "Why is it that dogs always figure things out way before humans do?"
Look for the girl
With the broken smile
Ask her if she wants
To stay a while
A hush fell over the entire room. Not a person stirred, Jenny looking at Hermione, Harry looking at Sierra, Hermione staring at Rhia, and Rhia staring at the floor. Sierra got up and trotted over to the doorway to escape Harry's skeptical stare. Once again, only the lonely ticking of a solitary clock filled the room.
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
"Is that true, Rhia?" Hermione said in a strained whisper, her world seeming to break down around her. Her own faced paled to a deathlike white.
(Please don't)
(Try so hard)
(To say)
(Goodbye)
"Yeah, it is," the teen said, her face paling significantly as well.
I don't mind
Spending everyday
Out on your corner
In the pouring rain
"Rhia, why?" Harry asked; hurt filling his voice and eyes. "And who?"
(Please don't)
(Try so hard)
(To say)
(Goodbye)
"Dad, even I don't know why. I was stupid, and Drayden and I were both drunk, and, well…I honestly don't remember myself."
"So what's his last name and who the hell is his dad?" Harry demanded from his daughter, green eyes smoldering with his anger at her boyfriend.
"His name…is Malfoy, and his dad is Draco," she said quietly, knowing her parents wouldn't be happy about it. Before they could say anything, she pressed onward. "He's not like Draco or Lucius, really. He's really sweet and we really do care about each other. We can make this work, all of us together," she pleaded.
"Where in hell does this kid live? I'm gonna kill him!" Harry shouted, standing up even as he spoke.
"Harry, calm down," Hermione said, trying to soothe him. "Killing the poor guy isn't going to solve anything. The kid probably doesn't even know she's pregnant with his kid if she's just now telling us."
"I don't care! He's one of those damn Malfoys!" he said angrily. Harry stalked out of the room obviously upset. Hermione herself just said, "And I suppose you knew about this, Jenny."
"Actually, I didn't until I got back to the barn with M and M."
"Mom?" said Rhia, "Are you mad at me?"
"By all rights, you'd think I should be, but I'm not. I'm disappointed in your poor judgment, and I'm upset with your actions, but I'm not mad at you."
"Okay."
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Hermione stood outside with one of her favorite horses, The Last Marauder, Marauder's 2-year-old (and last) foal. The filly had her coal-black nose buried in the crook of her arm. Hermione was infuriated with the latest turn of events, but she knew there was precious little she could do about it. Yelling wouldn't help matters. However, she was going to do something about this. Oh yes she was.
Hermione had just decided to go see McGonagall about tracking Drayden down, even if it meant facing Draco. There really wasn't any way around it. She had to know who he was as a person, what he was like. Would he be there for Rhia and the baby, or would he be like his father and run away from his responsibility? It was crucial to her to know where he stood on this matter. Would he step up to the plate? That was the question that was really bugging her. Well, she would have to go find out. She sighed in annoyance and apparated to McGonagall's house to find some answers to her burning questions.
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