A Snake's Secrets ~Draco&Hermione FF~

Chapter 13 ~ Cursed

Draco’s POV

               I stared at Hermione and tried to keep myself from bursting at the seams. Joy and fear both battled to overtake me. I was going to be a father, and on any other day that would make me cry from happiness. But instead, my chest tightened with dread. I was a werewolf, and I would be putting Hermione and my child in danger.

               “Please, just say something,” Hermione said, panic in her voice.

               “I’m going to be a father?” I whispered as the tears finally began to escape my eyes.

               She smiled through her own tears and nodded.

               I pulled her into a tight hug, laughing and kissing her. For a moment, we just sat there and enjoyed the small dose of happiness. I even felt the bump of her stomach that was already showing. But soon enough, reality set back in.

               “What are we going to do?” I said, closing my eyes. “I’m a werewolf. I’ll be a danger to you and the baby until I can figure out a way to control myself.”

               “I told you, Remus and Bill will help you,” she said gently. “You will learn control. I know you would never hurt me or the baby.”

               “Never intentionally,” I muttered. “But I’m barely myself when I change.”

               Hermione kissed my lips lightly. “All this stress isn’t helping you heal. Rest and we can talk later.”

               I let her push me back onto the bed but caught her hand. “Stay with me?”

               She slid into the bed next to me without a word, pressing herself close to me.

               I closed my eyes and finally let myself fall asleep, exhaustion taking over as it had tried to do since I woke up.

               I stared at my hands as my very skin began to change. My bones were snapping, forcing me to drop to the ground from the agony. I screamed my pain to the moon, and that scream soon turned into a howl. My vision turned red as I crouched low to the ground, narrowing my beastly gaze on my prey.

               Hermione stood a few yards away. Her eyes were wide with fear as she clutched a small bundle to her chest. She was speaking in a pleading voice, but her words were foreign to me. The blood pumping through her veins drowned out everything else.

               I pounced before she had a chance to run. Her screams were like music to my ears.

               My eyes flew open as I gasped for air. I sat up and pushed my hair off my face, trying to calm my racing heart. It had only been a nightmare, but it was like I could still feel myself tearing at Hermione with claws and canine teeth.

               I looked up when the door opened and felt myself tense slightly despite myself.

               Bill Weasley entered with a pile of clothes in his hands and stopped when his eyes found my face. “Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

               I studied his scarred face for a moment. “Fine,” I said quietly, not sure what else to say.

               He laid the clothes on the side of the bed, his eyes grazing over my shoulder. “Fleur gave you plenty of potions to take the pain from that, but it might wear off soon. To be honest, it won’t heal easily.”