Draco sighed heavily as he left the Room of Requirement. He had been there all night trying to fix that damned cabinet.

He thought of skipping his morning lessons and going back to his dorm to sleep it off, but then he remembered he had double Potions, and no way was he going to miss being with Aurora.

But when he arrived, Draco was dismayed to discover she was not there.

He looked around, somehow hoping for a clue of her whereabouts, but getting no luck.

He couldn't concentrate on anything - tiredness and worry consuming him. He kept staring at Aurora's empty seat as an uneasy feeling knotted in his stomach.

"Are you feeling all right, young Malfoy?" Slughorn asked, noticing Draco's lack of attention. "Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

Draco didn't need convincing. He swept his things into his bag and gratefully left the classroom.

He didn't know where to go. He was desperate to find her, he just wanted to make sure she was all right.

Feeling that the hospital wing was probably the best bet, he decided that he may as well head up there.

But along his way, he heard shouting coming from behind a closed door. He shrugged and started to walk on, until he realised it was Blaise's voice. He supposed he must have been having a barney with Cho.

Realising it was none of his business, Draco went to move on yet again.

But when the name 'Aurora' was distinctly said, he realised he couldn't ignore it. Pressing an ear up against the door, he listened.

"It serves the little slapper right!"

Draco frowned, that wasn't Cho's voice - it was Pansy's.

"It's sick! You've destroyed her life! You're the reason she's found herself in this situation - how could you have swapped her potion?"

Destroyed her life? Swapped her potion? Draco's heart hammered wandering what Pansy had actually done to Aurora to make Blaise sound so angry.

"If she's knocked up, then that's her own fault for not keeping her filthy legs crossed!"

Draco bent over double as his insides turned to liquid. The sickness... she wasn't ill. She was pregnant.

Without a moments hesitation, he turned on the spot and went flying towards Ravenclaw Tower, suddenly certain that's where she was.

Keeping his fingers crossed, he answered the riddle and slipped inside. He looked about warily, relief washing over him as the common room appeared empty.

He swiftly crossed the room to her dorm, and slowly lifted his hand about to knock, but hesitating as he did so.

She had chosen not to tell him. Perhaps it wasn't even his? He had no right to assume; no right to confront her after announcing his engagement to Pansy: the marriage that had to go ahead, no matter what.

Sighing, he turned around on the spot and started to walk away.

He was halfway across the common room when he heard the click of the door opening behind him.

"Draco?"

His heart hammering, he turned around. Aurora stood, looking forlorn, in the doorway of her dorm.

And he knew he couldn't not ask.

"Are you pregnant?"

Slowly, she nodded, tears spilling instantly from her eyes.

And then he was crossing the room, striding to her as quickly as he could, taking her into his arms and holding her tight as she sobbed against his chest.

"Oh, Aurora," he breathed, tightening his arms around her and nuzzling his face in her hair. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

He held her as she wept, not ever wanting to let her go. Despite her sadness, he was so relieved to have her in his arms.

"She switched the potion," Aurora sobbed, "Pansy switched the potion on purpose."

"I know, I just overheard." He said, closing his eyes in fury. What the fuck had Pansy been thinking?! "Aurora, why didn't you tell me?"

He felt her stiffen in his arms and she looked up, pulling away from him. "I was going to, but then I found out you'd got engaged! To her!"

She turned, walking back into the dorm. He didn't hesitate to follow, closing the door behind them.

"I had to, Aurora, you don't understand. I have to marry her."

"Why?!" Aurora cried, whipping around to face him, hurt and fury mingled on her face, breaking his heart.

"Because if I don't, he is going to kill my family... including you."

"What?! Draco, what are you talking about?"

He crossed the room to her, once again closing the gap.

"The Dark Lord is angry about what happened at the Ministry. He is taking it out on my father by punishing me. Aurora, he knows I'm in love with you. So he's destroying it."

"Why didn't you tell me? Draco, my heart's been breaking thinking you've somehow chosen her over me. Again."

"Never!" Draco cried, taking her hands in his. "Aurora, letting you go seemed like the only way to do this. The marriage is going ahead whether I like it or not. I thought if I made you believe I didn't want you, then you could move on and have a life without me - a happy one."

"How can I be happy without you?" She replied, her voice trembling.

He couldn't help but dart his eyes down towards her stomach. He saw now the slight protrusion in the gap where her robes parted.

"You're- you're keeping it?" He swallowed.

"I already love it, Draco." She said, noticing the direction of his eyes and placing her hand protectively upon her stomach. "It's a piece of you, and a piece of me."

His heart fluttered, so it was his. He tried not to think about the complications of this fact.

"Can I...?" He looked at her hesitantly, glancing down again towards her stomach as he held out a tentative hand.

She nodded, shrugging off her robes so that she was stood in just a vest and bottoms. He placed his fingers delicately to the small swell of her stomach, sighing as he felt her shiver beneath his touch.

"Our baby," he breathed, marvelling in the miracle, his heart swelling as he felt a new rush of love flood every inch of his being.

Her hand cupped his face as she stared up into his eyes.

"You look tired, Draco." She whispered, her beautiful eyes searching his in concern.

"I haven't slept," he murmured, closing his eyes at the heavenly feel of her hand on his skin.

"Lie with me," she said, dropping her hand to place in his, and gently pulling him towards her bed.

He didn't argue, feeling too exhausted to think about the dangerousness of the situation.

In that moment he wanted nothing more than to lie down with the woman he loved, holding her in his arms whilst he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to come to him.

There were so many questions, so much they needed to discuss.

But for now they simply curled up on her bed; Draco, Aurora and their baby that she was carrying.

Pansy had screwed it up for herself big time.

Because now there was no way Draco was ever going to let Aurora go. Even if it meant living a lie for the rest of their lives.