As the weeks went on by, it seemed that Draco wasn't getting any nearer to fixing that wretched cabinet.

He was starting to feel desperate, the whirlpool of nausea swirling in his stomach getting bigger and bigger as time began to run out.

Much like Aurora's belly.

He would often allow himself to look at her, marvelling in the way her body changed to accommodate their growing child.

Potions class was still his favourite time, and even though he tried not to encourage any interaction between them, he couldn't resist letting his eyes rest upon her bump. It brought him peace; made him remember why he was doing this.

When Aurora had given a small gasp and her hand flew to her stomach, he had looked down in alarm and saw the unmistakable movement of something inside the mound.

It had made his heart swell and break at the same time.

What he would have done to touch her, to feel their baby moving beneath his hand.

But he couldn't do that; he had to stay away. As long as he was a Death Eater and Lord Voldemort was his master, then the child could never be his.

*****

"Fred! What are you doing here?"

I had just stepped out of Ravenclaw Tower to be greeted by my favourite Weasley twin.

"Oh, Aurora," he murmured, throwing his arms around me, "aren't I glad to see you."

My heart hammered at the graveness of his voice.

"What's the matter Fred? What's happened?"

"Professor McGonagall sent for us, Ron's just been poisoned."

"What?! How? Why?" I asked, completely astonished at this news.

"I don't know, I haven't been up yet, I wanted to get you first."

He held me tightly to him, despite my bump getting in the way. I was almost eight months pregnant now and very much looked it.

"Come on," I said taking his hand and leading the way, "I'm sure he's fine, Fred. You know Ron, he's a boomerang."

"You can say that again," Fred chuckled, as I tried not to think how or why Ron was poisoned.

He was going to be okay, we discovered, as soon as entered the Hospital Wing.

Harry had saved him. But there was still the question of who had laced Slughorn's mead with poison and why.

"I think I can hazard a guess," Harry spat bitterly, as he looked down at his unconscious best friend.

"Oh not this again, Harry!" Hermione sighed. "I keep telling you, it's all in your head!"

"What's in your head, Harry?" I asked, looking over the top of the hospital bed at him, as Fred squeezed my shoulder.

"Harry thinks Malfoy is a Death Eater," Hermione scoffed, as if this was the most ludicrous idea in the history of time.

"Well it all adds up!" Harry roared. "He wouldn't let Madam Malkin lift his left sleeve; he threatened Borgin by showing him something on his left arm; Katie Bell - he was there! At the pub! I saw him! And now this!"

A strange kind of horror trickled down my spine.

Because it did all add up.

And if it was true and Draco really was a Death Eater; then we truly had no future.

*****

"Are you going to be okay?" Fred asked as he hugged me goodbye after walking me back to the Ravenclaw Tower.

He placed a hand upon my belly as I nodded, smiling sadly.

"Not long now," he murmured, his eyes twinkling softly into mine.

My heart gave a painful twist as I thought about Draco. I just couldn't get excited about the thought of meeting my child without him.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" Fred asked, leaving his hand there.

"No," I shook my head, again not being able to bear the thought of doing that without Draco.

"I've a few suggestions, if you don't mind?" Fred said, giving me a quick, hopeful glance. "But it's not something we need to discuss now. Perhaps in the Easter holidays when you come home?"

Home. He meant the flat above the joke shop.

A wave of nausea crashed over me.

I needed an apple.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Fred said frowning, looking at me searchingly. "You really don't look well."

"I'm fine," I insisted, "now go on, I know you need to get back to the shop."

He cupped my face in his hands, planting a firm kiss upon my forehead.

"You know I'm going to look after you and that child, don't you? As if it were my own. And I know you don't love me in that way, but maybe one day you might see differently and we could be able to be a proper family? Because I'd do anything for you, Aurora. You know I would. Anything."

A tear trickled down my cheek, which Fred wiped away.

"I do love you, Fred," I sobbed, clinging onto him hard. "You are a very dear friend."

I saw the sadness flicker in his eyes, and I felt like the absolute worst person in the world. He was offering me his whole world and his whole heart, but I couldn't do the same; there would always piece of me I could never be able to give to him.

The piece that belonged to Draco, and always would.

I watched as he walked away, making me promise to owl him if I needed anything.

Realising I was out of apples, I decided to pop down to the kitchens to see if any of the house-elves could provide me with some. They were usually extremely accommodating and took absolute delight in seeing my growing bump, all of them falling over themselves to offer me pregnancy advice.

But on my way down, as I was walking along a corridor; a strange noise from behind a door made me pause.

Someone was crying; loud, gut wrenching sobs.

I couldn't just walk on; this person sounded in a dreadfully upset state and I wanted to see if I could help.

So, I cautiously pushed open the door, realising too late that it was in fact the boys bathroom.

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I went to step back to allow the door to shut closed again, but just at that second, I caught a glimpse of the distraught boy clinging onto the sink.

Draco.

Almost like a physical sensation, I felt my heart break into pieces. I stepped completely into the bathroom now, and stared in horror at the shaking figure of the boy I loved with all my being.

He was sobbing with his whole body, letting out loud, heartbreaking wails as tears cascaded down his face and splashed into the sink.

"Draco?" I breathed, my voice trembling in fear.

His whole body stilled as his sobbing ceased immediately. He lifted his head and his sunken pale eyes met mine in the reflection of the mirror before him.

Without saying anything, he whirled round on the spot, facing me.

And that's when I screamed.