My little Sunshine

Chapter One. The Emergency Department

Hermione knew she was good with kids, but this was beyond the pale. She had been called down to Emergency for a 6-month-old boy. The original diagnosis was splinching, as he had been apparated in with an injured adult, but the minute Hermione looked at him she knew better and immediately cast the counter-curse and began healing the open wound on the child’s chest.

Someone had cast a sectumsempra on him. The Cutting curse.

What sort of person would do that to a baby? It couldn’t have been an accident. The hit had been dead-on and with a target that small it had to have been deliberate.

He had been gasping, unable to cry, but the minute she got the bleeding stopped he had looked right at her and then calmed down.

Hermione took a few extra minutes with the baby, just rocking him as she coaxed him to take the peds blood replenishment potion from a bottle. She was both thankful for magic and hated it all at the same time at that moment. Thankful that she was able to heal the potentially fatal wound so quickly with it, but hated that it was misuse of magic that caused the wound in the first place.

The baby had bright blond hair that fuzzed like a halo around his head, and blue-grey eyes that looked right at her like he knew who she was. The round little face looked vaguely familiar. “There Sunshine, everything will be alright now.”

The baby looked up at her and suddenly she felt chubby baby hands prying at her mind-and then she saw herself as if across a room or corridor.

She was a child again, at Hogwarts, in her Gryffindor robes, hugging her books to her chest like she always had done. Somewhere nearby she heard Harry’s voice, carrying in that warm, friendly way he always had;

“Hermione!”

She shook her head hard in the present, blinking at the baby in her arms.

Then another memory flashed before her minds eye.

She was in the owlery, with her Gryffindor scarf wrapped warmly around her neck. She could almost smell the hay and musk, and almost feel the cold of the air. “Hello, Granger.”

Was that Malfoys voice?

She frowned for a split second in the memory, and then offered a tight smile, with a curt response of “Malfoy,”

Definitely Malfoy then.

The baby watched her closely, then she saw a memory of a familiar hallway, and a photograph of herself and Blaise at their medical graduation, wearing their doctor’s robes for the first time, raising their fists in celebration, and saw Blaise’s hand pointing to her face.

“…and that’s my friend ‘Mione, you’d like her.”

What on earth was going on?

How could a baby have memories of her from Hogwarts?

Then another memory-Blaise holding the blond infant in front of his hall mirror- “Who’s that in the mirror?” He asked, his face in a bright grin, “There’s my Scorpy!” And the baby laughed, delighted at the game.

A knock on the door frame brought her back to the present as a nurse joined her, “…Dr. Granger, is everything all right in here?”

Hermione’s head jerked up, and she offered a quick smile, “Everything is fine, thank you. We’re just finishing up the bottle here. He’ll need a bottle of formula after this though. If you can get that together, I’ll hand him off to you to finish feeding him.”

“Yes ma’am.” The nurse nodded, “I’ll just get the next bottle right quick and take over.”

When the nurse returned Hermione handed the baby to her, “Get some rest, Sunshine,” Hermione said softly, as the nurse adjusted the bundle of blond magic in her arms.

He fussed a little while the nurse shook the bottle to ensure the mix was complete. Hermione brushed her finger down his nose, making him blink sleepily.

“There ya go, he’ll probably go right to sleep.” the nurse said, offering him the bottle.

“Perfect. He’s had a hard day, he needs the rest.” Hermione said, “Let me know if anything changes.” And she left, her mind still full of the memories she had seen.

~~~

“Lucille, what do we know about the baby in 206?” Hermione asked as she came through the nurses station after the baby had settled and was resting peacefully.

Lucille flipped through a stack of parchment, “…Father brought him in. Sandy said the dad looked pretty beat up himself and was barely coherent. We took the baby, and Zabini took the father to room…” she glanced back at the paper “…309.”

Just then Zabini’s patronus, a cocker spaniel, bounded up to the station with a recorded message;

“Under no circumstances is Scorpius Malfoy to be surrendered to his mother. She intentionally caused his injuries today.” Even through the echos the magic created and Blaise’s professional affect, Hermione could hear the tension and anger in his voice.

Hermione’s breath caught.

Malfoy.

Of course.

The memories all made more sense now. The Owlry was Draco’s memory. And this was his son.

It had been all over the papers and Witch Weekly: The wedding and subsequent honeymoon baby. Blaise had been all but bouncing when he was named godfather.

But what sort of mother would curse their baby?

What sort of PERSON would curse an infant ? Her heart hurt for the Malfoy family.

Hermione nodded at Lucille and moved back down to room 206 and recast the wards.

Normally the wards on each of the pediatric patient rooms only allowed entrance of approved medical personnel and blood relatives of the occupant. In this situation, Hermione decided that in an abundance of caution, she would ward against all of the child’s blood relations except his father.

Once that was done, and the medi-witch on duty in the infants room informed of the changes, Hermione decided to take a few minutes and go down to trauma and check on Blaise and his patient and give an in person update on the baby.

Blaise had become a trusted colleague and good friend during their medical apprenticeship and she knew he had been best friends with Draco all throughout school. He had been there for her when she and Ron had broken up while Harry and Ginny were on their honeymoon. She remembered that argument like it was yesterday, even though it had been five years ago. Ron hadn’t wanted to get married and she decided she wasn’t going to waste her life waiting for him.

Blaise had been her shoulder to cry on, the one to cut her off when she went too deep into the bottle or more often her textbooks. And she, in turn, had been there for him when he’d fallen in love with Luna Lovegood, encouraging him when his Slytherin friends had laughed in his face.

He had kept his friendship with Draco close to his chest but she knew that her schoolhouse bully and former Death Eater nemesis had made a full turn around, starting when he gave Harry his wand during the Battle of Hogwarts. She knew he had been seeing a therapist for a couple of years and making huge strides toward overcoming his prejudices and trauma.

Blaise was pacing the corridor outside Draco Malfoy’s hospital room.

“Blaise!” she called as she approached the tense wizard.

He looked up and fire burned in his eyes, “I’m going to kill her when I find her Hermione.”

“Is it that bad?”

He turned and walked with her to Draco’s door. “Hell ‘Mione, I’ve been telling him to report her for months! Since she found out she was pregnant she’s been nothing but nasty to him, and it just keeps getting worse. He’s been trying to hide it from me but he forgets I can see through his lies and know a concealing charm when I see one.”

Hermione followed Blaise into the room and sucked in a sharp breath.

Draco Malfoy was almost unrecognizable.

He looked like he had been beaten by a troll. Both eyes were blacked, one was fresh, the other half healed. His nose had been broken, and he had bandages on his arms and chest. Half healed cuts and bruises littered his body making his old scars stand out all the more from his normally pale and now technicolor skin.

The domestic abuse he had obviously been suffering from for the past year made her stomach twist.

She instantly reviewed her examination of little Scorpius downstairs. The only injuries he had had were a small bruise on his arm and the curse that had nearly killed him.

Malfoy had obviously been protecting his child as best as he could.

Blaise gave her the medical run down of Draco’s injuries. It was as bad as it looked.

Broken bones, cuts, bruises, Astoria had used the Cruciatus on him at least twice that day, possibly consistently over the past year, though Blaise couldn’t say for sure as he knew Draco’s father and aunt had favored that unforgivable curse as a punishment as well.

“…How’s my godson?” Blaise asked finally after a few beats of silence.

The fact that Hermione hadn’t lead off with the baby when she had first come up told Blaise that things were going well in the pediatric department downstairs.

“He is well. He will of course have scars, but he took the peds B.R. potion well, and was resting peacefully when I came up. We didn’t know who he was until you sent up about his mother.”

“You took care of the wards right?”

“Personally. Draco is the only family member allowed entrance.”

Draco shifted at the sound of his name and started to come-to with a grunt, half of pain, half of fear. He seemed dazed, his mind still obviously at the manor with his abusive wife.

His eyes focused quickly and he struggled to sit up.

“Oy, Drake! Lay still.” Blaise started forward to press his best friend back down to the bed.

“Scorpius!” Draco clutched Blaise’s arm, “my son. Where is he? Is he alright? Is he safe? She tried to kill him!” He was frantic with fear.

“He’s fine, Drake, calm down!” Blaise said, moving to keep Draco from coming off the cot.

“Your son is safe and well, Mr. Malfoy, I performed the counter curse myself, and your wife will not be able to harm him again while he is under my care.” Hermione said gently and professionally as she joined Blaise by the bedside.

Draco’s attention snapped to her, blinking, shocked, like he’d seen a ghost.

“Hermione?” Draco said as Blaise laid him back on the cot, “Er - Ms. Granger- Dr. Granger.” He stumbled over her name and appropriate address. Once upon a time he might have stumbled upon ‘Dr. Mudblood ’.

Hermione nodded professionally.

They weren’t friends, but they weren’t enemies anymore either.

He held her gaze for a long moment, searching for some hidden concern about Scorpius.

“You can rest easy, Mr. Malfoy. He is alive and well.” Hermione reassured him when the fear didn’t leave his eyes.

Draco returned her nod, finally swallowing the panic and fear. “Thank you, Dr. Granger.”

Blaise stood back on his heel, satisfied his patient wasn’t going to throw himself on the floor in a panic, but still mad as hornets. “Mate, how many times have I told you to report your abusive bitch of a wife?”

Draco winced as he drew a long breath, “She needs help, Zabini. Not a trip to Azkaban—”

“—But she won’t get help, Drake.” Zabini shot back, “She would have already if she was going to—”

“—I have to keep trying,” Draco said, “For Scorp’s sake.”

Blaise bristled, “No. You have to divorce her for Scorps sake. She nearly killed you both today!” Blaise was almost shouting now, “She won’t get help, and you staying is only allowing her to hurt you. You don’t have to be a damn martyr, Malfoy!”

There was a ghost in Draco’s face. A memory of a boy trapped between two impossible choices. A man responsible for a child who would have to make similar ones if nothing changed.

“You can’t make anyone accept the help they need,” Hermione offered. Draco’s eyes flicked to her for a moment, then they closed, turning to the library in his own mind.

“I’m with Blaise on this,” she continued, “you can choose to remain in a harmful situation if you wish, but your son doesn’t deserve this.”

“Damn Right,” Blaise agreed, “Drake- I’m not going to let you make the same mistake your mum did. Luna and I will be keeping Scorpius until you get your shit together.” he crossed his arms.

Malfoy’s eyes flashed, a familiar anger coming upon his face. “You cannot take my son from me, Zabini.” He said coldly.

“Like hell I can’t!” Blaise threw his hands up, “I’m his Godfather! If your batshit crazy wife kills you because you don’t have the balls to kick her ass out, he comes to me anyway.”

Hermione expected a response from Malfoy, but he seemed too tired to do more than scoff as Blaise continued, “I’m just short-cutting the process. You’ll still turn up dead, and I’ll still be stuck burying you, but at least the Malfoy line survives.”

“Zabini—” Draco began, but Zabini continued to talk over him.

“We could pass him off as Luna’s at least. Maybe not mine, but definitely hers.”

Draco gave up on defending or explaining and sat quietly as Blaise continued, “We can change his name to Xen. He’ll be safe, and loved, and learn all about wrackspruts and snorklepacts or whatever the fuck they’re called. Luna’s been asking when I wanted to start a family. This is a little quicker than we were expecting, but it’s what we agreed to when we accepted being his godparents, isn’t it?”

The room was quiet for a long minute as Blaise caught his breath. The duel continued silently for a moment as the two stared at each other in unspoken argument. Then Draco’s eyes closed again, exhausted. his shoulders shook slightly as he exhaled, and when his eyes opened again they were glassy with tears. “Blaise,”

“Yeah, Drake?” Blaise responded equally gently.

“Thank you for caring about me and my son.”

“I love you, man. But I really wish the days of wondering whether you’d still be alive at the end of the fucking week had ended with Voldemort.”

Hermione almost held her breath, not wanting to interrupt the progress in this tired argument and their own masculine feelings.

Finally Draco sighed.

“I’m assuming I’ll be stuck here for a few days…?”

Blaise nodded and the spell was broken. “At least. You’re going to need rest.”

“Alright. Get my solicitor in here, and if Scorp is well enough to go home before me, have Luna take him if she can.” Draco said.

Blaise smiled wearily and nodded, “Done.”

“Will you be telling the grandmothers what happened?” Hermione asked, “The wards on Scorpius’s room don’t allow them to visit at the moment, and he won’t be allowed to leave until tomorrow at the very earliest.”

“Solicitor first,” Draco said, “I want the paperwork done before either my mother or hers can try and talk me out of it. Until then leave the wards as they are.”

Blaise nodded again, “I’ll call MacReynolds now.” He patted his friend on the shoulder gently, “you’re doing the right thing mate.”

Draco took a deep breath and nodded, gripping Blaise’s hand firmly.

Beside Blaise’s dark skin Draco looked terminally pallid.

Hermione started to go as well, following Blaise to the door.

“Dr. Granger.” Draco called.

She paused in the doorway, “Yes, Mr. Malfoy?”

“My son. How is he really?”

“He is going to be fine. The counter-curse was successful, he took the healing potion well, and when I left he was resting. I expect that he’ll have some scarring, but he’s going to be okay.”

Draco’s hand moved to his chest and Hermione remembered how Harry had told her he had used the same curse on Draco during their 6th year.

“…Will they pain him like mine do?”

Hermione’s heart twisted in her chest at the grief and fear in his voice.

“We don’t know,” She said carefully, “Possibly. It isn’t a common curse, thank heavens. And we don’t know how much of your pain is caused from the curse itself and how much is from the interaction between those scars and the repeated Cruciatus you have suffered… My opinion is that it should be an unforgivable curse; It is dark magic, and that always leaves an indelible mark.”

The amount of physical pain this man must have suffered over the years.

How much of it did he still carry with him every day?

“But Scorpius is young, and I think that his odds of making a full recovery are good.” Hermione offered.

Draco nodded silently, looking at the ceiling to avoid her eyes.

“Would you like to see him?” She asked after a moment.

A new hope lit his face, “Could I?”

“Of course, he will be free to go home in the morning provided he doesn’t have any reactions to the BR potion, or other complications through the night.”

“Then yes, please.” Draco said.

“I’ll go get him and bring him down to you.” Hermione responded.

Draco nodded to her, “Thank you, Dr. Granger.”

Hermione returned his nod, and left for the peds floor again. 

Chapter 2. The Solicitor.

Hermione waved at Lucille as she came up to the nurses station

"All good on the floor?" She asked 

"Yep, little Malfoy isn't settling down for his nap, but everyone else is asleep or resting quietly. How is the infamous Draco Malfoy down there? Handsome as ever?" Lucille was an avid follower of the Malfoys in Witch Weekly which of course was half trash talk half made up crap. 

"His face is about 16 different colors at the moment. But he's in decent spirits. I've come up to take the little one out for a short visit."

"Wish I wasn't tied to this desk or I'd love to take him up to his daddy." Lucille sighed, 

"The last thing the Malfoys need right now is their fan club invading their personal lives, Nurse Montgomery." Hermione said sternly,

The nurse straightened up, 

"Yes Dr. Granger." 

 "Thank you. Now, I'll be back shortly." Hermione turned towards the room before pausing "Oh and add Luna Zabini to the approved visitor list for baby Malfoy for me." 

"Yes ma'am." 

Scorpius Malfoy was very upset when Hermione came in, the nurse who had been assigned to him was doing everything she could to sooth him but he wouldn't calm down. 

Hermione decided to perform a couple of diagnostic spells to double check that the child wasn't in any physical pain since his father had mentioned his own scars being painful even eight years later. She had the nurse lay the flailing infant down on the cot and then flicked her wand over his little body. Nothing on the little boy changed colors which meant he wasn't in any physical pain. 

"I think he just wants his daddy." Hermione said as she picked the infant up again, snuggling him against her chest and shoulder. He instantly calmed down, his little body shuddering with the hiccups, his thumb firmly in his mouth as he pressed his face into her neck. she swayed slightly and patted his back.

"There, little Scorpius, let's go see daddy eh?“

"I think he likes you." The nurse quipped,

"I've always been good with babies. That's one of the reasons I went into Pediatric medicine. Anyway, we will be back. Just going for a quick visit upstairs, since Dr. Zabini ordered Mr. Malfoy to stay in bed."

"All right see you later Dr. Granger."

Hermione would normally have placed the baby in a pram for the trip but it would take more time to locate one and disentangle the tiny fist from the hair at the nape of her neck than it would to just carry him and she wanted Draco to have a few minutes with the child before the Malfoy family solicitor arrived. 

When she got back to Draco's room the door was standing open, and she could see Draco had his eyes closed, resting. His left eye was probably swollen shut by now, Blaise hadn't taken the time to do more than stabilize him and give him a pain potion as he knew the physical evidence on his body needed to be witnessed. Hermione knocked on the frame briefly, "Dr. Granger here with little Scorpius, Mr. Malfoy." She said, and sure enough, only Draco's right eye opened when she knocked. He started to sit up again, she quickly stepped into the room

"Please lie still, Blaise will have my head if you re-fracture your ribs that he just began fixing."

"Can I hold him please?" Draco asked, laying carefully back down. 

Scorpius lifted his head at the sound of his father's voice and made those delightful gurgling baby noises, 

"For a bit." She said as she stepped to the side of the bed and carefully laid Scorpius on his back in the crook of Draco's right arm; it was the lesser injured of the two and on the same side as his one working eye. Then with one hand still on the infant's stomach she levitated the chair closer to the bed before sitting where she could easily reach the baby and then let Draco hold him unassisted. 

Draco turned his head carefully to look at his son. 

"Hey buddy, sorry it's been such a rough day." He said quietly, the baby hummed,

"Yeah, momma- momma is-" Draco took a shaky breath, "momma needs a lot of help before we can see her again." Hermione wondered if he was using legilimency to know what the infant was feeling or thinking.  She would if it had been her child who had gone through such a traumatic experience. She wondered if that wasn't what she had experienced earlier when she was tending the infant. Part of her thought she was just imagining things at this point. 

"Dr. Granger?" Hermione glanced up at Draco but he was still talking to Scorpius, "yes, she is taking very good care of you. Aunt Luna and Uncle Blaise are going to keep you safe for a bit too, ok?" Draco grinned suddenly and gave a small laugh that ended with a cough. He glanced up at Hermione who was very confused. 

"Legilimency?" She asked finally, Draco started to nod but winced, 

"Yes, it's been very useful. He 'said' he preferred you to his aunt Luna. And he regularly prefers aunt Luna to his mother. And the nurse in his room smells weird." Even Hermione had to laugh at the last. 

"There's no way he has words for all that." She said

"It's more just being able to interpret the emotions that go with the memories. And we've had lots of practice. It was his first bit of accidental magic about two months ago." 

"What was?"

"His Legilimency" Hermione's eyes went wide, but before she could question anything she could feel the clumsy chubby baby fingers in her mind as she had earlier and looked down into the tiny little face, two piercing blue grey eyes staring back at her. She saw the flash of Astoria’s face, red and screaming, felt fear and then pain, and then love and hope as Draco's slightly less battered but more bloody face had appeared. And then cold and pain and Hermione's face determined and gentle as she performed the counter curse and checked him for any other injuries and soothed him. Hermione's face again, but younger, her hair the bush of brushed out curls she had worn at school half tied back, smiling across a room. Safety, trust. 

More memories flashed quickly to the surface, Draco rocking him, singing to him, playing, laughing. Love. Safe. Warm. Happy. 

Draco smiling.

Hermione had never seen Draco Malfoy smile like that. She involuntarily thought of the only other semi-smiles she had ever seen. The snotty school bully smirks that came with the name calling and belittling. The anger and hurt she had felt at his hands.

"Hermione." She looked up at Draco. "I'm so sorry for all of that." He said

"Were you in my head too then?" She asked defensively. He shook his head, "Scorp" it was then that she saw the baby giving his father the stink eye. "He showed you what I was thinking?"

"And he wasn't too pleased with it either."

Hermione's brows creased,

"A general translation would be 'dad, how could you be such a prick to my 'Mione?'"

"Yeah, why were you a prick to his 'Mione?" Blaise asked as he and the solicitor came in the door behind her. 

"Good God Master Draco!“ the older man said, as he approached the bed "who did this to you?"

"The woman my father forced me to marry."

Baby Scorpius decided at that moment to start kicking and flailing about excitedly as Blaise came into his line of sight and Draco flinched in pain as a small heel struck a still tender rib. 

“I had better take him.” Hermione said, standing and picking Scorpius up. 

“Ah, are you the nanny dear?” Mr MacReynolds asked kindly, Blaise snorted,
“She’s Scorpy’s ‘Mione” he muttered to no one in particular, Draco sighed,

“This is Dr. Hermione Granger MacReynolds, she is the one who saved my son’s life this afternoon.” MacReynolds eyes went wide, 

“I think we had better start at the beginning, Master Draco.” He said as he sat his case down and pulled up a chair. 

Draco laid out everything that had happened for the past year or more. How when he and Astoria had finally married Astoria had insisted upon an agreement. She would give him the heir she was legally bound to give him. And then she would have her lovers and he could have his. Draco hadn't wanted to agree, he hadn't wanted to marry Astoria but he wanted to make it work since they were magically bound together. He liked her well enough, and he wanted his son to have a better home life than he did as a child. 

His going to therapy, becoming a better person, abandoning the pure blood prejudices against muggles and half blooded witches and wizards, made her angry and she had on multiple occasions canceled his appointments with his therapist. 

The physical abuse hadn't started until after Scorpius was born and Astoria found that no one would touch Mrs. Malfoy with a 10ft pole.

Hermione sat beside the bed, holding a now sleeping Scorpius, listening in horror to everything that Astoria Greengrass Malfoy had done to her husband. She looked down at the sleeping baby, his fuzzy blond hair, rosy cheeks, thumb half in his mouth as he lay rag dolled in her arms. Tears filled her eyes as her heart broke for Draco Malfoy and his son. Blaise had been sitting on the arm of her chair, and put his arm across the back of it to squeeze her shoulders in a side hug as he heard her sniff quietly. 

"Do you have a list of Master Draco's injuries Dr. Zabini?"

"Every single one as well as a list of ones I've treated for him at my home or his over the past two months along with the dates Mr. MacReynolds." Blaise said. 

"Excellent. I'll need a few photographs before you finish treating these injuries. Now, master Draco, what do you desire to do now? You have a very solid case for divorce and will gain sole custody according to the marriage contract." 

"I want my wife to get professional help. If she refuses, then I will go through with the divorce. Scorpius and I will not be staying at the manor until everything is settled."

Blaise huffed and sat up straight. 

"You two can stay with us Drake. But I want the divorce paperwork written up and ready to go, cause hell will freeze over before Astoria agrees to see a therapist and you know it." 

Draco sighed, 

"I know. I can't just leave her though Blaise, she's the mother of my child."

Blaise just looked at him. "I'll let her go if she wants to go." He sounded defeated. 

"So you have the paperwork done and when she laughs in your face you hand it to her and she'll know you're serious."

Draco sighed again

"Draw up the divorce papers and an ultimatum please MacReynolds. I think it's time I start listening to my doctor."

Chapter 3. Divorce Papers and Daydreams.

The divorce papers and ultimatum were done and Draco's solicitor MacReynolds sent a junior associate to locate Astoria Malfoy and deliver the written ultimatum. Hermione took Scorpius back to his room and finished her rounds. There were only a handful of overnight patients and all were doing well. She clocked out and was on her way out when she suddenly decided to look in on Draco Malfoy. It was quite late and he was probably asleep but she walked past his room anyway. 

The door was propped open and a light glowed from the bedside table, Draco sat up on the edge of the bed like he'd been out of bed and walking recently. The dim light showed that most of the bandages were gone, the bruises and cuts were healed. He sat hunched with his face in his hands, elbows propped on his knees. He was wearing what must have been a set of borrowed scrub pants and a hospital issue robe. A letter lay open on the bed beside him. 

Hermione watched as he scrubbed at his face before sitting up with a sigh. He looked at his left hand, his wedding ring, for a long sad moment before pulling it off and laying it in the letter. Astoria must have sent back the divorce papers. 

"Dr. Granger, you working a double today?" Hermione spun toward the nurse that had come up behind her,

"Oh, um, no I was just on my way home for the night." the older nurse looked at her with an eyebrow raised, and Hermione blushed slightly, caught out.

She heard Draco get up and walk to the door of his room and was just about to make a run for it, “well goo-” she started to say goodnight but Draco Malfoy interrupted her.

"Dr. Granger, how's Scorpius?" Hermione turned back to face Draco, he had just finished tying his robe and leaned against the door frame, hands in his pockets.

His face wasn't swollen or bruised anymore. The bruises around his eyes were almost completely faded and his nose was straight again. He had obviously had a shower, his hair was still visibly damp. She definitely had to agree with Lucille that he was rather handsome. Blaise had done a good job fixing him up. She could almost hear Blaise's voice in her head " like what you see Granger? Cause I could set you up ." Wait- that was Blaise's voice in her head. "Get out of my head you perv." She snapped at the much taller wizard as he walked up to where she and Draco were standing.

"Not my fault you suck at Occlumency." He shrugged. 

Draco just stood watching his best friend and Hermione Granger argue like siblings. Blaise stood at least a foot taller than Hermione, the top of her head not quite reaching his shoulder. Hell, even Draco had to look UP to meet his friends eyes and he was half a head taller than Hermione. She had changed out of her medical robes and was wearing muggle clothes now, blue jeans and her well worn red sweater with a gold H had to be a Weasley knit. He wondered if she and Ronald had decided to get together or not. He knew Potter had married the Weasley girl- Ginny? That sounded right. He thought he remembered seeing Ron and Hermione together at Blaise and Luna's wedding. But that had been three or four years ago.

"What are you doing up here anyway? Home is the other direction. Everything ok with Scorpius?" Blaise asked and Draco was drawn back to the present moment, remembering that he had asked a similar question. Hermione blushed, 

"Scorpius is fine. He was sleeping peacefully when I checked in on him a few minutes ago." Blaise just grinned at her, 

"So you came up here to see my best mate Drake? You sure you don't want that date?" He was back in her head again. She glared back at him, her face turning a deeper shade of red.

"I'm going home. Good night Dr. Zabini." She said coldly, then turned slightly and nodded to Draco "good night Mr.Malfoy." and with that she turned on her heel and left the two men standing there.

"Is that a yes?" Blaise called after her, she didn't even look back as she flipped a rude gesture at him.  Blaise burst out laughing and Draco just watched in astonishment. "What did you say to her?" He asked, he had never seen Hermione Granger act so… un-granger-like before. 

Blaise grinned at him, "asked her if she wanted me to set you and her up." Draco stared at his best mate, he had only just signed the paperwork that Astoria had sent back, her flowing signature filling the space so that there had barely been any room for him to sign. The messenger had said the minute she read the first letter she had laughed and demanded the divorce papers, she signed them and sent him packing- but not before offering the young man a warm bed for the night if he wanted it. 

Draco had cared for Astoria despite everything. It was both painful and a relief that she was so quick to throw the last year away. He looked back down the hall where the brightest witch of the age had just been. 

"What do you think of our Dr. Granger, Mister Malfoy?" Blaise asked in his head, teasingly referring to his friend as Hermione had done all day. Draco was excellent at occlumency but had taken to leaving his mind open in case Scorpius reached out to him. "After everything at school she can't possibly be interested in me." Draco said aloud. 

Blaise laughed again and shook his head. "Mate." Blaise pushed memories from that day into Draco's mind, Hermione holding Scorpius, her eyes filled with tears as she listened to Draco talk with MacReynolds. She held the baby just a little bit tighter, a little more protectively. Hermione staring at him, thinking he was handsome in the doorway just before Blaise interrupted. Hermione sitting with him and Scorpius talking when Blaise and McReynolds had come in. "Nanny indeed. Anyone else might have thought she was your wife." Blaise quipped in his head

"Merlin, if she were my wife…." Draco's thoughts turned to what life would be like if Hermione Granger were his wife. The thoughts made his blood run hot in a way the thought of Astoria never had. He could drown in those thoughts if he let himself.

"I knew it! You've been crushing on her since 3rd year." Blaise nearly shouted with glee, yanking Draco out of his rapidly growing daydream of Hermione Granger in his kitchen with a cup of coffee, wearing his old quidditch jersey and not much else.

"Your old quidditch jersey- well that wouldn't leave much to the imagination now would it? Also I'm married thank you very much and don't want pictures of my favorite co-worker in nothing but an old quidditch robe in my head. Merlin's balls, she's practically my sister! Ugh." Blaise scrubbed at his face as if to erase the image from his mind.

"Will you shut up?! People are trying to sleep!" Draco hissed. His face flushed with embarrassment. He stepped back into his room, Blaise right behind him. "Also stay the fuck out of my head and you won't have to experience my daydreams. Besides, isn't she with Weasley?" 

Blaise scoffed "daydreams? That one was on a solid road to wet dream mate. And please, she broke up with that git years ago."

"How do you know she doesn't have a boyfriend now?"

"Drake, I'm practically her best mate. Luna and Ginny fight over her but honestly, we all know she likes me best. If she had a boyfriend I would know. So the position is definitely available if you're interested in applying."

Draco sat down on the hospital bed and sighed. 

"No Blaise. I literally just got a divorce. It's crazy. It takes at minimum 6 months for a muggle to get a divorce. And only 2 hours for a wizard if the magical contract is fulfilled. Our laws need help."

Blaise shrugged, 

“Not saying they don’t. But you can have all the time you want mate.” Blaise moved to the doorway, “I’ll let you get some sleep. See you in the morning Drake.” he turned to leave, but stopped and knocked on the doorframe. “I’ll warn you if anyone else comes asking about your Dr. Granger.” 

Draco groaned, “Zabini!” but the dark haired wizard was gone. 

He laid back and took a deep breath, thankful his ribs now only pinched slightly when he breathed. Magic was wonderful. 

Hermione was wonderful. 

He sighed. No. he needed to take time to process all of this. He wasn’t going to pursue another relationship for at least six months. Give his mind, heart and body time to recover. 

Chapter 4. 10 Points to Slytherin Mr. Malfoy.

Hermione closed the door of her little house with a bit more force than necessary and leaned against it as if to keep the world at bay. Blaise Zabini was a menace. She sighed and dropped her bag beside the door, tossing her keys at the hook that was charmed to catch them if she got within a meter of it. The look on Draco Malfoy's face when he had pulled his wedding band off had made her heart cry.

How could people be so cruel? 

Hermione kicked her shoes off and went to the kitchen, with a wave of her wand the kettle set itself to boiling and her favorite mug assembled itself into the start of a cup of tea. She pulled a plate of leftovers from the fridge and set them in the oven to warm and wandered to the kitchen bookshelf, what to read tonight? She scanned the titles. Muggle romances lay snugged up with wizard mysteries, medical journals and copies of witch weekly and the quibbler sent to her by Pansy and Luna respectively. Maybe she ought to see what her library had in occlumency. Especially as Blaise was bound to continue to snoop in her brain about Malfoy. He was a chronic matchmaker, the minute he had realized Pansy Parkinson found her current boyfriend attractive he did everything he possibly could to set them up and bungle everything in the process. It had worked out in the end but not without completely embarrassing Pansy on more than one occasion. Yes, occlumency would be a good skill to master and sooner rather than later. 

Hermione collected the books she had that were about or referenced occlumency and took notes as she ate her dinner. Finally around midnight she set everything aside, magicked the dishes into the sink to wash themselves and headed to the shower before bed. She was beginning to think she'd need to talk with Harry about lessons in occlumency. Or maybe Draco? He had been using that skill set longer than Harry had so he could possibly be the better teacher. But then Blaise would be a pain in the butt about Draco in a heartbeat. Harry was by far the safer choice. 

Finally Hermione crawled into bed, fresh pajamas and clean sheets. She sighed happily. And then the part of her mind she most wanted to block from Blaise's prying eyes started painting pictures of a happy little family. The memories Scorpius had shared of Draco smiling filtered into her mind- He was undeniably attractive, especially when his face lit up with that smile, love for his son filling his eyes. She could just picture him asleep next to her, blond hair almost glowing in the sliver of the street lights that made it in through her drawn curtains. One arm thrown across her waist, snoring lightly. Or maybe snorting like a freight train. She grinned. Little Scorpius sleeping in the next room. 

Or maybe breakfast, Draco putting the kettle on with sleep tousled hair and no shirt… God she needed to get out more if the hottest fantasy she could come up with was a half dressed man making her tea. Hermione rolled over and did her best to quiet her mind and sleep. She had work in the morning after all.

Three hours later she sat up in bed. Chubby baby fingers in her mind again, Astoria screaming red faced, Draco arms raised in self defense, Hermione holding Scorpius, Hermione snuggling him, Hermione across the great  hall smiling, Hermione holding Scorpius,  Hermione in the green houses at Hogwarts, Hermione swaying holding him. Hermione in the owlery, Hermione in potions hair frizzed with concentration. Hermione kissing his head. Draco sitting holding Scorpius, tears falling down his face. Hermione leaving Scorpius with the nurse. 

"I get it. I'm coming" she said out loud as she sat up and threw the blankets off. She sent back peace and the memory of her holding him while he slept. He sent excitement and anticipation. Hermione pulled on her slippers and a housecoat, not bothering with proper clothes as it was 3am and only the night shift would be up at the hospital, and she turned on the spot and apparated to st. Mungo's. 

"Evening Maude. Everything going well tonight?" 

"Oh Dr. Granger! Everything is fine. The baby in 206 just stopped fussing, he was fit to be tied for a while. I was about to send for back up." The older nurse looked over Hermione's outfit,

"I thought you were day shift this week. You sleeping in your office again, dear?"

Hermione shrugged noncommittally, she didn't generally wear her pajamas at work when she fell asleep on her office couch but better the nurse thought she was sleeping in her office than that the baby in 206 was a strong enough legilimens to contact her in her sleep two counties away. 

"I'm just going to check on the little one, make sure everything is ok. He came in pretty beat up yesterday."

"Go right ahead dear, I'm sure Dr. Courseir won't mind. Not sure why she went into peds as she can't handle babies."

Hermione was half way down the hall when she heard Maude behind her 

"Oh sir, visiting hours are from 830 to noon tomorrow."

Hermione stopped and started walking back to the nurses station. Draco Malfoy was standing there looking wild eyed. "Hermione!“ he cried, fear and worry filling his face, he practically ran to her, gripping her shoulders. "Scorpius" he said "he-"

"He called me too." Hermione said quietly, resting her hands on his elbows, she looked past Draco to Maude. "His son is the one who was upset, I'll just take him down and make sure everything is ok Maude."

Maude shrugged, "you're the doctor." 

"His room is just down here" Draco released her shoulders and she took his arm, walking him down to Scorpius' room. Draco was still wearing the clothes she had last seen him in, his feet bare. She'd have to find him a pair of hospital socks before taking him back to his room. 

"Did you ever make it home?" He asked obviously trying to recenter himself as they walked, 

"Yep, made it home, had dinner, showered, studied up on occlumency, fell asleep and was woken up about 10 minutes ago by your little ball of sunshine." She pushed the door to Scorpius' room open with a quiet knock "evening Missy, I heard your charge was being difficult earlier." She said quietly in case Scorp had fallen back to sleep. 

"Aye, he's had me in and out and in and out most of the shift." Draco came in behind her, went right to the crib and scooped Scorpius up, holding him close as if to reassure himself that the child was still there. "He wouldn't settle for more than a minute until just a bit ago." Missy continued as Hermione moved to stand between  the nurse and Draco. "He's been lying there staring at the door ever since. It was starting to give me the creeps." 

"You've done well, I can take over from here. I don't think he'll be causing any more trouble tonight now that his father is here." Hermione said, dismissing the nurse. 

"Thanks Dr. Granger. I'll be back around in a few hours for shift change if you don't need me before then." 

Draco had settled himself and Scorpius into the rocking chair in the corner while Hermione dismissed the nurse and Draco took the chance to really look at Dr. Hermione Granger, golden girl, and the brightest witch of the age. She had definitely matured in the three years since he had seen her last. They had spoken briefly at Blaise and Hermione's medical graduation, she of course had been the top graduate and had given a speech to the assembly- something about magical cooperation and letting past hurts heal. It had been the impetus behind him seeking out one of the new wizard therapists that had popped up after the war. Hermione would have made a great Minister of Magic if she had gone into politics. Though she was 26 now she carried herself in a way that the older nurses didn't think to second guess her, even with her standing there in her old comfy pajamas, well worn housecoat and ratty slippers. Her auburn curls were coming loose from a braid that fell over her shoulder. He wanted to take the braid out and run his hands through her hair.

 Scorpius started wriggling in his arms, sending images of Hermione holding him, as well as every happy memory of her from Draco's school days that he had pried from his father's mind. 

"I'm coming, little one!" Hermione laughed as the nurse left, 

"Impatient isn't he?" She said as she came to take Scorpius from Draco's arms. 

"Was he sending those memories to you as well?" He asked as he handed his son to her

"He woke me out of a dead sleep with them earlier. I think he had a nightmare." She swayed and bounced the infant where she stood just within arms reach of Draco in the rocking chair. He wanted to pull her down into his lap and hold them both. He looked down at his hands, his hand felt naked without the weight of his wedding band. "Focus man. you said 6 months not even 6 hours ago and now you're wanting to bury your face in Hermione Granger's hair."

"Draco" her voice was concerned, and he looked back up at her instantly. She hadn't called him 'Mr. Malfoy' he cleared his throat, 

"Yes?"

"I live in Oxfordshire" Draco wasn't sure what she was getting at. Yes, it was a bit of a train ride to get there, but she could just apparate to work so..

"I live in Oxfordshire and he woke me from a dead sleep. With him here and me there." 

"That's- that ought to be impossible. Blaise and I can do it at some distance, but not full kilometers."

She nodded. 

"You might consider writing to McGonagall." She suggested

"I may do that. Keeping it as private as possible until he's old enough to control it will be my first priority and she's Headmistress now so she'll know what we should do." Draco said. 

Hermione wasn't sure who that "we" encompassed, part of her wished that it included her. She mentally shook herself. No, leave the poor man alone. First off, it's been nearly three years since you've spoken to him, secondly he just got out of a nasty relationship and he's got a son with very powerful magic to deal with. You're here because you're Scorpius' doctor and that is it. 

Scorpius wiggled in her arms until he could get his thumb in his mouth and he's other hand around into her hair again like earlier that day.

"Earlier today, when he first came in, after I had finished healing him before I knew who he was, he showed me memories of myself from Hogwarts, one of Harry calling my name down a corridor, one of you and I meeting in passing at the owlery, and one of Blaise showing him a picture of me calling me 'Mione then bouncing him in the mirror calling him Scorpy." She told Draco who nodded,

"He was probably showing you that he knew who you were and that he trusted you. The memory of Blaise and him in the mirror was probably him telling you his name." 

"I can understand the memories with Blaise. Those were definitely his memories- but the ones of me from school? And then later when I brought him down before MacReynolds came he showed me memories of what happened before Astoria cursed him. Then memories of you loving him." Hermione said She snuggled her face into the crook of his neck and just breathed in the baby scent. 

Draco let his head fall back against the rocking chair and sighed into the quiet. "The memories of you from school are mine. He wanted to know more of you after Blaise showed him your picture. He's pulled memories I didn't know I could still remember. I've managed to protect him from the uglier ones so far thankfully." Draco said softly. 

"Oh god- I didn't even think of him seeing the memory of Bellatrix torturing me!"

"He hasn't. I'm pretty sure he showed me all the ones he saw in your head earlier. He's got good recall and was pretty upset that I'd hurt you." Draco met her eyes for a moment then looked down at his hands in his lap, "I know I can't possibly begin to make those years of bullying you right. Not to mention the fact that I stood by and did nothing while my aunt-" he stopped mid sentence. Just remembering that day made him feel sick to his stomach. He swallowed hard. "I hardly dare even ask your forgiveness, I know I don't deserve it."

Tears sprung to Hermione's eyes, 

"I forgave you years ago Draco. I'm sorry you've lived with the guilt of it all for so long. You don't deserve that. No one does."

Draco looked back up at her, doubt still filling his face.

"I forgive you Draco Malfoy. I forgive you for being a complete ass to me in school, for every instance you can possibly think of. Let it go and just keep letting it go. Don't torture yourself for what you did or didn't do." She said earnestly. "Besides, that one hex you hit me with in 4th year worked out to my benefit." Hermione grinned at his confused look, 

"when I hexed your teeth?" He asked

"I had Madam Pomfry shrink them a bit more than absolutely necessary when she was fixing them. So really you did me a favor that year." Draco shook his head with half a smile. 

"You're odd Granger." He said gently, 

"Yes well, I'd rather be a bookworm than a book Beaver." She quipped and he laughed out loud making Scorpius startle.

"Shhhh" Hermione said to both Draco and Scorpius, the baby settled easily. Draco sat there grinning at her, his head resting heavily against the back of the rocking chair, his eyes drifting shut.

"You should lie down." Hermione said softly,

Draco shook his head, "don't want to leave Scorp, he'll start crying again." With a shake of her wrist Hermione's wand fell into her hand and she transfigured the small couch into a bed. "Lay down. You've been through a lot today and your ribs are still healing." Draco started to sigh but it turned into a yawn that betrayed him.

He stood, "I cede the rocking chair to you my lady." He whispered with a flourish as he moved to the bed behind her. "You'll have to show me how that wand charm works in the morning. It looks supremely useful." 

"When seconds mean the difference between life and death it's best to not have to mess about with finding your wand." She got settled in the rocker as Draco tucked himself in, turning on his side to see her better, the nightlight in the corner giving him just enough light to see the easy way she held Scorpius. She dropped her wand and it disappeared, 

"I'm guessing: charmed holster on your wrist." 

"10 points to Slytherin Mr. Malfoy" she grinned at him.

"My friends call me Draco" he murmured with a smile at her teasing

"If your friends call you Draco then who calls you Drake?"

"My family." Draco's eyes closed, the family that loved him called him Drake, or Dragon. His mother called him her Dragon. Astoria had called him Dray when she wasn't calling him other less savory names. He sighed and set the thoughts aside. He needed to sleep, his mother would be around in the morning and there was some visitation stuff to sort out with Astoria's parents and sister. Astoria herself would not be allowed to be alone with Scorpius for any length of time for a very long while. 

Soon Draco was snoring lightly and Scorpius had gone ragdoll in Hermione's arms again. She carefully got up and laid Scorpius in the crib tucking his thumb back in his mouth as he startled slightly with the transfer. He was asleep again in seconds and she stood there watching the two sleep. Draco lay curled into himself, face buried in the pillow. Hermione pulled the blanket a bit further up his shoulders, then grabbed another from the closet in the corner before tucking herself into the rocking chair with a quick glance at her watch. 4:25am. She sighed. Shift change would be around in a couple hours. She would need a lot of coffee to get through the day at this rate.

Chapter 5. The Gift of Freedom.

Hermione's muggle watch went off twenty minutes before shift change as it usually did to give her time to roll out of bed and grab breakfast. She smacked at her wrist but the stupid thing was charmed to start shocking her if she didn't hit the buttons in the right order to make sure she was fully awake. She finally got it to stop buzzing right before it would start zapping. 

She grouched her way quietly to the ensuite bathroom where she washed her face and took the half undone braid out of her hair, finger brushing the loose curls and charming the frizz away before pulling it half back and out of her face. She was pretty sure she had appropriate work clothes in her office. And a toothbrush. She tied her robe more closely about her and stepped back out into the room. Draco was standing by the crib clutching the side. "Draco?" She said softly "is everything ok?" He shook his head and slowly sank to the ground beside the crib. Hermione was by the crib in a heartbeat worried something had happened to Scorpius. He was sleeping peacefully, snoring slightly around his thumb. Draco on the other hand was sweating and breathing fast. 

Hermione knelt beside him and her emergency training kicked in. She cast a quick triage charm. No new physical injuries, he hadn't been poisoned in his sleep, heart beat was fine but fast. 

"Just. Panic Attack." He said trying to force himself to breathe more deeply. "Had a nightmare about Astoria coming for Scorpius.“ 

"Do you want help grounding yourself?" Hermione looked in his eyes, pupils were dilated, and his face was pale. 

"Breathe with me?"

"Do you want me to count out loud?" He nodded and took her hand gripping it firmly, his was visibly shaking. "All right" she said soothingly, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder "in for 7.  three. four. Five. six. Seven." Draco closed his eyes, breathing with her, listening to her voice  "Hold for 4, two. three. four. Out for ten. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. ten. Again. In." Her hand slid about 6 inches down his back then back up his shoulder, a gentle soothing touch, like how she soothed Scorpius. She repeated the cycle again. He focused on his breathing and his senses- 

Smell- hospital sterilizer and rosemary, Hermione smelled of rosemary and old books.

Touch- her hand warm on his back, the other gripped in his like it was the only thing keeping him together, he relaxed his hold on her hand slightly. 

Taste- he really needed to brush his teeth. 

Hearing- Hermione's soothing voice counting. The hospital slowly waking up outside the room. 

Sight- he opened his eyes, the room was still mostly dark, the barest hints of grey dawning in the window behind the crib cast dull shadows into the room. The dim light from the bathroom creating a halo effect behind Hermione. Hermione was an angel, Scorpius’ Guardian angel. 

"Thank you." He said. His hands weren't shaking as badly, and there was more color in his face. "Sorry about that." 

"You don't have to apologize. I've been there plenty of times. The PTSD still gets me at the worst moments. Now, shift change will be in in-" she glanced at her watch, "10 minutes. I can find you some slippers and get you back to your room before MacReynolds delivery boy brings your stuff by if you like. Scorpius will be released to Luna after breakfast and Blaise said you'd be free tomorrow. He wants one more night for those ribs to heal and for your ex to vacate the manor."

Draco nodded, "I'm sure my mother will be ‘round after breakfast too." He ran a hand through his hair. "Merlin, what is she going to think of all this?" He said mostly to himself.

"I don't know your mother well but I have a feeling that she'll be relieved that you and Scorpius are safe and will continue to be so. My mother would be if I had been in the same situation." Hermione paused and smiled, "Molly would be too." 

"The weasleys mum?" Draco asked

"Yeah, she's been my wizard mum since second or third year. Told me she'd disown Ginny before telling me to not come round again. Even after Ronald and I split." Hermione got up from the floor and gave Draco a hand up, then turned the bed back into a sofa and started digging through a cabinet that had been blocked. 

"Slippers!" She said, handing Draco a pair of plastic wrapped grippy socks that were puke orange. He looked at them like they might have been made from recycled puke. "The color's not very nice this year, but they're surprisingly comfortable and you can't go around barefoot." He sighed then sat and put the socks on, deftly sending the plastic into the bin by the door. "Back to my room then?" He asked standing, "I don't actually remember where it is. I came down here in a tearing hurry last night." Hermione glanced at her watch again, "yeah. Just gonna say good morning to the shift nurse and let her know about Luna and then I can take you back upstairs. Will Scorpius be ok this morning you think? Or will there be another meltdown?"

Draco looked down into the crib to where his son lay curled up on his belly, bum sticking up in the air. "He'll probably sleep for another hour or more provided he doesn't have any more nightmares." Hermione nodded, "we'll catch the nurse on our way out then." 

Lucille was just coming on shift as Draco and Hermione came up to the nurses station. "Dr. Granger! Sleeping in your office again I see." Lucille did her best to not oogle the good looking blond man who was obviously The Draco Malfoy. Hermione shrugged, "got called in early this morning and didn't have time to change. I have a verbal report for Baby Malfoy if you've got a quick quill or know who's assigned to him this morning."

"I am, I was just getting ready to start the round with Missy." 

Hermione nodded, 

"Missy can fill you in with his night before I came in. He was up for a bit last night with a nightmare, but is sleeping now. Dad says he'll probably sleep for a couple more hours. If he wakes up and is distressed at all, send for me. I'll have his paperwork all taken care of by breakfast and he's to be released to his Godmother once he has eaten." Lucille finished her notes, 

"Got it. I'll let you know if anything comes up on the floor." 

"Thanks Luce. I'm gonna get changed and grab breakfast so I'll be around." Hermione said as she turned away. Draco followed her. Hermione Granger really was a force to be reckoned with. 

"It's weird being referred to as 'dad' by other adults." he said finally. "Also, do you sleep in your office regularly?" 

"Not regularly exactly." She said as she turned the corner, she had been going to take Draco to his room first but now that she thought about it, the sooner she was dressed properly the less she'd have to hear about that. And she really didn't want to run into Blaise dressed in her pajamas in the company of his "best mate Drake". 

She took a left and then stopped to unlock her office. Draco stood in the hall reading the name plate beside the door for a moment 'Dr. H.J. Granger, pediatric diagnostics and research.'

"Come in, I'll just be a minute." She called and Draco stepped into the room. It was pretty much what he expected of Hermione Granger's office. Shelves lined every wall and were bursting with books. A tall thin wardrobe sat beside a closed door, which was probably where Hermione was as she wasn't anywhere else in the room. There was a large tidy desk, perfect for research projects. A small sitting area with a couch, coffee table and a couple of comfortable chairs. It was basically a small apartment crammed into a tiny library. Sans kitchen (though that sink in the corner could almost be called a kitchenette) and bedroom, he assumed the closed door led to a bathroom of some sort as he heard running water. He couldn't imagine her house looking much different. 

The door behind him opened and he turned to see Hermione dressed as she was yesterday in comfortable muggle clothes. Another Weasley knit sweater- this one Green with a gold H on the front- and jeans. She grabbed her medical robe and slid on a pair of comfortable looking loafers by the door. "All right." She said, 

"Let's get you some fresh clothes too eh? I know those hospital robes are annoying." 

He stepped out of her office ahead of her so she could lock the door, and shrugged

"I can deal with the clothes. But I want my wand back. I haven't had my wand in weeks." He said, Hermione stopped, looking appalled. 

"She took your wand?"

"Every chance she got."  Hermione looked like she might be sick.

"Thats- that's barbaric!" She took off down the hall at a pace that he almost had to lengthen his stride to keep up with. Almost. 

"To deprive a wizard of your caliber of his magic. The absolute gall!" She made a frustrated angry screechy noise and Draco couldn't help but grin at her outrage. 

"A wizard of my caliber eh? Is that a compliment, Granger?" Draco quipped half laughing, 

"If you had put half the time I did into your work you would have at least pulled even with me Malfoy .” she poked back, Blaise had told her how much grief Draco had been through for coming second to a muggle born witch. 

"Yes but I had an image as the Prince of Slytherin to keep up with and you barely slept at school!" Hermione grinned and shrugged as she stopped and pulled a door open, 

"Your room Mr Malfoy." He had no idea how they had managed to get there. He stepped past her and saw the pile of neatly folded clothes, his shoes and on top of the stack- his wand. He picked it up and breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione stepped in behind him and before he could ask what she was doing she had pulled her sleeve up and was unstrapping her wand holster, it was simple black leather. She pulled her wand out of it and cast a countercharm on it. 

"You have to cast the charm with the wand that is to be paired." She said holding it out to him and explaining how to cast the charm needed. 

"I can't take this."

"I have another one. You need this now. If anyone takes your wand again, as soon as they let it go it'll return to the holster." She took his hand and placed the holster into it, folding his fingers around it. "I insist." 

He looked down at their hands, he could see the "mudblood" scar on the inside of her arm, the impressions the leather bands had left on her skin framed it perfectly. He looked at her face, she looked determined, but caring. She wouldn't force him to take it, but she knew it would help him feel safer. 

"Thank you" he said softly accepting the gift with grace. "show me the charm again?" She did and he cast it perfectly. 

"It's an automatic cinch, just put it how you want it on your arm and tap it twice." She said. He pulled the hospital robe sleeve up and laid it against the inside of his forearm, covering the fading dark mark and tapped it twice. The straps wrapped snugly around his arm. He shook his wrist as she had before and his wand fell perfectly into his hand. He breathed a sigh of relief. Then dropped his wand and watched it materialize in the holster. Another shake and he threw the wand across the room. Again back on his arm. He smiled. "Thank you." He said again. 

"You're very welcome." She said tucking her wand into the inner pocket on her robes and pulling her sleeve down. "I'll let you get changed. I'm sure Blaise will be around soon, along with the breakfast cart." she headed for the door

"See you later Hermione." 

"See you Draco."

And she was gone. 

Draco dressed and got his hair under control and was sitting beside the bed checking his wand for damage and looking over the black leather holster on his arm. He noticed the small gold letters HJG embossed near the edge just as Blaise walked in. 

“Morning Drake.” he said chipperly, “saw your mother checking in downstairs, so she should be up shortly. What’cha looking at?” Draco stood up and held out his arm for Blaise’s inspection. 

“Astoria was keeping my wand from me.” he said as Blaise’s eyebrows went up. “What?”

“Mate-” Blaise said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. ”‘Mione’s gone on ya.” 

“What are you talking about Zabini.” 

“That is a Thestral hide wand holster.” he lifted his sleeve to show his- the BCNZ of his initials embossed in the same space as Hermione’s initials. “Every medical graduate is given a holster- but only the highest achieving students are given the Thestral hide. And of course- our dear Dr.‘Mione Granger was top of her class, bumping yours truly down to second place.” 

Draco’s eyes went wide, “I have to return it.”
“Don't even THINK about doing that. Buy her a fancy new one if you want- have ‘Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy’ embossed on it if you want. But don’t, for the love of Merlin, try to return the one she gave you.” 

“But-” 

Blaise lounged against the foot of the bed, “Drake- think about it for a minute. What did she actually give you when she put that bit of leather into your hands and no doubt insisted you take it?” 

Draco did think about it for a minute, “she gave me safety, peace of mind. I don’t have to worry that I’ll be powerless against anyone again.”
“She gave you back a bit of who you used to be- not just that- but a bit of who you could have been. I saw how you have it covering your dark mark. You can’t return that mate.” 

Draco looked down at his arm,

“She was wearing it framing her scar. I’m using it to hide mine.” he said half ashamed, the old guilt creeping back in.

“You know what?” Blaise said suddenly, “I think you both need muggle tattoos. Next time I can get you both in the same place- that’s what we’re doing. I’m sure Potter knows a place.”

Draco's therapist had given that suggestion on a couple of occasions. But Draco wasn't sure he was ready for that yet.

“Blaise dear- what are you plotting now?” a feminine voice said from the doorway.

“Nothing too terrible, Aunt Cissa. Only trying to convince your son to not insult a highly intelligent woman by attempting to return a gift she gave him.”

“My dragon?” Narcissa asked as she came into the room and embraced her son. 

“Mother.” he said as he hugged her back, enjoying the comfort of her touch. She held onto him longer than usual, 

"I nearly lost you again. Nearly lost Scorpius." She said softly, he hugged her a bit tighter, 

"I know mother. I'm sorry. I chose not to get help when I knew I needed it, and chose not to listen to my friends when I should have, and it almost cost me everything. But I'm working to make better choices now." She held him at arm's length and looked  at him for a long minute, 

"That's all any of us can do, my son." She laid a hand on his cheek, brushing her thumb across a stray tear that had escaped his lashes as he took a deep breath. "Now what is this gift you are trying to return?” she asked. He offered her his wrist for inspection. Her eyes noted the initials and looked to him one brow raised in expectation of an explanation. “Astoria had been keeping my wand from me. Hermione- Dr. Granger gave this to me this morning so that no one could take my wand away again.” Narcissa simply tilted her head, waiting. Draco shook his wrist, then chucked his wand past Blaise’s head “Hey!” his friend said, then showed his mother how it returned to the holster. She nodded in appreciation
“And why would you want to return this? It seems a most valuable and thoughtful gift.” 

“head over heels.” Blaise coughed, Narcissa raised a censuring eyebrow at him, 

“You should see a doctor about that cough Blaise.” she quipped. “She is not a woman to give things like this away lightly, I take it.”

"Honestly it's probably the most valuable thing she's ever owned." Blaise said offhand. 

"Blaise you're not helping me feel better about accepting it!“ Draco moaned. "Especially since I already owe her the life of my son!"

"Yes, MacReynolds told me all about that last night." Narcissa said dryly, "Why didn't you tell me what was happening my dragon?" Draco didn't have an answer for that that wouldn't sound like he was blaming his mother for staying with his father when she probably should have left, but Narcissa saw it in his face, 

"Dearest." She placed her hand on his cheek again. "I loved your father. As terrible as that is. I loved him despite everything. And I prayed every day that my love would change him. In the end it didn't. But I tried my best. Astoria has shown that she doesn't love you, and though I know you cared for her- you shouldn't deprive yourself or Scorpius of the love of a worthy woman." She took his hand and clasped his wrist with the holster on it significantly.

"Now Blaise," Narcissa said, turning to the dark haired young doctor who stood taking in the intimate family scene before him in silence. "May I take my son to the cafeteria for breakfast if I promise to return him in one piece?" 

"So long as you bring him back and don't let him leave the hospital grounds. Shall I have Luna bring Scorp by before she takes him home?" 

"That would be wonderful Dr. Zabini." Narcissa turned to Draco who had snagged his jacket off the back of the chair at the mention of breakfast and, after fixing his shirt sleeve, tugged the blazer on and offered his mother his arm. She took it and they headed down to the cafeteria talking about Scorpius' growth and advancements. He mentioned that the child had started to show unexpectedly powerful magic for his age and that he would tell her more when they were able to talk more privately. 

Chapter 6. Brunch with Grandmama.

They had just finished eating and had refreshed their cups when Luna showed up with Scorpius. "Here's daddy and grandmama Scorpy!“ she said in her soft voice. Narcissa took Scorpius and snuggled him close. 

"I'm going to get a pumpkin juice, be right back." Luna said with a wave, Draco pulled another chair up for when she got back. 

"So what magic has this little one been showing already?" Narcissa asked as Draco sat back down.

"Let your walls down for a minute." Draco told her. She looked at him, brows furrowed. "Scorpius" Draco called as he focused on his young son bringing fond memories of Narcissa to the front of his mind. Scorpius looked at his father for a minute then turned to his grandmother and looked at her for a long moment. She started and blinked several times

"Oh my!" She exclaimed. She kept eyes locked with the infant, but they were unfocused as she processed what he was showing her. 

"Mother” Draco said, snagging her attention for a second, “I try to respond to him verbally to help him make connections with the words." Draco told her.

"Ah” she returned her focus to her grandson “No, Astoria won't hurt you again.” she said to the baby, “Yes, she is very nice isn't she? 'Mione, is that what he calls her?" This last was directed at Draco, 

"That's what Blaise calls her."

"Yes he showed me Blaise calling her that repeatedly. Scorpys 'Mione. That boy and his nicknames. Scorpy, Lune, Drake, ‘Mione, Cissa."  She sighed

"To be fair, Potter and Weasley called her 'Mione back in school so that's not Blaise's doing." 

"Do you call her 'Mione?" Narcissa asked curiously, Draco shook his head

"She hasn't asked me to." 

"And what does she call you?" 

"Well she called me 'mr. Malfoy' yesterday, so I was calling her dr. Granger but then I panicked last night and called her Hermione and she started calling me by my given name." 

Luna sat down in the empty chair as Narcissa asked "Not Drake like Blaise does?"

Luna answered that question "she won't unless he asks her to." 

Narcissa leaned toward Luna and said conspiratorially "so why hasn't he asked her to yet?"

"Mother!“ Draco exclaimed, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Only the people who I'm close with, who care about me, call me Drake. And I'd like to keep it that way."

"I think that gift she gave you this morning shows what she thinks of you quite well." Narcissa said quite satisfied with herself. 

"Gift? What did 'Mione give you this morning Draco?" Luna asked, 

"Her holster." He said quietly, resting his opposite hand on his forearm. Luna's already large eyes got larger. "Ooooh. That's important." She said, as Draco raised his cup to his lips she continued “I would have guessed that she kissed you.” Draco choked on his coffee and Narcissa laughed out loud. 

After Hermione left Draco's room earlier that morning she had gone back to her office and grabbed her old holster from the desk drawer. It definitely wasn't as nice as the one she had given Draco but the soft brown leather she had worn during her apprenticeship still fit like a glove. 

She cast the necessary charms and then moved on with life. She had a stack of papers to go over but she had to get Scorpius' discharge paperwork done first. 

She knocked that out in short order and sent it off to the charge nurse then made a pot of coffee before settling down to her research. 

It had been about an hour when Blaise came knocking on her office door.

"Hey 'Mione!" He said inviting himself in, she waved distractedly her muggle pen tapping frenetically on the desk. "Have you eaten this morning or are you surviving on coffee and adrenaline?"

"What?" She looked up, "oh morning Blaise."

He shook his head sitting on the edge of her desk, "coffee and adrenaline it is then." Hermione looked back at her work and flipped a paper over trying to remember where she was. Blaise flipped a random paper over the one she was trying to read. She sighed.

"You're not leaving then?"

"Nope."

Hermione sat back and put her pen down.

"What do you need, Dr. Zabini?"

"I need you to eat something, Dr. Granger. The cafeteria is almost done serving breakfast. Go eat." She just looked at him tiredly.

"If you don't go get your own food I'm bringing up the stalest pumpkin Pastie they have in the kitchen and forcefeeding it to you. And you know how rubbery those things get." Blaise pulled a face and she sighed again but cracked a small smile as she stood up and stretched out tight muscles. "How'd I end up stuck with you?" She asked

Blaise shrugged, "it was a rule that every Gryffindor had to adopt a Slytherin and you've always liked tall and handsome. I would say tall, dark, and handsome, but we both know you prefer blonds." He walked with her to the door and then down the corridor towards the cafeteria. She shook her head at her friend.

"Drake didn't know the cost of the freedom you gave him this morning.” he noted as they walked together “Did you just hand your holster off like it was replaceable or what?" he seemed slightly affronted

"Of course it's not replaceable, but I had my old one in my desk and he needed it. His wife"

"Ex wife" Blaise interrupted Hermione rolled her eyes,

"Ex wife had taken his wand- she stole his magic! That's about the closest thing to hell that I can imagine for him."

"Oh I can imagine a much worse hell for him than that."

"Do I want to know?" She asked skeptically. 

"Oh probably not, it involves people dying or worse, coming back to life." He said, tucking his hands in the pockets of his slacks as he walked. 

They reached the cafeteria shortly after this comment and Blaise lit up when he saw his wife sitting with Draco and his family. Hermione smiled fondly at how in love her friends were. 

"fiore mio" Blaise said in Luna's ear as he stopped behind her tall chair, wrapping his arms around her waist. 

"Good morning Blaise" Luna said in her dreamy way before turning her face to steal a kiss from her husband. 

Draco smiled wistfully at his best friend and his wife. He had never had anything like that sort of relationship with Astoria or even any of his girlfriends in school.

Scorpius had been contently playing with his grandmother's purse, a small beaded bag he couldn't get open but which made a lively noise when smacked upon the table top, until he saw Hermione walk up to the high top table the adults had chosen. He wasn't sitting up unassisted yet, but he had enough core strength to launch himself toward Hermione as soon as she was within arms length of Narcissa who was not expecting such a sudden movement from the mostly balanced child in her lap. Hermione barely caught him. Narcissa sat back with a hand on her heart. "Merlin's beard!" She exclaimed. Hermione hefted the infant to her hip and took a deep breath. "Aren't you just a ball of sunshine this morning!“ she said. Scorpius patted her cheek with excitement "mama" he babbled, Draco felt his heart flip. He knew it didn't mean anything, it was just his consonant/vowel mix of the moment. But it was obvious that Scorpius liked Hermione very much. He put aside the thoughts of what if for when he was alone later and closed the door on that part of his brain. Just in case Blaise decided to go picking. 

Hermione smiled at the baby on her hip and bounced him playfully making him giggle. "My little sunshine, how have you been this morning?" She asked him, focused entirely on the infant in her arms. Scorpius just laughed and giggled as she swayed and bounced and smiled at him. He grabbed at her hair and caught a good fistful near the nape of her neck. "Ah careful!" She said drifting toward Draco in her distraction with the baby. She had one arm under Scorpius' bum, and the other holding his free hand so didn't have a hand to free her hair as Scorpius tugged happily on her curls. 

"Let me help," Draco said, leaning toward her from his chair. She stepped closer and allowed him to disentangle Scorpius' hand from her hair. It was as soft as he had imagined it would be. She looked up at him after he finished getting Scorpius' hand out of her hair, his fingers brushing against her cheek almost by accident, but left trails of fire on her skin. She knew she was blushing. 

"I need to grab breakfast before they shut down for lunch." She remembered Blaise's threat about the pumpkin pasties, and started to hand a reluctant Scorpius off to Draco. He fussed and sent thoughts of her holding him to Draco and herself. "I'll be right back, Sunshine." She told him, brushing her hand across the fuzz of blond hair on his head. 

"I can grab you something 'Mione, pull up a chair and take a baby break." Blaise said, spinning a chair around from a nearby table for her to sit on. 

"All right Blaise, just anything but the pasties please." She said as she sat down between Draco and Narcissa. 

Chapter 7. Do no Effing harm.

Narcissa engaged Hermione in conversation about her work and Draco leaned against the table just watching the two women talk. He could imagine them sitting in the library at the manor talking over his mother's favorite tea service. Scorpius playing on the carpet, another maybe curly haired baby in Hermione's or his mother's arms. He sat back, trying to focus and bring himself back to the present. Friends. They were just friends. They were friends, right? He sipped at his coffee and glanced at Hermione again, catching her glancing at him. Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked down at the baby in her lap. He had his thumb in his mouth and was heading toward a nap she could tell. 

Luna was watching Draco watch Hermione. That man was so far gone she couldn't help but smile. Hermione blushed every time she knew Draco was looking at her. 

Blaise came back with an egg sandwich, a bottle of pumpkin juice and one of water. 

"What? Were they out of butterbeer?" Hermione asked, ragging him on his preferred beverage from the cafeteria. 

"Oh the pumpkin juice is mine. You need to drink water Ms 'i can subsist on parchment dust and coffee' now eat." 

Hermione dutifully picked up the egg sandwich and bit it. Draco reached over and took the cap off the water bottle for her as she was still holding the now dozing infant. 

Conversation continued and eventually the coffee was cold, the baby sound asleep and work calling for both Hermione and Blaise and the party broke up. Draco decided to try and nap a bit. He was still exhausted from the trauma of everything. He half wished he could go home, but the other half wished he could just burn Malfoy manor to the ground and start fresh. That unfortunately wasn't possible seeing as the place had stood against everything for the past 500 years and probably had more magic holding it together than he could possibly imagine. He lay in his hospital bed, thinking about what changes might help make the place less triggering now that Astoria was gone until sleep won the battle with his brain. 

Hermione looked at the clock hours later- 8:52pm. She scrubbed at her gritty eyes. She had thrown herself into her work to keep from dwelling on breakfast. She'd blown through lunch and dinner. The charge nurse on the pediatric floor had sent a house elf with food from the cafeteria when she had peeked in and found Hermione up to her eyeballs in books and parchment. She had been researching curse interactions this week, even before the Malfoys had showed up at the hospital. 

When Blaise had popped his head in her office some hours before and told her to go home she hadn't even heard him. 

Now she stood and stretched, looking over her work again. She had found a good bit of information, and had a decent paper on the issue going so far. She wandered over to the tiny counter with a sink and the magic equivalent of an electric kettle and started making herself a fresh cup of tea.

"Do you ever go home?"

She glanced over her shoulder to see Draco leaning on the doorframe, she smiled. 

"Most nights. Care for a cup of tea?“

"Sure." He invited himself in and chose one of the overstuffed chairs, propping slipper covered feet up on the coffee table. 

She pulled another mug from the shelf above the sink, "I've got Darjeeling, oolong, and earl grey"

"Earl grey thanks." 

"Cream?"

"Just a lump of sugar if you have it." She finished making the tea and handed him the mug before settling in the other chair, her sock clad feet joining his on the coffee table. He had on his own pajamas this time. Charcoal grey pajama pants and a dark green t-shirt. His housecoat was Slytherin green with silver quilting. His slippers looked as ratty as her own. She was surprised to see him own anything that wasn't perfectly polished and pristine. 

"Can we be friends?" He asked after a bit of them enjoying their tea in silence.

"Hmmm?" Hermione turned her head to look at him, 

"friends. Will you be my friend?" He said again. 

Hermione grinned at him over her tea cup. "I was under the impression only your friends called you Draco, Draco. Which would make me already your friend wouldn't it?" 

"I guess it would." He sipped his tea as well. 

"As your friend, can I ask why on earth you named your son Scorpius? That has to be the most awkward name for a child I've heard in a while." Hermione said a bit later,

"I drew it out of a hat." 

"Seriously?" Hermione looked appalled.

"No!" He laughed "it's an old family name. My second favorite constellation. He would have been Lyra had he been a girl. What would you name a son?"

"Not Scorpius. Lord." She laughed. "I've always liked Henry. Though Harry would probably think I'd named the kid after him." 

"I could see that. Potter was always stuck up."

"Harry was hardly stuck up. He had as bad a childhood as you did, possibly worse, if Blaise can be trusted." 

Draco sobered,

"Blaise can generally be trusted to not exaggerate the ugly truth." He said, staring at his tea.

Hermione sat up and leaned across to put a hand on Draco's arm. He covered her hand with his briefly as they sat in silence.

"I didn't realize he had such a difficult time of it." He said finally, 

"Well aside from Voldemort trying to come back and kill him at school every year, he was raised by his mother's muggle family who hated magic and took it out on him whenever he was home. He always said summers were the worst and he wished he could have spent them with me or the Weasleys."

"So how come you and Potter never dated in school?" Draco asked changing the subject after a bit of comfortable silence.

"Ew." She laughed, "We're practically siblings. Both of us grew up not knowing anything about magic until our Hogwarts letters. He's the brother I never had." 

"What about you and Weasley? Blaise told me you broke up ages ago. Things just not work out?"

"More or less. I was ready to settle down. He didn't want to. So we went our separate ways. The crazy thing is, here we are five years later- he's getting married next month. And I'm still single." she shrugged, “should have expected that with Blaise and Harry to intimidate anyone who looks at me twice. Ron and I are on friendly terms now so you throw the rest of the Weasleys into the mix too. It’s like I’m the bloody crown princess.” she downed the last of her tea.

“Well you kind of are.'' Draco said. Hermione coughed,

“Not you too!” she groaned.

“What? You’re the brightest witch of the age, golden girl, war hero, accomplished doctor. I heard they called you the Gryffindor princess when you went back for that last year at Hogwarts.” 

She buried her face in her hands. “I’m never going to get away from all that am I? Why can’t I just be me? Just Hermione Granger. 26, single with cat, loves books.”

“Same reason I can’t just be Draco Malfoy, 26, single father, also loves books." Hermione laughed and Draco grinned,

"We’ve gone through things," he continued "and done things that changed us, and that made us public figures. People know what we’ve done, not really who we are, and will always judge us by the things for good or for ill.” He too finished his cup of tea and glanced at the clock.

“Ah, I should probably let you get home. It’s nearly ten.” 

Hermione sighed, “But I don’t want to go home. I’ve been enjoying talking with you.” 

“I've enjoyed it as well. But you’re exhausted. And I need to go to bed myself if I want Blaise to let me go home tomorrow.” 

"All right" she said grudgingly as he stood and offered her a hand out of her chair. She took it and found herself standing close enough to Draco to see that his house coat and t-shirt were both well loved items of his wardrobe, she caught the scent of citrus and cedar in that brief moment.

"Well." He said. "Good night Hermione." His voice was oddly tight as he stepped away from her, finally releasing her hand.

"Good night Draco" she said softly, sure he could hear her heart pounding.

He turned at the doorway and glanced back at her before disappearing down the corridor.

Hermione stood there for a very long moment. Friends with Draco Malfoy. If someone had told her in school that she’d be friends with Draco Malfoy- she would have laughed in their face. But Draco had grown a lot since school. Mentally, emotionally, physically… Hermione sighed. She definitely had a thing for blonds. Tall, charming, book loving blonds. Her clock chimed ten and she sighed again. Crookshanks would probably knock every book off of the flat surfaces of the house if she didn’t come home. She pulled herself together. Work to be done. She collected their teacups, one earl grey with sugar. One darjeeling with a splash of cream. Washed them out, and set them to dry. Then she grabbed the bag of clothes she had worn to bed the night before and hanging her medical robe in the wardrobe as always, she traded her office loafers for her slippers and headed down to the lobby to apparate home. 

At least she didn’t have to take the muggle route home. It was nice to be able to work here and live out in the middle of the countryside but not have to deal with the muggle commute. She got to the designated staff apparition point and turned, popping into her front garden just inside her many wards. The front garden was overgrown, but she kind of liked it that way. All the different plants just growing wild. She went up the front walk and unlocked the door, letting herself into the dark house. A quick wave of her wand lit the place up. She breathed in the smell of books and rosemary. Home. She looked around. She had lived there for three years and loved the little cottage. Her own little oasis. 

The mostly open floor plan allowed her to stand in the middle of the house and see pretty much all but the upstairs bedrooms, laundry and bath. Living room, dining and kitchen all within view. Since having tea in her office with Draco, suddenly she could imagine him on the couch with a book, Scorpius asleep on his chest. Crookshanks asleep on his feet. 

She turned to the kitchen and dining and could imagine sitting at the table with them, having breakfast, or enjoying a quiet lunch with Draco while Scorpius napped. She shook her head, if- ha. She let out a dry laugh. Draco's family had lived at the manor for generations, and would likely continue to live there. Just thinking about that place made her gut clench. Draco and Scorpius had their own lives to live as she did. She wasn't going to waste her time dreaming of a perfect little premade family. She shook herself and started toward her bedroom, she had work tomorrow, just a half day but still. 

Suddenly she heard a pop in the front garden, and she pressed herself against the wall before sinking carefully to the ground, adrenaline rushing through her. Her wand instantly in her hand, she cast a disillusionment charm over herself, "homenum revelio" she whispered. The spell revealed a single person moving through her garden. 

"Hermione!“ It was Harry. She took a deep breath then stood and walked quickly to the door yanking it open, "Harry! Damn it I nearly hexed you. What's wrong?" 

"Hermione." He looked through her rather than at her. She removed the disillusionment charm, and he sighed, eyes meeting hers.

"Blaise said to bring you, Scorpius won't settle." 

"Why'd you have to come barreling in here like someone was dying then?" She asked as she kicked off her slippers and slid on actual shoes. Tucking the slippers into her bag with her pajamas. 

"Well he sent me after you didn't respond to the patronus to the hospital." Harry ran his hand through his dark hair that stuck up in all directions as usual. 

"He could have called me. I do have a mobile phone." She said, Harry shrugged, Hermione noticed that he was still dressed for the day, despite the late hour. He must have been working late again. 

"I don't think he thought of the muggle tech with the baby screaming at him."

Hermione huffed, "he's going to have to learn at some point. Anyway, I only got home a couple minutes ago. Let me grab my bag just in case. I don't want to have to shower at work again."

"All right, but do be quick. He sounded pretty frustrated." 

"He'll get over it," she snapped  "babies cry." 

A minute later they stepped outside her door and she locked it with a wave of her wand. 

"Let's go" she said, taking Harry's arm, and he apparated them away. 

They popped into the Zabini's front yard, the house was lit up and she heard breaking glass, and shouts. 

"The hell?" Harry said, taking in the broken front door. Hermione shook her wand into her hand and approached the house cautiously. Then baby fingers in her mind. She ducked down below the raised porch so she could focus on Scorpius without putting herself at risk. Harry ducked down beside her, "'Mione?" He whispered. 

"Shhh." She flapped a hand at him. "Wait" 

Scorpius was scared. Aunt Luna was holding him tightly in a dark room. And he could hear mommy yelling at uncle Blaise. He wanted Mione or Daddy. But he couldn't reach either of them. Uncle Blaise was closed off from him. He was crying. Mione or daddy. Mione. He wanted Mione. 

"I'm here sunshine, Mione is here. I'm coming." She sent back.

"Astoria's here." She said suddenly standing almost before Harry had settled. This mental stuff was a lot faster than she expected. "She's come for Scorpius." Harry didn't say anything. He didn't have a chance. Hermione was already through the front door. Dropping her bag just inside the door as she went. 

Blaise was trying to get Astoria's wand away from her without hurting her. He had sent a patronus to Potter to fetch Hermione after she hadn't responded to the one he sent to the hospital and her house was too far away for one to reach her. Scorpius was insisting on having her and neither Blaise nor Luna could leave just in case something happened. Like Astoria showing up. Which was exactly what happened about 2 minutes ago. Of course the boy who lived was never there when you needed him. Blaise’s own wand of course wasn’t on his person- he was just getting in the shower when Astoria had come blasting through the door- he was lucky he had pants on. Astoria was throwing jinx’s left and right. “Where’s my baby Blaise?!” she screamed as he dodged around her. She was significantly smaller than he was- and if it weren't for that stupid hippocratic oath he would have punched her straight in the face by now. “Do no harm- why the fuck did i have to swear to do no fuckin harm?!” he muttered angrily to himself as he ducked down behind the couch which took the brunt of the last jinx. “ZABINI!” she screamed

“Your baby Astoria?” he asked as he started to crawl away from where she had been standing, hoping to distract her long enough for Luna to get Scorpius out of the house.
“I KNOW that self righteous arse brought him to you. He always goes crawling back to You .” Blaise could hear the venom in her voice, “Why is that Zabini?” she flung a curse at the far side of the couch. If he could catch her off guard he might be able to tackle her to the ground and snag the wand before she could jinx him. He got his feet under himself as quietly as he could- it was cramped hiding behind the far arm of the couch- his 6’5” frame barely fit. The next couch was going to be bigger- and reinforced. The stuffing of this one was flying all over the place. “Why does he always go running to you Blaise?” she shrieked, “you shagging him behind my back? You and that lunatic wife of yours? You’ve got one blonde, what's another to add to your collection of-”

 Just then Hermione came crashing into the room with Harry two steps behind her. Astoria spun around and Blaise launched himself at her, knocking her flat to the ground before she could get a curse off. He wrestled her arms behind her back, yanking her wand from her hand and tossing it to Potter who caught it deftly. 

“What took you so fucking long?!” Blaise snapped, “she nearly had my balls in a sack.” 

Astoria’s face had met the ground rather hard, and she lay in half a daze. “Here- tie her up quick before she comes round and starts screaming again.” Blaise said, removing himself from the witch. Hermione conjured ropes around Astoria, and Blaise hefted her onto the half destroyed couch. 

“Now-” Blaise took a deep angry breath, “I’m going to get my damn wand and the rest of my FUCKING CLOTHES.” he shouted at Astoria, then took a deep breath again, “do no fucking harm.” he muttered under his breath. “I will be RIGHT back- don’t do anything without me.”

Hermione and Harry just nodded, wands both pointing at Astoria.
Blaise came back less than a minute later, pulling his shirt on, his wand holster in his teeth. Astoria had just started to realize what had happened and began screaming like a mad woman. Hermione cast a silencing charm on her as Blaise strapped his holster to his arm. 

"All right then.” Blaise said, his voice like ice “would you like to use human words and try this whole reasonable conversation thing again? Cause this is your chance to have your say before the rest of the Aurors arrive, and your ass gets dragged off to Azkaban." Harry and Hermione watched in silence. Astoria’s eyes roved over the three of them and settled on Hermione, and if looks could kill she would have keeled over right there. 

“Why are you here, Astoria?” Hermione asked, Astoria jerked her chin up indicating she was ready to talk and not scream. Hermione removed the silencing charm.

"I want my son back, you mudblood bitch." Astoria spat when she had her voice again.

"Your son?" Hermione snapped, “Your son?” She repeated choking slightly on the words and her own anger, “Your son was brought into my Emergency department yesterday afternoon by his father who was so badly injured everyone thought the baby had been splinched in transport. But I knew better." Her voice shook with fury. "Your son. I didn't know who he was, or who had cursed him. But I know that no child deserves to die like that. No child deserves death Astoria." Hermione took a deep shaky breath, "your son lay there bleeding out. He couldn't even cry Astoria. Your beautiful baby, the spitting image of his father. The man who's life you've made an absolute living hell. I will never ever be able to forget the way Your son looked at me, the peace in his eyes finally. I will have nightmares of his tiny body broken and bloody if I ever manage to sleep again. YOUR son is dead Astoria. You murdered him yesterday." Astoria's eyes went wide, and her face paled. Hermione breathed willing herself to calm down. her anger cooling. Scorpius was fine and Astoria had no legal claim on him anymore. 

"Draco's son though." She said finally. "Draco's son will have scars from that curse for the rest of his life. Draco's son will carry the pain from that curse and the trauma of watching you beat his father half to death. Draco's son will grow up knowing he is loved, knowing that his father adores him. Draco's son will go to school knowing that it's not the bloodlines that make the wizard, and that his father will be proud of whatever house he's sorted into."  Luna came in carrying Scorpius then and Hermione met her at the door. "Oh sunshine." She said, taking him from Luna and snuggling him close. "You're safe." She murmured into his hair. She walked back to where Astoria was sitting. 

"You bitch that's MY son!"

"No, this is Draco's son." She turned and smiled at Scorpius, bouncing him slightly, "Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy Estate and fortune. I was there. I know what your marriage contract said. I know what the divorce paperwork said. You literally signed away all rights to the Malfoy heir when you signed those divorce papers." Hermione said coldly, "I'm the one that put Draco's son back together and I will not allow you to rip him or his father apart ever again." 

"You think you'll be the one to raise him, you disgusting mudblood?!" Astoria screamed, Hermione looked Astoria dead in the eyes,

"Better a mudblood mother who loves him, than a pureblood who chose to make his life a living hell." 

"Draco would never marry you!" Astoria said as Hermione turned to leave, she stopped and smirked her best Malfoy smirk at Astoria "He already has."

And she walked out.

Blaise and the others followed her out, leaving Astoria sitting shocked and immobilized on the couch. 

"So you and Drake got married in the last five hours?" Blaise asked, “why didn’t I get an invitation?”
Hermione laughed shakily, "You’ll get an invite if I ever get married Blaise. I just said that to piss her off. It felt good too." She took a deep breath and snuggled Scorpius closer, the adrenaline wearing off at last.  

“Soooo you and Drake didn’t get married then?” Blaise asked, just to be sure.

“Of course not!” She said, “Seriously Blaise. Would Draco do that to you?”

“Drake? Get married without telling me?” Blaise pretended to think about that for a second. “Absolutely.” he said. Hermione just shook her head as she swayed from side to side, the baby was already dozing in her arms.

"Oh, Blaise. I got you that muggle phone for a reason. You can CALL me instead of sending an Auror to come bang on my door at quarter to 11."

"I did try calling you. I called you four fucking times. YOU didn't answer." 

Hermione thought about where she had last seen her phone- tucked in an office drawer with no signal. If she had a free hand she would have smacked herself on the forehead.

"I'm sorry, I forgot I don't get a good signal in my office."

Harry and his back up took care of getting Astoria out of the Zabini's house. They'd hold her until at least the next day if no charges were pressed. Everyone could sleep peacefully tonight. 

"You should stay the night 'Mione" Luna said after Astoria was gone and the house set to rights by Harry and Blaise. 

"Thanks Luna, I believe I shall. I'm knackered. Is there room for me in with Scorpius?"

"Of course." 

Hermione heard Harry and Blaise talking as she followed Luna up the stairs. 

"Hey Blaise, do you want me to tell Malfoy about this in the morning? Or are you gonna take care of it?" Harry asked, 

"Depends, are you gonna be all professional about it or are you gonna tell him everything 'Mione said?" 

"I'd probably just give him the official report."

"Hell no! I'll do it. I want to see his face when he hears how she kicked Astoria's ass! In detail. if you want to come give the official report and watch you can though." 

Harry laughed, "I'll be there."

Chapter 8. Thank You.

Next morning Hermione woke up well rested shortly before dawn. She didn't have to go in to work today, but she had a bit more research she wanted to get done before the weekend. After a quick shower she kissed the sleeping Scorpius goodbye and told Luna she'd be back around lunch probably.

"I'm going to take a half day, Lune." She said, "want to get coffee after?"

"Of course," Luna said as Hermione slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll call Ginny and see if she's free."

"Perfect. See you later!" 

Hermione stepped onto the porch and apparated to the hospital. 

~~~

"...we've taken her into custody and are waiting for charges if there are to be any." Draco was still processing what Harry Potter had said. His ex wife had broken into the Zabini's home and attempted to kidnap his son, only to be stopped by Hermione Granger.

"Could you have made that any less interesting mate?" Blaise asked, "so here's what really happened"

And Blaise laid out pretty much exactly what happened, he exaggerated some of what Hermione had said to Astoria but not by much. 

"And she was like 'your son is dead Astoria, you murdered him' and she just let that sit for a long time. And then she goes all 'Draco's son' this and 'Draco's son' that. Mate I could hear the fuckin music in the background like one of those flippin muggle movies she likes so much.

'Draco's son will know he's loved'. I nearly cried. And then Luna brought Scorpy in and 'Mione was snuggling him and Astoria was like 'bitch thats my son' and 'Mione fuckin smiles goes 'no, this is Draco's son' and lists off his fuckin pedigree, and tells Astoria that she signed away her rights to the Malfoy heir and everything with the fuckin divorce. And Astoria goes 'what you think you're gonna raise him?' and calls her a mudblood again, and 'Mione tells her 'better a mudblood mother who loves him than a pure blood one who hates him' or some shit like that, and goes to leave and Astoria screams at her'' Blaise pitched his voice higher mimicking Astoria's shrill voice "'Draco would never marry you' and Hermione- I shit you not. Turns around, looks Astoria dead in the eyes and with the best Malfoy smirk on her face says 'he already has.' and walks out. I was shocked mate! I didn't think you'd get married that fast. But ‘Mione just laughed and said she'd only said it to piss Astoria off." 

Draco sat there looking at Blaise for a long moment. Shocked maybe? He changed his mind about his earlier comparison of Hermione Granger to a guardian angel- she was an avenging one.

“Yeah, that's pretty much what happened. I about had a heart attack when she said she was married too." Potter said finally, “I wouldn’t put it past her to elope and just show up to dinner one night like- oh and you’ve met my husband.” Harry dragged a hand through his hair and looked up at the ceiling like some higher power had an answer to the conundrum of Hermione Granger.

Hermione Granger had stood up to his ex wife and in pure Slytherin fashion told her to fuck off. It was beautiful. 

"I think you're gonna have to marry her now Drake." Blaise said after a bit of silence 

"What?" Harry exclaimed

"What? She's perfect for him! Did you see that smirk or not?“ Blaise said, "and she already said yes so that's half the trouble right there." 

Draco took a deep breath, "Blaise. I am not marrying Hermione Granger." He said

"Mate, you're undeniably attracted to her. she's obviously gone on you. She just handed your ex her ass on a platter- well roasted."

"I meant it when I said six months Blaise."

"Six months is plenty of time to plan a wedding." Blaise said

"I Am Not Dating ANYONE For The Next Six Months Zabini." Draco said firmly. 

"Fine. I get it." Blaise said, holding his hands up in surrender "That mean you're not coming for dinner tomorrow?" Draco rolled his eyes.

"Blaise. I am allowed to have friends, you idiot. I am not going to isolate myself again. Of course I'm coming to dinner tomorrow. I'm staying at your house until I can get mine fixed up so I don't go spiraling into a panic attack every time I walk into a new room." 

Harry just shook his head. "Well I've got work. I'm glad things are working out better for your family Draco.” he said kindly, “See you guys around." 

Blaise walked out with Harry, 

"I've got 10 galleons on them announcing their engagement within twelve months." Harry said quietly to Blaise as they left, 

"I'm betting within 9." 

"You're on." The two wizards shook on it and Harry left as Blaise turned back to officially release Draco from care. 

~~~

Draco stood in front of Hermione's closed office door and read the nameplate again. Dr. H.J. Granger. Blaise had said Hermione Jean when he was suggesting Draco give her a new holster with his last name on it. Marry Hermione. He imagined her sprawled out in his office reading to Scorpius from a picture book and teasing him about the reading glasses he wore in the evenings that she didn't know about yet and he sighed. Definitely too soon. If these feelings were still around in 6 to 8 months then he'd consider Dating Hermione Granger. He looked at the door again. Knocking on her door and flirting with her over the fact that she'd said they were married to piss off his ex would most assuredly be a bad idea. But they were friends, and a friend would stop by and say hi before leaving the others workplace. He could do that. 

He took a deep breath and knocked on her door.

Hermione had just sat back down with her second cup of coffee when the knock sounded on her door. She usually left it open, but one of her colleagues had pulled it shut as they left earlier that morning and she hadn't bothered to open it back up. 

"Come in!" She called as she shuffled through her parchments trying to find a particular note she had made, her muggle pen tucked in the loose bun at the back of her head. Quills were all fine and good but for general writing a decent muggle ball point pen charmed to never run out of ink was by far better. She glanced up to see who it was and found Draco standing in front of her desk. She found herself inordinately pleased to see him. 

"Draco!" She said happily, "has Blaise released you yet?"

The way she sounded so glad to see him made Draco's heart flip. 

"He finally let me go after Potter- Harry, came by this morning and told me what happened last night."

"Ah" Hermione blushed, "yes. It was a rather eventful evening."

"Rather. Blaise was absolutely cackling as he detailed the conversation you and Astoria had." Draco said, some of his old suave charm surfacing for a moment. Then he looked down at his shoes as he leaned against the back of the chair he had sat in the night before. "I wanted to thank you for standing up for Scorpius like that. I know you'd do it for any child in the same situation but thank you for doing it for my son." He said soberly. "Thank you for saving his life and giving me a second chance to see him grow." He swallowed back tears, "Thank you for- for everything. For your friendship, everything." He hadn't meant to say all that, it had just spilled out. Hermione stood up and came around the desk, and before she had fully thought through what she was doing she had pulled Draco Malfoy into a hug. He looked like he needed one.  

Draco instantly wrapped his arms around her. One arm around her back, the other hand at the nape of her neck, fingers just brushing her hair. Hermione buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him tighter. He took a deep breath, blinking back tears.

 And then just as Draco managed to get his own emotions under control he realized that Hermione was crying. 

"Hermione? What's wrong?" He asked, she let him go, allowing him to stand with his hands at her elbows

"I went home after we had tea and realized that my house was just empty. And then Harry scared the shit out of me showing up and dragging me off to Blaise's house so I was in 'fight for your life' mode and then there was Astoria and I was just angry, angry that Harry had triggered my PTSD and I didn't have any time to process anything, angry that Astoria had been such a bitch to everyone, especially you. And I just let it all out. I wanted her to feel what you felt. So I told her that she killed her baby, and then I literally took Scorpius from her. And I know that if it had been me there to get my son I would have been absolutely destroyed. And and then I told her that we were married just to make her angry. and I'm sorry if that makes things weird, because I really enjoy spending time with you and I don't want things to be weird." Hermione sobbed, 

"'Mione. 'Mione. It's ok. Astoria is an asshole who doesn't care about anyone but herself and she deserved every word you said to her." Draco said, "you, Hermione Granger, will never be on the losing end of a custody decree because if you can love my son as fiercely as you did last night, a child of your own will never face harm from your hands- because you would be willing to fight for the help she won’t admit she needs." Hermione sniffed and nodded,

"Sorry for melting down on you." She said as Draco pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her, then pulled her back into his arms while she blew her nose and wiped the tears from her face. 

"That's what I'm here for." He said as he held her. She sighed into his chest, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other clutching the handkerchief near her face. Draco wished he could hold her like this forever. But life continued. And if, God forbid, Blaise or Harry walked past the open door and saw the two of them snuggling he was sure he'd never hear the end of it. 

"I have to go." he said finally, reluctantly. Hermione sighed, but stood away from Draco, wishing she could stay in his arms. It was nice there. 

"I'm sure I'll see you around. Especially if Scorpius has any more nightmares."

"Oh!“ Hermione said, turning back to her desk and snagging a bit of scrap parchment and the pen from her hair, 

"Do you have a mobile phone?" she asked as she scribbled her address down. He pulled a shiny green flip phone from his pocket. "Blaise made me get it last year."

"Here's my address." She handed him the parchment and plucked his phone from his other hand, putting her number in his contacts before handing it back. "Just In case he pulls another only 'Mione night. He apparently can't reach me from Blaise's place. So I doubt he'll be able to reach me from the Manor."

"Thanks." He looked down at the new information in his hands. "I'm going to have my work cut out for me at the manor next week. And I'm sure the upheaval is going to be difficult for him at some point."

"How so?" She asked, leaning her hip against the desk,

"Well since I can't exactly burn the place to the ground, I've decided to redecorate instead. The place is so effing triggering at the moment. But it's been the generational home for at least 600 years. So I'm stuck with it." He sighed heavily. "But I'm supposed to meet with the decorator for lunch today so I had better be going before I end up late." Hermione checked her watch at that, 

"Oh Merlin! I'm supposed to meet with Luna and Ginny in ten minutes. Thanks for the reminder!" Draco laughed and headed for the door as Hermione pulled her medical robe off and threw it haphazardly across her desk. She snagged her purse and extinguished the lights with a wave of her wand before heading out herself. She locked her office and jogged the few steps to catch up with Draco, "good luck with the Manor. If you need help with Scorpius or anything, please don't hesitate to ask, he's my little sunshine and I love him to bits." She said as they hit a corner where he was going left to the lobby and she turned right to the staff apparition room. "I will. See you Hermione." He waved, she turned walking backward for two or three steps

"Just 'Mione." She called

"Watch out!“ he called back and she spun just barely avoiding colliding with a cart full of linens as she dashed into the staff areas with a silly grin on her face. Leaving Draco laughing behind her. 

Chapter 9. Mr. Guilford and the baby.

Hermione apparated to the Zabini's house and let herself in 

"Luna!" She called heading toward the kitchen where she knew Luna would probably be if Ginny was there, and sure enough both women were sitting at the counter. Ginny was playing with Scorpius who giggled as she tickled his tummy and made faces at him.

"'Mione!" Ginny said as she gave her friend a one armed hug from the barstool. The other hand still supporting the baby on the counter. Scorpius flailed excitedly when he saw Hermione, and she felt him grabbing at her mind sending the message "hold me!" With repeat memories of her holding him at breakfast the day before. 

"Did you miss me, sunshine?" Hermione asked, scooping the baby up and spinning him around, making him laugh. 

"Let's go before the lunch rush gets there." Ginny said, standing and grabbing her bag.

"Where did you decide?" Hermione asked.

"There's a new bistro just down from the Leaky Cauldron I thought we could try." Ginny replied 

"Sounds good." 

Luna grabbed the small diaper bag for Scorpius who would be going with them.

The three women stepped out on the back porch and apparated to one of the designated spots outside the Leaky Cauldron. They managed to get through the tavern without running into anyone they knew, or who knew of them and headed down the road to the bistro. 

"So," Ginny said, "Luna and Harry told me what happened last night- and girl! Oh I'm so proud of you! ‘he'll never marry you!’“ Ginny mocked Astoria's shrill voice, "'he already has!' oooo I love it so much!“ she giggled. Hermione laughed. 

"What did Draco say when the guys told him?“ Ginny asked

"I don't know. But he came down to my office after Blaise released him and we talked for a bit." Hermione said as she shifted Scorpius to her other hip. 

"Oh? What did you talk about?" Ginny prodded,

"Well, he mostly said thank you, and then I hugged him, and then I had a meltdown and blubbered like a child." 

Ginny’s eyebrows went up, the look of surprise on her face. 

"It's been a very emotional couple of days, and I havent had a solid nights sleep since meeting this ball of sunshine." Hermione bounced Scorpius on her hip

"And then?" Ginny prompted

"Then he told me I wasn't a terrible person, and gave me his handkerchief and just held me for a minute. I gave him my address just in case and he left for a meeting and I left for Luna's." Hermione told them. Ginny gave Luna a significant look. "He 'held' you?" Ginny asked slowly

"Yes and it was lovely." Hermione answered. 

After a few more steps Ginny asked,

"'Mione- what do you think about Draco Malfoy?“ 

"I think he's come a long way since school, and that he's a much better person now than he used to be. And that he's been through a lot." Hermione said carefully

"And?" Ginny pressed as they came up to the bistro,

"And I really enjoy spending time with him, and my sunshine too." She snuggled the baby closer. 

"And?" Luna said, Hermione looked at her, Luna had gotten to know Draco better over the past few years given how close he and her husband were. 

"And suddenly I feel lonely when he's not there." Hermione said softly

"Oooh I called it." Ginny squealed. 

“I’ve only just met him again, Gin!”

“Mmmhmmm. And you like him.”

“Ginny–“ Hermione sighed and turned to Luna for support but Luna just smiled her dreamy smile, "that's precisely how I felt about Blaise." She said. 

In the bistro they were given a small table in the corner, to help keep the baby from disturbing others, but Hermione didn't care. It would make it less likely for their lunch to be interrupted by Ginny's quidditch fans. After they had ordered, Hermione realized that Scorpius needed a diaper change and headed for the bathroom. As she walked she spotted Draco and another wizard sitting at a table just off line from the bathrooms, Scorpius saw him too. And then Draco's head snapped up and he looked around for a second before spotting them. A huge smile lit his face and Hermione couldn't help but smile back, Draco waved them over. "Hey Sunshine!“ Draco said to his son, plucking him from Hermione's arms as they joined the two men at the table, "I was just taking him for a diaper change." Hermione said, "the girls and I are at the table in the corner." Draco glanced over and saw the flash of red and bright blond that were Ginny and Luna in deep conversation- probably planning his wedding already like their husbands.  

"Here, I can manage Scorp." he said, taking the diaper bag from her shoulder, 

"I don't mind changing him" she said holding on to the strap for a second

"I know" he smiled at her, "I'd like your opinion on the parlor though if you don't mind, I'm not sure what I think of the design yet."

"All right." She said, releasing the bag. 

"I'll be right back." Draco told the older wizard, and disappeared with the baby. Mr. Guilford showed her the page he and Draco had been on. The parlor. He had it done up in reds and it made Hermione’s anxiety spike. She sat slowly down in Draco’s chair and took a calming breath. "Did Draco tell you why he wanted to redecorate?" she asked carefully, 

"Mr. Malfoy said he wanted to update the Manor." 

Hermione looked back down at the paint and fabric swatches that were tacked beside rough sketches of the room that Bellatrix had tortured her in and breathed in slowly. 

Feet on the ground. 

Fresh baked bread in the air.

People talking, dishes clinking. 

Sunshine making the dust motes glitter in the window behind the interior designer. 

She swallowed. 

"Are you familiar with the part that the manor played during the late war Mr-?" She said. Hermione knew her voice sounded a little strained, and she was sure her face was a bit pale.

"Guilford, and not particularly ma'am." He said respectfully, 

"Allow me to help you here then Mr. Guilford." She said, lacing her fingers together on the table as she leaned forward slightly "Malfoy Manor was home to the Dark Lord for some months and the war has left a terrible mark on the family as I'm sure you know. My suggestion would be to stay away from dark colors and anything reminiscent of blood." she tapped the deep red upholstery sample without looking at the page, her hand shaking slightly "far too much blood was spilt there, including Draco's and my own." Mr.Guilford's eyes went wide, staring at the auburn haired witch in front of him. Her eyes looked a bit haunted, her face unsmiling. She had looked young and carefree when she’d come up with the baby on her hip, smiling at Mr. Malfoy, but now she looked just a bit… dangerous . Like you could see she had invisible scars from the war that he himself had not been a part of. She looked familiar but he couldn't place her. He assumed this was the Mrs. Malfoy he had read about in the tabloids, though she wasn't dressed particularly fashionably- and his wife was always going on about the latest fashions. This young woman was wearing simple muggle jeans and a knit jumper with the letter H on the front. The child had undoubtedly been a Malfoy. 

"Thank you for that information madam, I shall reconsider my work for certain rooms." 

"I'm sure Draco will appreciate it."

Draco watched Hermione and Mr. Guilford talk as he walked back to the table. He wondered what she thought of the designs. The few he had seen were decent but not quite what he was envisioning for the house and the parlor had been just awful. As he came up to the table he heard Hermione telling Mr. Guilford that she was sure he would appreciate it. 

"What kind of trouble are you getting into 'Mione?“ Draco asked, 

"Nothing terrible, just helping Mr. Guilford understand a bit more of the recent history of the Manor." She smiled up at him for a moment before standing and taking Scorpius and the bag from him. "I'm sure the girls are waiting for me." She said, "It was lovely meeting you, Mr. Guilford." 

"And you, Mrs. Malfoy." Guilford said. Hermione stopped and was about to correct him when Draco gave her a small shove towards her own table, "I'll take care of it, see you later." He suppressed a grin. She sighed and shook her head, before walking off to join the girls. 

Draco sat down and laughed, his cheeks slightly pink. 

"I'm sorry I should have introduced her properly before I left." He said to the decorator "That was Dr. Hermione Granger, a good friend of mine." 

"I apologize Mr. Malfoy! I didn't realize." 

"Not at all. It's entirely my fault. You're not the first and probably won't be the last. I am very recently divorced, and the papers haven't gotten wind of it yet. That being said, I do value Dr. Granger's opinion very highly, so I am interested if she recommended any changes."

Mr. Guilford told him what Hermione had said and suggested that they talk about the general aesthetic instead of specific rooms. Draco had gone to Mr. Guilford at his mother's suggestion as he had worked with her for holiday parties in the past and was familiar with the house already. He was glad that the man was willing to basically scrap everything and start over. 

Hermione sighed as she sat back down with Luna and Ginny.

"What happened over there?" Ginny asked

"Ran into Draco, he's meeting with the fellow he's brought on to redecorate the manor, and he decided to handle Scorpius' diaper and leave me with the decorator. I made a suggestion that he not redecorate the place in shades of blood red and then Draco was back and the poor fellow thought I was Mrs. Malfoy. I hope Draco corrected him after I left." Hermione said and Ginny nearly choked on her pumpkin juice then started laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. 

"Ginny seriously." Hermione said sternly

"What?" She gasped catching her breath, "first you're telling his ex that you're married in a fit of rage last night and now you're upset that poor random men think he's your husband? You walked up to the table carrying a child that is Obviously his, both of you smiling like the other is the only person on the planet that makes you happy and you're wondering why he thought you were Mrs.Malfoy? You and Draco need to have a talk and figure out where you two stand, cause I can just see it now- once Astoria is loose again Witch Weekly is going to be running a special Golden Girl Hermione Granger turned Homewrecker! "

"Oh God. Why does the media have to be a thing?" Hermione moaned, burying her face in her hands. 

"You're going to have to get used to it if you're going to be seen in public with Draco Malfoy." Ginny told her mercilessly. 

Their food came shortly after that and they mostly talked about babies and their families, Luna and Blaise were talking about wanting to start trying for a baby and Ginny was full of stories about her pregnancies. Hermione had some stories from the hospital and days spent watching the Potter children. Scorpius sat happily humming in Hermione's lap playing with a small bag of peanuts she had pulled from her purse. It was crunchy and he enjoyed smashing it on the table and his lap. 

Draco on the other hand was supremely distracted. Scorpius was singing in his head. A litany of memories of Hermione's friends saying her name "'Mione" 

Blaise, then Luna, Ginny, Hermione herself " I'm here sunshine, Mione is here."

   "'Mione is here"  

Draco calling her "'Mione". And again "mione is here." Then Blaise, then Draco and back to Hermione " 'Mione is here." Over and over again, 'Mione, 'Mione, 'Mione is here. 'Mione, 'Mione, 'Mione is here. 

Draco just smiled at his plate, realizing how happy his son was with Hermione Granger. He knew he had to close off his mind and focus on Mr. Guilford but he hated to do it. He wondered if Hermione could hear how happy her little Sunshine was. Draco felt tears prick at his eyes, realizing that he had never known his son to be this happy before. 

"Is everything all right Mr. Malfoy?" Guilford asked when the younger man had been silent for a long time. 

"My apologies Mr. Guilford." Draco said, pulling himself back to the present moment. "Do you have a family?" Draco asked suddenly,

"I have a wife and a daughter who just started at Hogwarts, she was sorted into Hufflepuff house." Guilford said proudly. Draco nodded, then took a deep breath and put his fork down, "Mr. Guilford, I don't know if it will help you to understand or not but the real reason I'm redecorating is not just because of the war, as Dr. Granger said, but because my wife was… less than pleased to be party to the arranged marriage. And I've just realized that with the divorce and this remodeling, I might have a chance to be truly happy in my own home for the first time in my life." 

"Of course Mr. Malfoy." Mr. Guilford said. He couldn't imagine a life that brought more pain than joy and determined then to do his absolute best to make Malfoy manor the most welcoming place he could for the people who would live there. 

After lunch Luna, Ginny, Hermione and Scorpius returned to Luna's house. Ginny said goodbye and headed off to pick her kids up from her mother's and work on afternoon naps. Luna and Hermione sat down in the kitchen for a quick cup of tea after Scorpius was settled for his nap. 

"I won't be out for dinner tonight Luna, I've got a lot of stuff piled up at home that needs to be done" Hermione said as she turned the warm cup in her hands. "and I think Draco needs a normal night with Scorpius." 

Luna looked over the edge of her cup at her best friend,"you mean a night without 'Mione?"

"It's been three days, and I want to give them space before Scorpius imprints on me like a duckling." 

Luna sighed as she sat her cup down, "It might be too late for that. But I understand." She patted Hermione's hand gently in a motherly way despite being the younger of the two women. “You do what you need to do Hermione.” she said. Hermione smiled tightly and squeezed Luna’s hand. 

“Thanks. Tell Blaise I’ll see him Monday.”  she got up from the counter,

“And Draco?” Luna asked with feigned innocence, Hermione stopped, her face flushing slightly. She was purposely trying to put some distance between them, she needed to get back to normal life. Everything had been in a state of chaos since the Malfoy’s showed up at the hospital. But she also didn’t want Draco to feel like she was running away from him- especially after the whole “mrs. Malfoy” gaffe at lunch. “Tell him…” her mind started cycling through the options- none of them seemed to work. “Tell him not to hesitate to call if they need me.” 

Luna raised an eyebrow 

“Ok, see you later ‘Mione”

“See you Luna.” 

Luna stood in the kitchen for a long time after Hermione left. It would take time for her to come to terms with what she was feeling Luna knew. But she wished her friend wouldn’t make it harder on herself. She sighed. Well, Blaise and Draco would both be back eventually and she had some work to do still today, best to get it knocked out while Scorpius slept. 

Chapter 10. This is going to keep happening isn't it?

Draco was exhausted and the scars on his chest hurt like hell by the time he got to Blaise and Luna's house later that evening. He had taken Mr. Guilford to the Manor and they had talked extensively over the changes that Draco wanted for the house. He had nearly had a panic attack in the parlor. Instead he had stepped out to the corridor and had his panic attack there. Mr. Guilford followed him back out and sat with him on the floor until he was ready to get back to their work. 

"I apologize," Draco said, his whole body shaking slightly as the tight bands of panic loosened gradually around his chest.

"I take it that room in particular had blood spilled in it?" Mr. Guilford asked, remembering what Dr. Granger had said at lunch. Draco nodded, swallowing hard. 

"Dr. Grangers to be specific." He croaked, his mouth dry "My aunt was Voldemort's favorite minion and she favored that room for her 'interrogations'" 

"I see.” the older wizard took a deep breath before bracing his hands on his knees, “Well then, new flooring, fresh paint-” he paused, thinking briefly “what if we knocked out part of that exterior wall and added on to make a conservatory? It's south facing and would make an excellent addition to the house." 

Draco pulled himself to his feet and offered a hand up to the older wizard, "a conservatory would be perfect." 

He knocked on the Zabini’s front door as he pushed it open, "Blaise, Luna, I'm back." He called as he kicked his shoes off by the door and set his overnight bag beside the hall table. He'd be staying with the Zabini's for the next couple of weeks while the work on the house was completed. 

"Drake!" Blaise said coming into the entryway, "how'd it go?“

"It went well, I only had one panic attack. And we decided to turn that bloody parlor into a conservatory." 

"Oh that's brilliant. Hey, you want to be in the nursery with Scorpius or have the guest room across the hall?" Blaise asked,

"In with Scorp is fine." Draco answered, pressing the heel of his palm into the part of his chest that ached the most. The panic attack had taken a lot out of him and he just wanted a cup of tea and to lay down with his book and a snuggly baby if the baby wanted to snuggle.

“You ought to take something for that, Mate.”

"It’s not that bad. I’m just tired.” he took a deep breath and stretched his shoulders. “Where is Scorpius?" Draco asked,

"Library" Blaise said as he grabbed Draco's bag to take it up to the nursery. “Pain potions are above the fridge if you change your mind.”  

 "Thanks.” he started down the hallway as Blaise went up the stairs. 

Draco quickly got himself a cup of tea and snagged a couple of Luna's "anti-wrackspurt" cookies. He wasn't so sure they got rid of wrackspurts but they definitely made him feel better. He glanced up at the small amber bottles Blaise had tucked neatly on top of the fridge and sighed as he reached for one. Between the panic attack and the last few days of not being able to do much physically, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to carry Scorpius up the stairs for the throbbing in his chest. He downed the bottle with practiced precision. The less of it that he had to taste the better. It wasn’t that it tasted bad exactly- but it would keep him from tasting anything else for at least an hour. He took a deep breath as the pain eased almost immediately. It was still there, it was always there, but at least now he could think again.

 With his book as a tray, one cookie stacked on top of the mug of tea, the other already half eaten, he headed down the hall to the library in his sock feet. He could hear Scorpius giggling as he came to the half open door, he nudged it open with a foot and nearly lost the teacup to his hand shaking. 

"And if you ever find a niffler make sure you catch it for auntie." Luna was saying to the baby

"Hey Luna," 

"Evening Draco, how was the afternoon with Mr. Guilford?“ she asked, she was sitting on the couch with Scorpius laying in her lap kicking and wiggling happily as she played with him. 

"Decent. Exhausting." He sat down carefully next to her on the couch, setting his tea on the small end table. "Got all the big decisions taken care of and they're going to start work Monday. Guilford said it would take about a week."

"You're welcome to stay here as long as you need Draco." Luna placed a gentle arm across his shoulders, pulling him into a sisterly side hug. 

"Thanks Luna. It means a lot." He said softly. Scorpius invaded Draco's mind and demanded to be held by daddy. He lifted his son from Luna's lap and bounced him on his knee a bit, before sighing and snuggling the baby into a hug. Scorpius laid his head on Draco's shoulder, thumb tucked in his mouth. 

"I need to see about dinner." Luna patted Draco on the knee as she stood up. "I'll send Blaise to find you when it's ready."

"Thank you again Luna, for everything." Draco said as he patted Scorpius on the back, Luna already at the door.

"That's what family is for Drake." and she was gone.

Family. Not blood relations, but a chosen family. He had people who cared for him, and it was an amazing feeling. He breathed in deeply, Scorpius was nearly asleep. Draco decided to go ahead and put him down for the evening before dinner. He left his tea and book where they were and took Scorpius upstairs. He sat in the rocking chair and gave the child the bottle that sat prepared for his evening meal, then just rocked his son for a long while as he fell asleep. 

“Things are going to be better for us, Scorp. We have a fresh start, all the rest of the summer ahead of us, and family to support us and help us if we let them.” he whispered to his son, “there will still be hard days, but even the hard days will be better I think.”

Draco carefully placed the sleeping baby in the crib and made his way back down to the library. His tea was probably bone cold by now, but he still had a book and a cookie waiting for him. 

Draco settled down on the couch in the library and opened his book. It was one he had read before and had nearly made it to the end- the final battle was coming, and the captain stood on the battlements and declared his love for his lady as they watched the army march away to the east. It was the first glimmer of happiness before the end of the story. 

He was deep in the bowels of a volcano when Blaise came to the library door

“Hey Drake, food’s on.” Draco looked up over the wire rims of his glasses,

“What?” he asked dazedly

“Food. My lady bids you come in to dinner.”

“I think the line was- Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.” he shut the book,

“Meh, I didn’t much care for Shakespeare- brilliant wizard that he was. Regardless. It's time to eat, you bookworm, and my wife won't let me eat until you’re there, so come save me from starvation."

Draco smirked at Blaise and rolled off the couch, then dropped his book and glasses on the side table before following his friend from the library, “Drama Queen” he muttered under his breath as they walked into the dining room. Luna had laid out a beautiful dinner, Blaise looked over the table and noted the three places set as usual-

“‘Mione not coming tonight then?” he asked as he sat down,

“She said she had things to finish at home.”

Blaise lifted an eyebrow at his wife,
“Things to finish at home?”

“She said she’d see you Monday.” Luna said in a way that said the conversation was finished. Draco privately wondered if Hermione hadn’t bowed out of the traditional Friday night at the Zabini’s because he was there.  His Psychologist, Dr.Carmichael, told him that communication was key in any relationship, be that professional, familial, platonic, or romantic. Draco decided that he'd call Hermione after dinner and apologize for the mess at lunch with Mr.Guilford. there was no reason to let that screw up fester when he could set it to rights.

That decision made, Draco turned his attention back to the conversation at the table.

After dinner the three adults sat and talked for a bit over coffee and then went their separate ways for the evening. Draco went back to the library and a glance at the clock told him it was far too late to call. So instead he decided to write to her, though the owl would take some hours to fly from the Zabini's home west of st. Mungos to Hermione's, further north. He sat and tried to find the right words for the letter for far too long. And then finally he realized how idiotic he was being and set pen to paper.

~~~

Hermione was just sitting down with a book and her coffee Saturday morning when an owl tapped on her kitchen window. She opened the window and took the letter from it. The handwriting wasn't one she recognized but less than a dozen people had her address so it had to be someone she knew. 

She glanced at the signature as she opened the letter- Draco. Why was Draco writing to her?

Hermione,

I wanted to apologize for not properly introducing you to Mr.Guilford this afternoon. I screwed up and embarrassed you both and I'm sorry. We all missed you at dinner. Mr.Guilford is confident that the work at the Manor won't take more than a week or two at most. So I'm hoping to be able to have Blaise and Luna over for dinner at my place soon. Would you be up for joining us one evening if it works with your schedule?

Draco

Hermione leaned against the counter, and grabbed the pen and note paper she kept in the kitchen and jotted a quick reply.

Draco, 

Thank you for your apology. I could have just as easily introduced myself, so it's not entirely your fault. I'm glad things look like they'll be moving so quickly towards getting you settled in your own home again. I would enjoy visiting the manor and seeing all the changes once they're completed, and I would very much enjoy joining the dinner party. My schedule is generally very flexible unless I'm on call for the emergency department.

'Mione

She glanced at the book she had sitting beside her cooling coffee and remembered what Draco had said in her office "Draco Malfoy, 26, single father, also loves books." And added a post script before sending it back with the same owl. 

Draco was just pulling Scorpius from his highchair where he had been playing in oatmeal while Draco finished his lunch when the owl returned. With a response.

 He hadn't been expecting one in the same manner. He figured she'd either call or text or just wait till they ran into one another again. He collected Scorpius' things and snagged the letter as they headed out to the garden to get a bit of sunshine before naptime.

Once Scorpius was settled on the small blanket Draco kept in the diaper bag he sprawled out in the grass beside the baby and opened the letter. Her response was friendly and polite, but didn't leave room for the conversation to continue. And then he saw the post script.

P.S. What have you been reading lately?

By dinner Draco had another letter from Hermione tucked in his pocket and a smile on his face. They had talked about their current and all time favorite writers and genres, in this last letter Hermione had recommended a handful of muggle authors that he planned on looking up at the library on Monday. Blaise had had a couple of the books on his shelves, and Draco had already been able to start one of them. He had a response all written out in his head and he only lacked the time to sit down and write. 

Luna had been called away suddenly for a work thing so Blaise and Draco sat down to dinner by themselves later that evening. Blaise had been watching Draco throughout dinner, he had an unusual look about him. He was happy, but also pensive. 

"What's got you so distracted mate?" He asked, 

"Huh?" Draco looked up from the fork full of pasta halfway to his mouth.

"You've been off in your own world today. What are you planning?" He put his fork down

"A trip to the library at the moment. Hermione recommended some new books and I mean to look them up."

"Oh, when was 'Mione over?"

"She wasn't." Blaise raised an eyebrow, "We've been exchanging letters today."

"Letters. Now that is something I wouldn't have thought about. Good old fashioned love letters. You know she's got a mobile right? I can give you her number."

"Not love letters you idiot. The first one was an apology for not properly introducing her to Guilford, my interior designer, and the second was to answer her question about books. And I have her number, she gave it to me yesterday."

"Why on earth did you have to apologize for not introducing her?"

Draco dropped his face into his hand, elbow propped on the table.

"Because he assumed she was my wife."

Blaise nearly cackled. 

"Well!" He leaned on the table himself, chin propped on his laced fingers, eyes bright with laughter "And how did that make you feel?" Draco glanced up at Blaise, 

"Who are you, my psychoanalyst?"

"Just your best mate who happens to know the lady in question. Actually forget how it made you feel- I remember your “daydream”. How did SHE react?"

"Well, she didn't bite his head off. Though she did start to correct him. I sent her back to the girls table before she could though. And then apologized to Guilford and explained that she was just my friend."

"Just your friend. That's what everyone says. 'we're just friends!' then next thing you know they're boning in the broom closet."

"The fuck Blaise! We're both adults." Draco's hand dropped to the table as he sat up straight,

"Yes, and?" Blaise grinned

Draco sighed,

"Hermione and I are currently not in a relationship. We are friends. There will be no 'boning in a broom closet' or anywhere else because I'm 26 not 16 and fully capable of keeping my hands to myself." Blaise just smiled more broadly at him "I respect Hermione, I value her opinion on things and I want to get to know her better. Will we be 'just friends' in six months? I don't know." Draco threw his hands up, "Do I still want to give myself six months before pursuing a new romantic relationship? Yes." 

"But you want to bone 'Mione in the broom closet." Blaise picked his fork up again,

"God no." Draco said disgusted, Blaise was shocked

"Wait, really?" 

Draco couldn't resist the quip that sprung to his mind, "Why on earth would I choose a broom closet when I have 26 other rooms that are infinitely more comfortable to choose from? Not to mention my extensive library."  Blaise burst out laughing but let the subject drop.

Chapter 11. Mr. Granger.

Hermione walked into the village Sunday afternoon and caught the bus to her parents' neighborhood. She had about a twenty minute bus ride ahead of her so she pulled the latest letter from Draco out and began reading over it again, she had already responded to it. He had gone to the library on Saturday and was more than halfway through the Count of Monte Cristo. He also told of how he had taken Scorpius to see his maternal grandparents and how that hadn't gone badly, but hadn't gone well either. He wasn't sure how far to trust Adorabella Greengrass. Her bus stop came and she put the letter away carefully and started the short walk to her parents. She knew it was the smart thing to do, putting distance between herself and the Malfoys. But she also couldn't get them out of her head. Scorpius' little toothless grin. The way Draco smiled and laughed with her now. She wondered if Voldemort hadn't come back, if Draco's family hadn't been so racist, would they have been friends in school? Would they have dated 6th or 7th year? She took a deep breath. Gotta think about something else.

She walked up the front garden and knocked on the door as she let herself in, "mum! Dad!" She called, 

"in the kitchen 'Mione!" Her dad called.

She walked to the back of the house and found her parents talking over a cup of coffee, her mother putting the finishing touches on a pie. She looked most like her mother, but had her father's curly hair. He was stocky and graying, his full beard streaked almost white in places. 

She kissed his cheek as she hugged him. 

"How is my Sunshine? Anything interesting happen at work this week?" 

Hermione set her bag on the counter next to him with half a sigh. "Well, I got called to Emergency for a six-month-old. Twice. Other than that, it’s been fairly normal…"

Her mother glanced up, eyebrows raised, "Fairly normal? What’s ‘ fairly normal’ mean? Are we talking drama , or…?"

"Oh no, — It’s just, I don’t know if you remember Blaise’s friend, Draco?” Hermione moved to the cabinet next to her mum and pulled a mug down for herself.

Charles Granger leaned back to look at his daughter with a quizzical brow. “Draco? That cotton swab you punched in the face when you were thirteen?” 

“Dad!” Hermione cried.

Jean frowned, “Charles!”

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, smirking into his coffee cup. “Cotton Swab redacted. But this is the same Draco Malfoy from School, right?”

"There's only one Draco Malfoy, dad." She sighed as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

Jean wiped her hands on her apron, "What about him? Did you see him? —He wasn't horrible to you again was he?" 

“No, he was lovely. It’s just that there’s some family stuff he has going on and it’s a headache and a half and I just feel for him.” 

Her mother hummed, “Was this related to the six-month-old emergency?” 

“You know I can’t answer that, mum.” but the look on Hermione's face told Jean it was.

"I do hope the poor child is alright.” Hermione wrapped an arm about her mothers waist in half a hug, 

“I think that he’ll be alright.” she said.

Jean slipped the finished pie into the oven and the conversation moved on to more mundane things, the local cricket league her father bowled for, her mother's latest knitting project, Hermione's research and newest books she had found or some little thing she had learned about Draco and his son- nothing work related of course.

 They worked together on dinner and easily fell into the old routines, chatting as they worked. After dinner was cooked and eaten, Hermione caught the bus back through town to her little house. Jean and Charles stood together on their front porch and watched as their daughter walked down the road away from their small house in their suburban neighborhood. Jean didn't look away from Hermione's form as she felt her husband's arms wrap around her waist. 

"Did you notice that it was 'Draco' and not 'Malfoy' like it tasted nasty to say it, like it used to be during her school years?" She asked as she settled her hands over her husband's.

"Mmmm." Charles pressed a kiss to her temple, "you remember that letter she sent us after she punched him in the face?"

Jean laughed, letting her head rest against his shoulder "God yes, the way she went on and on, Malfoy this and Malfoy that. I don't think we heard anything but Malfoy for almost a month."

"I thought something like this might happen even back then. She cared too much. She would have just walked away if she hadn't." Jean sighed,

"I just hope she knows what she's doing."

"Have faith in her, Love, she's a grown woman and we've taught her well. She won't let him play her for a fool. He'll have hell to pay if he tries."

Jean leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed deeply, "Indeed."

~~~

The week was calm and restful for Draco and Scorpius. Draco took Hermione’s advice and wrote to McGonagall about Scorpius and arranged to meet with her at Hogwarts Friday afternoon. In the meantime he took Scorpius on walks about the town and trips to the library. He had collected a handful of the books Hermione had recommended and they spent their days as they usually did before only without as much of the fear and anxiety that came with living with Astoria.

Wednesday that week Draco took Scorpius back to St. Mungo's to have lunch with Blaise, Scorpius was busy looking all around them as Draco walked through the halls. He had decided to come in a bit early and see if Hermione wanted to join them. And Scorpius had been asking to see her for the last day or so. He actually remembered where her office was this time and didn't get turned around at all. 

Hermione got up from her desk and stretched, yawning slightly. She needed another cup of coffee. Her eye caught the paper calendar that hung on the wall near the sink. Wednesday. She glanced at her watch, 11:15am. It was about this time last week she had been called down to emergency for Scorpius Malfoy. And her life had changed in a heartbeat. She poured the last of the pot of coffee into her mug. 

Luna kept asking her to come to dinner since she missed Friday night. But Hermione knew that Draco was still staying with them and she was still sorting out what was going on in her own head and she needed space and time to do that without her biological clock screaming at her. She leaned heavily against the counter, lifting the steaming mug to her face and inhaling deeply. She needed to be honest with herself. 

Honestly, she found Draco attractive, both mind and body. They had been exchanging letters regularly since Saturday and she found herself looking forward to the next one. There would be an owl waiting when she got up in the morning and she'd respond over lunch, then a return owl when she got home at night which she would respond to before dinner. His letters were interesting and thought provoking. They compared wizard and muggle writers, talked about the plans Draco had for the Manor and the things Hermione wanted to do to her cottage and whatever other thoughts popped into their heads as they wrote. 

Honestly, her work was important and she loved it. It made a difference in people's lives. In children's lives. And she wasn't going to stop doing her work for anything or anyone. 

Honestly, throwing a husband or even just a boyfriend and 6 month old child into her life would take some major rearranging. if he wasn't willing to be ok with her continuing her work regardless of their relationship status, then there would never BE a relationship status. Would it be worth it to try and integrate them into her home life? Maybe? 

She wanted what Blaise and Luna had. What Harry and Ginny had. What her parents and what Molly and Arthur had. Love, friendship, mutual trust and respect. Would she find that with Draco and Scorpius? Perhaps. Was it worth trying? That was harder to answer. 

Scorpius had been abandoned by one mother already. She wasn't going to step into those shoes unless she knew that things would be good with her and Draco no matter what.

And she didn't even know what Draco thought of all this because she was physically avoiding him, and keeping her letters well away from such subjects. She knew it would have to be addressed at some point.

She took another deep breath and started to sip at the hot coffee and then chubby baby fingers in her mind made her heart skip a beat. She saw Draco's face, a bag slung across his shoulder, "we're going to see uncle Blaise for lunch, and maybe see 'Mione for a minute Scorp. Ready to go sunshine?" 

Then blackness, but warm and soft, and Hermione laughing, the sounds of the bistro behind her voice. Then Luna putting him down for a nap, and then flashes of Scorpius looking for her in every face he saw, at the library, out in town, every time someone walked into the room. He missed her.

“We’ll see ‘Mione again soon Scorp. She just needs some time.” Draco’s voice said softly, “ I miss her too.” 

Hermione felt tears burn at the back of her throat. Damn her biological clock. She swallowed hard. “I miss her too” she forced out a breath and did her best to shove the flood of thoughts and feelings that came with that to the back of her mind. She was NOT going to think about Draco holding her before lunch last week. She was DEFINITELY not going to think about him kissing her, which had only happened in her imagination. Too late. Something else quick- there was an interloper in her mind and he was fully capable of sharing everything she thought with his father. Hogwarts founders were Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin, the school motto is Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. Never tickle a sleeping dragon. Or baby. 

"Mama!" Hermione heard in the corridor, "'Mione?" there was a double tap on her door, she opened her eyes and sat the coffee down on the counter beside her,

“Off to lunch with Blaise?” she asked looking up at Draco and Scorpius in the doorway,

“Yeah, Scorp tell you?” He grinned at her. He was wearing the same steel grey shirt he had been in the memory Scorpius had shared with her, the canvas strap of the diaper bag slung across his chest. Scorpius on his hip. “Mama!” the baby leaned toward her, sending her memories of being held as he usually did when he wanted her to hold him. 

“He’s missed you.” Draco said as she crossed the room to take the baby from his father.

“He’s been telling me that since you arrived I think.” She settled Scorpius on her hip, hugging him close for a minute. “I missed you too, sunshine.” she said, softly kissing his cheek. He hummed and Draco laughed.

Hermione looked up at Draco Malfoy, he looked happy and relaxed. “Can you hear him singing or is he only sending it to me?” he asked, 

“He isn’t sending me anything at the moment.” 

“May I share it with you? I could explain- but it’s cuter the way he does it.”

Hermione looked at Draco for a long moment assessing him- if it had been Blaise asking permission to enter her mind she would have told him to go to hell. “Yes, but only that.” she said carefully. she wasn't sure she wanted him running amuck in her head with her imaginations version of himself. Draco’s eyebrows creased, “you have my word, only what he’s showing me, and I know how to avoid others thoughts, so you don’t have to worry about me seeing anything accidentally. I know you don’t have any training in occlumency." That made her feel better, though she had been trying to teach herself, so she thought she might have a chance at pushing him out of her mind if needed. she nodded and… it felt like when his hand had brushed her cheek in the cafeteria. It made her breath catch. And then memories of Draco saying ‘Mione, then Blaise saying it, and her voice the night Astoria had showed up at the Zabini’s “‘Mione is here.”

‘Mione, ‘Mione, ‘Mione is here

‘Mione, ‘Mione, ‘Mione is here

 And that was it. The warmth of Draco’s mind was gone. She blinked. 

“He sang that at the Bistro last week too.” Draco said. "Speaking of lunches, would you care to join us in the cafeteria?"

"I doubt my little sunshine would take no for an answer." Scorpius clung to her like a tiny monkey. "But I would very much enjoy that."

The first time Scorpius had said Mama, Draco had disregarded it as simple babbling but now he was sure his son was calling Hermione Mama on purpose. As they walked to the cafeteria in companionable silence Draco turned over the memories Scorpius had sent him before they had arrived at Hermione's office and glanced at the beautiful auburn haired witch walking beside him and carrying his son who babbled happily. The first was a memory, Hermione wrapped in his arms in her office and wishing to stay there. Safe. The second was not a memory, but it would only take a moment to make it one, and he was tempted. A simple sweet kiss, an 'I think I'm falling in love with you' kiss. He mentally slapped himself. Six months Malfoy. 

Hermione needed to learn occlumency and sooner rather than later. 

"Draco?" He looked back down at Hermione as they found an empty table in the cafeteria. Draco was still about 10 minutes ahead of his meeting with Blaise.

"Yes?" 

"What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about teaching you occlumency." He charmed one of the chairs into a highchair for Scorpius. Hermione blushed slightly but decided that she wouldn’t be the one to mention the slipped thoughts. 

“If you’re up for it, I could definitely use a hand learning. I’ve given it a go by myself, but it’s hard to know if you’re making any progress or not.” Hermione buckled Scorpius into the highchair then sat down herself.

Draco chuckled, “hard? It’s nearly impossible to learn Occlumency without a decent legilimens to work against. That’s like trying to train for Quidditch without a broom." He pulled a toy from the bag and held it out to Scorpius who grabbed at it with a giggle and then began beating it against the tray as his father sat down across from Hermione. “Though you might be more comfortable with someone else. It’s a difficult thing to learn because the only way to learn is to have someone trying to get into your mind. Blaise or Potter-- Harry, might be better choices if you feel safer with either of them.” 

"When I first thought about learning Occlumency I thought about Harry, but when I asked him he reminded me that he never actually managed to learn. Blaise- he’s one of the ones I want to block out of my head." Hermione looked him in the face and grinned, "I trust you Malfoy." 

Draco blinked at her, a little surprised to hear her say it. "I wouldn't have let you in my head earlier if I didn't." 

"Well then. When do you want to have your first lesson?" 

"How about one day next week?”

"Later in the week would work, we’re looking at being able to move back to the manor monday or tuesday. So you could come out there if you wanted.”

Blaise walked up to the table just in time to hear the end of the conversation.

"The two of you planning a hot date?" He asked, dropping into the final chair at the table.

"Blaise" Hermione sighed dropping her face into her hands, 

"We're planning occlumency lessons, Zabini." Draco told him.  

"Ah yes. I forgot about your 6 month dating embargo." It was Draco's turn to facepalm as Hermione lifted her head and shot a look at Blaise.

"Oh has Drake not told you 'Mione?"

"Blaise. You're being a jackass." Hermione said,

"You're not the least bit curious?" He poked,

"'six month dating embargo'" Hermione lifted her hands in air quotes "tells me that you're not respecting boundaries that have been explicitly stated probably at least twice." Draco looked up at Hermione Granger defending him. Definitely Avenging Angel. Blaise had a guilty look on his face "Uh" he said,

"You pulled this same shit on Pansy." She pointed a finger at him,

"Ok then. Point taken 'Mione. I'll leave it be." He lifted his hands in surrender.

"Thank you." Scorpius threw his toy at Blaise with a giggle. 

"Mama!"

"That's a new word." Blaise said, turning his attention to his godson. 

"Mama!!“ he shrieked, Blaise pulled him out of the highchair and nearly lost his grip on the baby as he flung himself toward Hermione. 

"Oh that's how it is eh?" Blaise handed Scorpius off to Hermione as she reached for him. 

"Don't even Zabini." Hermione warned as Scorpius curled himself happily into her shoulder. She told herself that 'mama' was just the way he was trying to say 'Mione. The thought of him calling her Mama, as in Mother, scared her a little bit. And he hadn't called her 'mama' in her head. He called her 'Mione. 

"Lunch, I'm here for lunch. Let's eat." Blaise stood up hastily. 

The four of them went through the line, Draco handled Hermione's tray as she still held Scorpius. At the end of the line Blaise took care of the bill. 

"Oh Dr. Granger! How old is the baby?" The cashier asked

"He's 6 months old."

"Is he mobile yet? Mine were just starting to roll all over the place about that age." 

Hermione looked to Draco for the answer, 

"He's got tummy to back, but hasn't figured out back to tummy yet." Draco answered. 

"Oh you must be Mr. Granger." The cashier said,  "He looks just like you. It must be hard being a stay at home dad. I've heard that it's difficult to make friends as there are so few of you."

Blaise bit his fist and walked away quickly. 

"It can be quite hard at times. But I wouldn't trade it for anything." Draco said with a smile. The cashier smiled back, "well you have a lovely afternoon!" And they were off to their table. 

Draco glanced at Hermione trying to gauge her reaction as they made their way back to their table. 

"That's going to keep happening isn't it?" She asked, not looking at him.

"Well, considering my son is calling you mama and there's absolutely no denying that he's mine. Probably." Draco sat their trays down. Blaise was grinning like the Cheshire cat. Draco ignored him "Does it bother you that I didn't correct her?"

Hermione thought about it for a moment.

"Not really. It would have made for an awkwardly long interaction, and there would have been apologies and it would have been a whole affair." She shrugged as she sat down. 

"So Mr.Granger," Blaise started.

"You on the other hand" Hermione interrupted as she turned on the much taller wizard, fresh venom in her voice. "We JUST talked about this."

"Oh come on 'Mione! I just wanted to tease him a little bit." 

"Not while I'm around. If he said he wanted to take six months to deal with the physical and mental trauma then he gets six months to deal with the physical and mental trauma, and longer if he likes without you pushing him. You don't have to be a licensed therapist to know that it takes time to heal DOCTOR Zabini. What you boys do when I'm not around is your own deal. But you will not rag either Draco or myself about our relationship, am I clear?"

Blaise looked at her, eyes twinkling with mischief, "so you two are in a relationship?" 

Hermione threw her hands up,

"I give up. You can deal with him, Draco. I'm going to take Scorpius to my office." And she collected the baby and left.

Draco turned to look at Blaise with a raised eyebrow. 

"What?" he was entirely unrepentant, 

Draco just shook his head. "You certainly know how to push her buttons."

Blaise shrugged, "What can I say Mr. Granger? She's fun to mess with." 

Draco stood up and consolidated the food from both his tray and Hermione's. 

"She's more fun to talk to, too. Thanks for lunch, Blaise." He said, then grabbed the diaper bag and took the single tray and left Blaise sitting there alone. 

Chapter 12. A Trip to Hogwarts.

Hermione sat down on the couch in her office with Scorpius. 

"Why does your uncle have to be such an ass, Sunshine?" She sighed. Scorpius sent her tentative feelings, and she realized he could feel the anger and frustration she felt toward Blaise. "I'm sorry, sunshine." She sent him love and shared memories of good times with Blaise. 

"He just doesn't know when to stop pushing." She stroked the fuzzy blond head

"'Mione?" Draco said from the doorway, "I brought lunch up. Blaise has been more of an idiot than usual lately, at home as well."

Hermione patted the couch beside her, 

"I don't know if you were around when he was pulling this same stuff on Pansy, but I've seen all his tricks before." she said

Draco placed the tray on the coffee table then sat beside her on the small couch. Scorpius reached towards Draco, little hands grabbing for his father, and with a toothless grin he squeaked "ASSS!" Hermione’s eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed as Draco’s eyebrows went up. “That’s a new word,” he noted.

“Scorpius is rather hyperverbal isn’t he?” 

“I do believe I’ve mentioned he has an excellent memory.” Scorpius giggled and snagged a fist full of Draco’s t-shirt, stuffing it in his mouth. Draco tugged his shirt away from his son and Hermione looked away, embarrassed at being caught out. “I’ll keep a better watch on my tongue next time.” 

“Thanks. It means a lot that you care about him.”

Hermione smiled and shook her wand into her hand, then charmed the arm chair across from them into a highchair for Scorpius. 

“He’s one of the sweetest babies I’ve ever met.” she brushed her finger down Scorpius’ nose and he blinked slowly then grabbed her hand and tried to pull her index finger into his mouth but she tugged her hand away gently, “That is not sanitary Sunshine. At least let me wash my hands first before you eat me.” Draco laughed and put Scorpius in the highchair as Hermione moved to the sink and washed her hands thoroughly.

"I'm sorry Blaise has been pushing you.” he said as he pulled the tin of rice puffs from the diaper bag. “He and I have teased and pushed each other's buttons since we first met, and I gave him good natured hell about Luna when they were first getting together so for my part I feel his teasing me about stuff is only fair. But I don't want him making you uncomfortable." 

Hermione shrugged as she sat back down on the couch and collected her sandwich from the tray, "I'm a big girl, I think I can handle Blaise. And if not, then I can always pull out the big guns." 

Draco raised an eyebrow, "the big guns?"

"Luna." she dumped her bag of crisps onto her plate and began layering them in the middle of her sandwich.

"Ahhhh." He chuckled as he pulled the cap off of his pumpkin juice, "Yes. She would take him to task wouldn't she?"

Hermione laughed, “She just pulls out the Italian and he melts like an ice cream in Brighton. ‘Tesoro, smettila di infastidire tua sorella.’ ‘Stop annoying your sister’.” Draco nearly choked on his drink as he burst out laughing and coughing. “I didn’t know you spoke Italian.”
Hermione shrugged, “not anywhere near fluently, just a few phrases here and there.” Draco began eating his sandwich as Hermione put hers back together. “Luna has used that one on him a few times. It’s a toss up between whether he comes back from kissing her with something about me not being his sister, or goes overboard with the big brother act, despite my being two months older. Apparently he prefers to translate ‘big brother’ literally.” 

Draco grinned, "he told me once, probably second year, that he always wanted a little sister." He started on his sandwich and they ate in silence for a minute, "how did you end up stuck with him?" 

"I was being mobbed in the corridor between classes. He stepped in and got me to my next class on time. And it just became a thing. People were just starting to talk about us when he met Luna again." Hermione finished her crisps. "How did you and Blaise end up friends?"

"We both tried to hide in the same broom closet during a Christmas party at the Goyle's our first year. There was mistletoe EVERYWHERE, and the girls made a game of trying to catch both of us."

"And girls were still gross at that point right?" 

"Definitely. We spent the rest of the night holed up talking about quidditch until our parents came searching for us. Then when we got back to school we started hanging out more." He took another bite of his sandwich, then remembered he had meant to tell her about the trip to see McGonagall. 

"I did write to McGonagall by the way." Draco said, "we're going to see her Friday after lunch." Hermione picked her drink up,

"Oh I'm glad. I'm sure she'll have good advice for you. You'll have to tell me what she says at dinner. I'll be over at the Zabini's as usual."

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd be willing to come along with us?" Draco sat his mostly empty plate back on the coffee table. "I think it would help Scorpius to have you there. You've got happier memories of Professor McGonagall than I do." 

"Are you sure you want me along?" she looked at him, "It'll only add fuel to the fire of people assuming we're together." 

"Honestly I'm surprised that I haven't seen anything in the papers about my divorce yet. But yes. I'm sure."

Hermione nodded, "all right then. When and where?" 

"I'm planning on apparating to Hogsmeade at 2 Friday, and walking up to Hogwarts from there. We're supposed to meet McGonagall around 3." 

Hermione got up and walked to her desk, checking her schedule. She tended to take a half day on Fridays but she wanted to double check she didn't have anything scheduled for after lunch. 

"Would you rather meet up in Hogsmeade or at Blaise's?" She asked, grabbing a pen to jot the meeting down on the empty Friday afternoon.

"Blaise’s would be easiest, but he will most definitely give us a hard time about it." 

"If we stop giving him the reaction he'll quit teasing." She quoted her mother as she wrote the appointment down "Zabini's house at 145 on Friday. I'll be there."

They spent the next 15 minutes talking about books and the research project Hermione had going. Then a nurse popped her head in the door, "Oh, sorry Dr. Granger, I didn't mean to interrupt your family lunch, but your 1 o'clock is in room 202."

"Thank you. I just have to grab the files and I'll be right there." Hermione replied. Family lunch. Good lord. All the nurses were going to be talking now. She turned back to Draco. "You're probably going to get called Mr. Granger again."

"Well, if it keeps people from making eyes at me I'll take it." He laughed. She smiled as she grabbed the file off her desk "you two can stay as long as you like." Draco picked up Scorpius and met her at the door, "Let me know about the occlumency lessons."

"I will." Draco said, Hermione brushed her hand over the fuzz of Scorpius' hair and across his cheek "see you later sunshine." Scorpius reached for her but she stepped back. "Mama!" 

"Sorry baby, I've got work!"

"See you 'Mione." Draco waved his free hand as she walked off down the corridor. 

Draco turned back into the office and got everything set to rights. Then collected a pouting Scorpius and pulled the office door shut behind him. He decided to see if Blaise was in his office before heading back to the house. 

Blaise was just sitting down at his desk to deal with some paperwork when Draco tapped on the door, 

"Hey Blaise."

"Ah, I'm not being shunned then?" Blaise dropped his pen on the desk and leaned back in his chair.

"You were the one pushing buttons at lunch." Draco stepped into Blaise's office. It was smaller than Hermione's, lacking the ensuite bathroom, kitchenette and sitting area. It also wasn't stuffed to the gills with books like hers was. Draco knew that Blaise didn't spend much of his day at his desk though. 

"So did you have fun in Dr. Grangers office?" Blaise asked slyly 

"Nope." Draco popped the 'p' and grinned at his oldest friend "We had lunch and talked about plans for the rest of the week. She’s coming with me and Scorpius on Friday to see McGonagall.”

“Aw, Mama ‘Mione couldn’t stay away?”

Draco shook his head, “I asked her to come so Scorpius is more comfortable, you know McGonagall and I never really got on at school."

"True. When are you planning your “occlumency lessons”?"

"Not till after we're back at the manor I don't think. There's just a lot going on with getting things settled."

Scorpius started fussing and reached out to Draco's mind. He wanted to go home and be rocked. 

"Well, Scorp is very ready for his nap so I'll let you get back to work. See you tonight."

Blaise waved a hand as Draco turned and left. He was glad that he didn't have to worry about Draco anymore. He knew that he'd be safe, and maybe eventually Blaise would be able to convince him to ask Hermione Granger out. They were perfect for each other.

Friday came and Hermione went home at noon to change and grab some lunch before going to meet up with Draco and Scorpius. She stood looking through her closet trying to decide between a pleated skirt or slacks when crookshanks decided to wrap himself around her ankles and distract her. The cat was nearly 15 though the kneazle in him meant that he'd live longer than a typical cat would. She knelt down and picked him up, stroking his wiry orange fur. 

"What do you think, Crookshanks? Skirt or slacks?" The cat sniffed and looked away from the wardrobe with a haughty air.

"Skirt it is, then." She sat him down on the bed behind her and pulled a cream colored blouse, deep blue skirt and matching blazer from the hangers. Her most comfortable black flats finished off the look, it was a decent walk from Hogsmeade to the school. She changed and pulled her hair half back, the deep auburn curls behaving beautifully. She looked at the few bits of makeup she owned and rarely used- it was a meeting with McGonagall, not a date. She decided to add only a touch of lip tint so she didn't look so colorless. Finally ready and feeling strangely nervous, she locked up and apparated to the Zabini's a minute or so before the appointed time. 

Draco stood in front of the bathroom mirror and took a deep breath. McGonagall would be able to help him know how to manage Scorpius. Hermione would be there too for moral support. It would be fine. He stood up straight, tugged at the cuffs of his favorite dark green blazer and ran a nervous hand through his hair, he’d need a haircut soon, it was starting to fall into his eyes when left to it’s own devices. Scorpius just needed to be changed and have a bottle and then they were good to go. He turned and headed back to the nursery where his son was currently napping. He gently woke the baby and got him changed, then double checked the diaper bag and collected Scorpius and headed down to the kitchen to get him a bottle before they had to leave. 

He was just cleaning up after Scorpius' bottle when he heard someone apparate into the back garden. Hermione opened the kitchen door,

"Good afternoon, gentlemen." She said as she came in. Scorpius smacked the highchair and squealed happily "Mamama!!" 

"Hey there, sunshine!" She crossed the kitchen and picked him up smiling. Draco watched from the sink. Hermione stood holding Scorpius in the sun that shone in the back window. He finished rinsing the bottle out and dropped it into the dish drainer. 

"Draco?" 

He looked back up, Hermione was standing beside him.

"Are you ok? You look a bit upset."

"Just nervous." He braced his hands on the sink. "I don't know what to expect. What she'll think- am I doing a good job? Or will she tell me to give him up?" He glanced at Hermione and Scorpius then back down at the sink. "I'm afraid of losing him." His voice was tight and quiet. Hermione looked up at Draco, who didn't meet her gaze.

"You are an amazing father, Draco." She touched his arm. "Anyone with eyes can see how much you love your son and everything that you do for him. I don't know what McGonagall is going to say or recommend, but that's why we're going to her. You're not going to lose him. Everything is going to be alright. I promise."

Draco nodded and took a deep breath. "We had better get going." He picked up the diaper bag and held the door for Hermione and Scorpius. Luna would be home in an hour or so, so he made sure the door was locked as he pulled it closed. Hermione stood out in the grass face turned to the sun. it was delightfully warm, but she knew it’d probably be ten or twelve degrees cooler at Hogwarts. Draco stepped to her side opposite the baby and offered her his arm. She tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, shoulders nearly touching, and they apparated to Hogsmeade together. 

They popped into Hogsmeade just outside of the Three Broomsticks and Draco looked around. It had been ages since he’d been in Hogsmeade. The shops hadn’t changed much. A fresh coat of paint here, rebranding there. Zonko’s had been bought out by Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. And the bookstore had a sign in the window that said “Under new ownership”. Hermione pointed “oh there’s Scrivenshafts! Do you think we’d have time to stop in before we head back?” 

“Luna said dinner was going to be at 7 tonight. So probably. I doubt this meeting will take more than an hour. I’d like to stop at Tomes and Scrolls myself.” 

“And it’s not a trip to Hogsmeade without a visit to the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes.” Hermione grinned up at him. 

“We’ll have to take our time after the meeting then.” he smiled back down. “Can you imagine what this place will look like by the time Scorpius is old enough to come down from Hogwarts?” 

“Oh there’s no telling. But I’m glad it’s still mostly the same as I remember it.” Draco looked at his watch, then pulled Hermione into Honeydukes.
“Draco! What are you doing?”

“We’ve got a few minutes to spare. You think Scorpius is old enough for a chocolate frog yet?” Hermione just shook her head and laughed, taking in the familiar smell of the candy shop. It was a quiet summer day, and only a couple local people were in the shop. 

“It’s so strange being in here without a dozen school children milling about.” Hermione said as she followed Draco to the rack of Chocolate Frogs. He picked out an even half dozen and then spotted the liquorice wands and Pepper Imps. 

“I loved these as a kid.” he picked up the bag of Pepper Imps. “I’d pretend to be a dragon. Mother always laughed at me until I lit the rug on fire and then she wouldn’t let me eat them in the house anymore.” he chuckled, "I understand why now, but at the time I thought she was being massively unfair."

Hermione shifted Scorpius to her other hip, "How old were you?"

"About seven." He looked around, "what were your favorites as a kid?"

"I wasn't allowed much candy as a child, bad for the teeth and all. But I liked butterscotches and any sort of chocolate or caramel. Lemon drops are my favorite for heavy thinking projects. I keep a stash of them at my desk at work."

"I always kept lemon drops for when I did my homework. Blaise would snag one every time I sat down to work." 

"He still steals them every chance he gets." 

Draco chuckled as he checked his watch "ah, times up." He headed toward the counter with the frogs and the pepper imps, pausing to snag a tin of butterscotches and two bags of lemon drops.

The clerk looked at the little group curiously as he rang up the candies. After Draco paid, the clerk finally got his nerve up. "I'm sorry, but aren't you Hermione Granger?" He asked,

"I am, yes." The teenager pulled a well worn chocolate frog card from his pocket "would you- could you sign this for me please? I've got Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's autographs already." It was an Albus Dumbledore card. 

"Um- sure." She handed Scorpius to Draco so she could have her hands free and looked about for a pen. Draco pulled one from his breast pocket and held it out to her. "Thank you Draco." She signed her name in an empty spot under Ron's scrawled signature. "There. That's the whole set." She said, handing the card back to the clerk and turning to give Draco his pen back. Scorpius leaned toward her, hands grabbing at the air between them. "Mama!" he shrieked "MAMA!" she took him back from Draco who winced as his son let out an earsplitting squeal.

"You are Loud sunshine." Draco took the bag of candies and the trio left the candy shop and started up the hill to Hogwarts gate.

Draco pulled two chocolate frogs from the bag then tucked the rest of the candy in the diaper bag. 

"Did you ever try to collect all the different wizards and witches?" He asked as he handed her one of the boxes, popping the top so the frog would get its first jump without escaping and she could open it fully while still holding Scorpius. 

"One summer I tried. But after my 8th consecutive Fulbert the Fearful I gave up. If you're only going to get the most boring wizards, what's the use?" She pulled the chocolate frog out and ate it in two bites then flipped the card out of the box which Draco took from her as they walked. 

"Oh Merlin. Seriously?" She complained, 

"Get another Fulbert?" He asked past his half eaten frog.

"Worse." She turned the card to face him before the portrait could leave. Her 19 year old self smiled out at them. She had that innocent "I just saved the world and now my life is perfect" smile on her face, the glitter of an engagement ring on her finger. Draco stopped walking and took the card from her hand, examining it carefully. 

"It's been a lifetime since then hasn't it?“ he asked finally as the portrait disappeared.

"Sometimes I feel like it's been two." They started walking again.

"I didn't know you and Weasley had been officially engaged." 

"Yeah. Engaged for three years… I tell people we broke up because he didn't want to settle down and I did, and that's true but there's more to it than that. In the end we're still friends though." She shifted Scorpius to her other arm "who'd you get?" Draco pulled his card out and laughed "Fulbert the Fearful." Hermione shook her head ruefully. "Maybe that was supposed to be my frog."

They arrived at the gates of Hogwarts a bit early and Draco sent a patronus to find McGonagall and let her know they had arrived. Hermione watched the silvery dragon fly away with interest. 

“When did you learn the patronus charm?” she asked as they waited by the gates, Draco had traded the bag for the baby as they had walked up the last hill, and bounced him around making him laugh. 

“A few months before the wedding, I think. It was Blaise’s idea. He wanted to know what my patronus would be and if it would change after Astoria.” 

“Did it change?” 

“No, it’s always been the dragon. Yours is an Otter, right?”

“Yes, it’s always been my favorite. At first I liked them just because they were adorable, but the more I learned about them the more I loved them. You’d expect a dragon or lion to be dangerous- but an otter?” she shrugged, “Otters are apex predators. Cute and fluffy on the outside, ruthless killers on the inside.” 

Draco grinned “Ah, so very much like yourself.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you don’t look half as dangerous as you actually are.”

“So I’m dangerous, am I?” Hermione smirked, holding back a laugh

“You broke my nose in third year."

"Which you deserved and more. The way you were being so cruel to poor Buckbeak."

"Oh I was a total a- ah, brat." Draco corrected himself mid word and Hermione laughed. "You've got a mean right hook too by the way." 

"Well a girl needs to know how to protect herself with more than just magic. My dad was quite pleased his summer boxing lessons paid off that year."

"Your father taught you how to throw a punch?"

"Among other things." Was she flirting with him?

“Such as?” He was definitely flirting. 

“Where to hide a body.” she smiled sweetly and Draco laughed.

“Blaise shared the memory of you going after Astoria. It was impressive.”

“I am smart enough to pick the battles I know I can win.” she shrugged.

"I do feel rather badly about Buckbeak now. He was a beautiful creature and I'm sorry my actions caused his death." Draco said soberly after a minute. Hermione smiled softly and placed a gentle hand on his arm. 

"I'm glad."

Scorpius wanted Hermione again so they traded bag and baby. 

Scorpius sent pictures of a silver tabby cat with particular markings around it’s eyes that Hermione instantly recognized. She glanced around looking for where Scorpius had seen it, and there, just a few feet inside the gate, the cat sat cleaning it’s face. Hermione remembered the look of pride and joy that Headmistress McGonagall had had on her face when she had finished her medical training. “Dr. Granger.”  she had said, a rare smile on her face, “Well done.”

“Headmistress!” Hermione called, “the baby found you.” Draco looked around briefly before also spotting the cat, so he wasn’t surprised when she transformed back into the imposing woman he remembered from school, if rather older than when he had been a first year. Scorpius startled though, and if she hadn’t been smiling at him like in ‘Mione’s memory, he probably would have started crying.

“Dr. Granger, I wasn’t expecting you to be joining the Malfoys this afternoon.” McGonagall observed as she waved the gates open.

“I asked her to accompany us to help Scorpius to be more at ease, Headmistress. I should have owled you, I apologize.” Draco said,

"No apologies necessary Mr. Malfoy, any visit from Dr. Granger that isn’t preceded by an injured child is a good one." McGonagall gestured for them to enter the grounds  "Come in and let's have a cup of tea and you can tell me more about your son. Your letter left me with many questions."

As they walked through the corridors following McGonagall to her office, Draco felt his nerves winding tighter and tighter. The ghosts of his past actions and thoughts seemed to scream at him from each arched doorway. The shame and guilt grew with every step. As soon as he felt himself descending into the pit of dark thoughts he closed his mind to Scorpius. He might not be able to pull himself out but he could keep his son from following him.

Hermione walked a step or two ahead with Scorpius talking with McGonagall. Scorpius started fussing in her arms which was unusual. "What's wrong Sunshine?" 

"Dada." She turned to glance back at Draco, and she finally understood what Trelawney meant about a person's aura. Draco looked colorless. Shoulders hunched, a haunted look on his face. "Draco, can you take Scorpius?" He looked up from the stones at her feet, "Sure." He took the baby who snuggled into his chest, and Hermione tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, stepping close to his side as they walked together. "Everything will be alright." She said softly.

"I forgot how many demons I left behind here." He said it so quietly that he wasn't sure she would hear over their footsteps. But she squeezed his arm reassuringly and he was immeasurably glad he had invited her along. Having her at his side made him feel less like he was drowning in the memories. If she could forgive him then surely he could forgive himself. 

They stopped walking in front of the giant stone gargoyle that hid the stairs to the headmistresses office. "Devon Rex" McGonagall  pronounced and the statue turned with the grinding of stone on stone.

McGonagall waved Draco and Hermione up the stairs ahead of her. The stairs were wide enough that they could walk up side by side.

Draco didn't know what he was expecting the Headmistresses office to look like, but a comfortable library space wasn't it. The walls were filled with books and there was a comfortable looking couch and chairs set up to one side of the large circular room, much like in Hermione's office at St. Mungo's. Actually the more he looked around, the more he realized it was just a larger more ornate version of Hermione's office- or perhaps Hermione's office was a smaller more simple version of McGonagall's.

He followed Hermione to the sitting area.

There was a tea service already set out on the coffee table and a small area off to the side that was obviously set up for Scorpius to explore if he so desired. Hermione sat down on one end of the couch like she'd been there a hundred times, as McGonagall closed the doors to her office, "please sit down and have a cup of tea." She waved her wand as she crossed the room and the teapot poured three cups of tea. Draco sat down beside Hermione and she tucked the diaper bag between their feet. Scorpius wiggled in his lap happily.

“Now, Mr. Malfoy,”

The hair on Draco’s neck stood straight at the address. McGonagall let the tension hang a moment, ordering her teacup and looking over her spectacles, “you mentioned that young Mr. Malfoy’s magic was rather advanced for a child only six-months-old, but you didn’t specifically state what that means.” 

“I apologize for not sending more information,” Draco said quickly, “His mother and I are recently divorced, and I have reason to not trust her with his well-being… I thought it wise to not risk the information becoming public should my owls be intercepted.”

“Of course, a wise decision. I can assure you that we are in confidence here, Mr. Malfoy. But what exactly is the nature of his inclination?” 

Draco swallowed and adjusted Scorpius on his lap. “Scorpius is a natural Legilimens.”

McGonagall put her teacup down with a light clink of the porcelain. 

“A telepath?” 

Draco nodded wordlessly. 

A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the crinkling of Scorpius’s teething toy, as he tried to find words to make a defense to the question that he desperately wanted to believe wasn’t an accusation. 

“We can try and show you, if you like.” Hermione said, realizing that Draco was struggling, “It might be a little hard, because he doesn’t usually reach out to people he doesn’t trust, but he’s really spectacular!” She smiled at him and Scorpius and her confidence boosted his own,

“Yeah, no — He doesn’t communicate with people he doesn’t know well, either from personal interaction or through my memories. But ‘Mione, if you could introduce Professor—Headmaster—Headmistress McGonagall to Scorpius…?” Merlin, he needed to pull himself together.

"I think I should like to see what the child is capable of," McGonagall said finally. 

“Sunshine.” Hermione called, Scorpius turned to look at her, leaning toward her, "mama."

Hermione took him into her lap and snuggled him close; she and Draco had talked about this on the walk up from Hogsmeade. And she had already thought about which memories of Minerva McGonagall she was going to share with him. Aside from the one she had given him from her medical graduation, she also showed him memories from her last year at Hogwarts, and the last year or so, having tea with the older witch every few months and just catching up on life. They were due for another meet up soon, actually. She shared the respect and love that she had for the woman who had been her mentor of late, and how she felt every time she saw the pride that came with “Dr. Granger”

“This is the Headmistress of Hogwarts, Scorpius. Minerva McGonagall.”

Scorpius looked at the older woman suspiciously, then back at Hermione, memories of her transforming from a cat into a person filtering into her mind from his. Hermione brought forward her memory of McGonagall doing that same thing the very first class she had attended, and then shared more memories of being safe with her and protected by her. Scorpius sent memories of Narcissa that Draco had shared with him that felt the same way and Hermione bit back a smile. “Yes, like that Sunshine.” she said out loud, looking up at Draco and McGonagall. Draco’s forehead creased in confusion as Scorpius turned his eyes to his father, pouring Hermione’s memories into his mind almost more quickly than he could comprehend, they flashed back and forth, memories of him and Narcissa, and then Hermione and McGonagall. Apparently Scorpius had decided that Minerva McGonagall was Hermione's mother. Draco decided not to confuse the child at the moment and just let him run with the connection. Though he knew he'd eventually have to explain, that would be a bridge to cross later. It amused him to consider whether Minerva McGonagall would be 'grandmother' or 'grandmama' as Luna referred to Narcissa. 

The Headmistress of Hogwarts sat back and watched in fascination the silent interactions happening before her.

Draco Malfoy, the boy she had watched grow into a cruel copy of his father at school, had obviously had more of his mother’s gentle loving spirit in him than anyone could have expected. And Hermione Granger- Dr. Hermione Granger (that never ceased to make her heart glow with pride) sitting together in her office, Draco’s small son calling Hermione Mama, and the man watching the woman and child with unveiled admiration in his eyes. Minerva wondered when that change had taken place. She watched Hermione briefly, trying to decide if there was some understanding between the two young people. She'd seen it often enough between students. They'd be friends one day, then awkward lovers the next. 

Minerva felt chubby baby fingers snag at her mind like a child grabbing at the cat's tail, and forced herself to allow the child to communicate instead of throwing up the walls in her mind. 

Scorpius shared memories of Hermione holding him and healing him, the safety and love he felt with her. And then memories of Draco laughing and playing and loving him. Protecting him from Astoria, and memories of Astoria- McGonagall pulled back and looked at Draco. Her heart breaking for the young man who sat across from her and had suffered so much at the hands of people who were meant to love him. He looked her in the eye and saw the change. 

"He showed you then?" He asked

"I believe so." She answered softly. Scorpius pulled at her mind again, he wasn't done showing her everything he wanted to share. 

After what seemed like a very long time, but was in reality only a couple of minutes, Draco and Hermione saw the connection break between McGonagall and Scorpius. Scorpius reached for the older witch. 

"MamaMama." 

Hermione handed him across the table and watched as he snuggled into McGonagall's arms as trusting and loving as ever. Scorpius sent McGonagall memories of Narcissa holding him and Luna saying “Grandmama!”. The old woman sat back, her green eyes looking at the young couple across from her with great interest as the baby in her lap sucked his thumb and played with the broach at her throat. 

"Mr. Malfoy," Draco suppressed a flinch, McGonagall had been nothing but kind so far. "I am not entirely sure how to counsel you in this matter. Besides the fact that your son seems to think I am his grandmother,” she raised an eyebrow at Draco. 

“That is probably my fault, Headmistress.” Hermione put in. 

“Regardless, I believe keeping his abilities private is definitely a wise choice. Teaching him to be cautious with who he interacts with in that manner is also vital. He shared many of your own memories, as well as the memories of Dr. Granger, with me just now, at least a few of which I'm sure neither of you have any wish to be made public. Further training in occlumency is also something I recommend for at least yourself Dr. Granger." Hermione's cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment, recognizing that one of those "private 'memories'" was probably that slipped imaginary kiss. That meant that Draco had DEFINITELY seen it. And what on earth must he think?

Draco for his part knew that the Headmistress had to have seen the worst parts of his marriage. And it made him feel a bit sick to his stomach.

McGonagall continued, "thankfully this is something that is generally a skill that is only used in close proximity to other people-"

"Headmistress, that's something I wanted to mention. He was able to contact me over a hundred kilometers away one night. I was at home asleep and he was at the hospital overnight for observation after his mother cursed him and he woke me from a dead sleep." Hermione clasped her fingers in her lap, "he had had a nightmare about her hurting Draco and called to me."

Draco impulsively reached over and took her hand, reassuring both her and himself as memory of his own panic attack-inducing nightmare that same night popped into his head. She glanced up at him and smiled gently, placing her other hand on top of his.

"It sounds like he was in quite a bit of distress at that time. Other than what I've already said, protecting him from your own memories and thoughts and making sure he feels safe and loved as he grows, I have no other advice for you at this time. But please keep me apprised of any major changes in his skills." McGonagall rubbed Scorpius' back and he snuggled into her chest comfortably. 

"We will, Headmistress." Draco said. 

McGonagall's clock chimed and she sighed into the baby's hair.

"Unfortunately, the day waits for no one." She stood up, Draco and Hermione stood as well, as McGonagall rounded the coffee table and handed Scorpius back to his father. 

"You are doing an excellent job Draco." She laid a gentle hand upon the young man's shoulder. She turned to Hermione who stood close beside the two Malfoys, "I expect to hear from you soon Dr. Granger. we're due to catch up."

"Of course, Headmistress." Hermione said with a smile.

McGonagall brushed her knuckles across Scorpius' cheek, "Seanmhair will see you soon too little one."

Hermione picked the diaper bag up and McGonagall walked with them to the office door. 

Draco and Scorpius started down the stairs ahead of Hermione as McGonagall pulled her in for a hug. 

"Do send me an invitation when the time comes dear." Hermione looked at Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts.

"Invita- we're just friends." She stuttered

"I know." The older woman patted Hermione's hand. "I'll owl you next week about tea." And with that the older witch turned back into her office, leaving Hermione to walk down the stairs alone. 

Draco and Scorpius were waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, Scorpius reached for her as soon as she came into sight.

"Back to Hogsmeade, then?" Hermione asked, settling Scorpius on her hip as Draco slung the diaper bag over his shoulder. 

"Yep, Scrivenshafts, Tomes and Scrolls and a butterbeer right?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." She smiled at him, mcGonagall's words about sending her an invitation stuck in her mind. But she did her best to tuck them away from Scorpius.

They walked through the corridors, toward the exit closest to Hogsmeade.

“you alright? What'd McGonagall want?" 

"Just to let me know she'd owl me next week. We have tea together every few months and catch up. Did you catch Scorpius' connection between Narcissa and McGonagall?"

Draco grinned, "yeah, pretty sure he's decided she's your mother. I was trying to decide if she'd be a 'grandmother' or 'grandmama'" Hermione laughed lightly, 

"Seanmhair is Gaelic for grandmother if that helps."

"I was wondering about that." Draco glanced at her, "what about your mum?"

"She'd be Nana Jean." She bounced Scorpius as she walked, making him giggle. 

A man stepped from a nearby classroom at the sound of Scorpius' laughter filling the hall. 

"Hermione!" He called happily, striding down the corridor toward them

"Neville!" He reached the two of them in a second and wrapped Hermione in a hug that Draco felt was too familiar. Scorpius stared at the strange man invading his personal space and literally growled at him. Hermione burst out laughing as Neville Longbottom pulled back and looked at the baby. "Sunshine!" Hermione said still laughing, 

"Gee 'Mione, I know it's been a while but I didn't think it had been THAT long." Neville looked over at Draco with a raised eyebrow as the taller man stepped closer to Hermione and the baby. Neville stayed within arms reach, not allowing Draco to intimidate him. This was his territory now.

"Scorpius is mine." Draco put a protective hand at the small of Hermione’s back, Scorpius between them.

"Well that much is more than obvious." Neville said, “White Blond hair, designer clothes, he must be a Malfoy.” Draco rolled his eyes, Neville sized the trio up. It had been about a year since he’d seen Hermione, he ran the mental math. The kid had to be about six months old- which would have put her about three-ish months along the last time he’d seen her and she’d not said anything. No one had said anything- not Harry, not Ron, not Luna- and he knew for a fact that Luna saw her more often than the guys did so she HAD to know.

"We came to see McGonagall about his accidental magic." Hermione put in. 

“Ah, he not showing any yet, Malfoy? He’s only a baby.” Neville snarked, the betrayal of being kept out of the loop with his closest friends bleeding into anger. 

“How are Hannah and little Alice?" Hermione tried to steer the conversation away from the Malfoys

"Good,” Neville folded his arms across his chest, “Alice is growing like a weed, she'll be a year old in a few weeks, Hannah is losing her mind planning the birthday party. All the old guard will be there, Harry, Ron, and the rest.”
“I’ll make sure my calendar is clear.”

“If you’re hanging out with this lot you needn’t bother.” Neville shot a cold look at the baby in her arms. Hermione’s eyebrows furrowed as she took a step back, putting Draco’s shoulder between Neville and the baby. 

“You can say what you like to me Longbottom, but leave Hermione and my son out of it.” Draco said coldly, he wanted to cross his arms over his chest as well, but forced himself to keep his posture neutral instead. Neville squared off against his school bully, determined to stand his ground. 

“I don’t give a damn, Malfoy. She made her bed and now she has to lie in it. Though from the looks of it, she’s been enjoying it long enough.” he sneered, “I’m honestly shocked that you’d stoop to shagging a-”

“Draco, let’s go.” Hermione said, cutting off Neville’s foul words, her hand resting on Draco’s arm was shaking slightly and he couldn’t tell if it was from fear or anger. He turned, putting his arm about her waist, bending down to speak softly to her, “you take Scorpius and go ahead. I’ll meet you by the gate.” 

“I don’t think-”

“This is one I have to face alone, ‘Mione. I’ll be alright.” They were standing so close that Hermione could feel his heart pounding where her shoulder was pressed to his chest. But his eyes were peaceful. She nodded and walked around Neville, taking Scorpius away from the two men.

Neville watched Hermione leave wordlessly, then caught the softness in Draco’s eyes before the curtain fell over his face.

“Now that she’s gone, you can have your say Longbottom. I know I deserve every word.” Draco held his hands out, showing he wasn’t going to defend himself. Neville unleashed every invective he wished he could have used on Malfoy in his teens. 

“And I don’t know what Hermione is about, Malfoy, but she has to realize that some of us will never be ok with whatever the fuck the two of you are” Neville snapped, “and that means that she’s going to have to chose between us and you.” He stepped up close beside Draco, “and honestly- there are a lot of us and only one of you.” he hissed, and shoved past him before he lost it entirely, he wasn’t going to wait around for Malfoy to try and apologize. His footsteps faded down the corridor leaving Draco standing there in silence. 

After a few heartbeats, Draco gathered himself. Longbottoms words echoed in his mind. He wouldn’t be surprised if Hermione distanced herself from him and Scorpius after this incident, because Longbottom was right. If she didn't distance herself from them, she would lose more friends than just the Longbottoms.

He started walking toward the exit Hermione had taken with Scorp and did his best to let go of Longbottoms words. He deserved them, yes, and the man had deserved the chance to say them. But he didn't have to hold on to them. Draco of 8 years before wouldn't much care for the way Draco of today was handling things. But the man he was now didn't care much for the man he had been either. Hermione was pacing just outside the door, bouncing his son with every step, a worried look on her face. Scorpius was pouting.

"What's up with Scorpius?" He asked as she stopped walking.

"I won't let him into my head. Are you all right?" Her eyes swept across him and she shook her wand into her hand. 

"I'm fine." He took her wand hand in both of his "He flung words not punches. And he needed to have his say." He looked down into her upturned face, her brown eyes full of worry, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and ease her worries. But instead he stepped back, releasing her. Longbottoms words echoing in his mind again "there's a lot of us, and only one of you" . "I understand if you would rather not be associated with us anymore." He said to a point somewhere near her feet. 

"Don't be daft." She dropped her wand and shifted Scorpius to her other hip. They needed to get some sort of pram or baby carrier- this child was getting heavy. "Neville will come around eventually. And if he doesn't, then that's his choice to make. Now we still have a date with a bookstore and I imagine Scorpius' naptime is imminent." Draco glanced at his son, gauging how long they had. The baby still glowered at the two adults who both had walls up. Draco made sure his mind was baby proofed and let his son in. Scorpius reached for him instantly, both mentally and physically. Scorpius didn't like how Longbottom had hugged Hermione and him both. And he wasn't well pleased that Hermione had shut him out of her mind. Draco rubbed Scorpius' back, "We do it to keep you safe, sunshine. You can't be in our heads all the time." He said out loud. Scorpius made a growly noise and Draco chuckled. Hermione smiled, "how long do you think we have?" She asked, 

"About an hour I think before he's done for the afternoon, maybe a bit more if he dozes off." They started walking toward the gate to Hogsmeade. 

"So, bookstore then the Three Broomsticks?" Hermione asked

"You said you wanted to stop by Scrivenshafts too."

"Just to browse." She shrugged one shoulder. "The bookstore will be more fun." 

Once outside the gate the walk down the hill to Hogsmeade took less time than the walk up had. They were laughing about the slippery winter trips down that hill by the time they hit the bottom. The bell over the bookstore door chimed pleasantly as they walked in, and both had fond memories of the shop. They decided to spend half an hour browsing and split up, Scorpius with Draco, Hermione with the diaper bag. Fifteen minutes later they ran into each other in the tiny children's section. Draco was sitting on the floor with Scorpius in his lap reading a board book about dinosaurs to him when a curtain of red brown curls fell across his shoulder. He stumbled over the next dinosaur as Hermione leaned over his left shoulder, her hand on his right for balance. The spicy woody scent of Rosemary lingered in her hair.

"That one's a parasaurolophus." She said,

"Fuss!" Scorpius babbled happily smacking both hands on the book.

"Did you find anything interesting?" He asked, not daring to look at her. Did she know what she was doing to him, standing so close?

"They've expanded the fiction to include recent muggle authors." She straightened, looking around the children's section. "What sort of books does Scorpius like?" 

"Other than dinosaurs?" He grinned, glancing up at her and found her smiling down at him. 

"Other than dinosaurs."

Draco shrugged, leaning back on one hand to see her better,

"He's his father's child, I haven't found a book he doesn't like yet." Hermione laughed

“No wonder we get along so well.”

They spent some time looking through the children's books, and Hermione decided to buy one about a Dinosaur that didn't know she was extinct. Draco picked up a few new books for Scorpius as well, the manor had an extensive library, but the children's library was embarrassingly sparse. 

They walked together through the increasingly busy high street of Hogsmeade, people were getting off work, and picking up things for dinner or running errands. Hermione was jostled by a young wizard who brushed a bit too close as he ran by, and nearly lost her footing. Draco caught her before there was any real risk of a fall. “Here, let me carry Scorp, and you better take my arm.” Hermione laughed a little as Draco took the baby and she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, her face pink from the adrenaline of the almost fall and how familiar the two of them were being. It was comfortable. Natural even. She wanted to be close to him, to touch him. When she had come upon Draco reading to Scorpius in the bookstore she hadn’t been able to resist leaning across his shoulder, and if he had looked at her in that moment she probably wouldn’t have been able to resist kissing him. She glanced up at him as they walked, he was talking about the different shops they passed, things he and Blaise had done here and there. Pranks they had pulled on fellow classmates while out on a Hogsmeade weekend. He was so very different from the boy she had known at school. He was happy, calm, and relaxed. He looked down at her with a smile that made his eyes light up, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

Once they were settled at a table in the Three Broomsticks, Scorpius in a transfigured highchair, the ever present rice puffs keeping his attention, Draco looked at Hermione- his mug of butterbeer cool in his hands.

“Thank you for coming with us today. It would have been a very different trip without you. A significantly more troubling trip. Instead it’s probably been the best day I’ve had in a very long time.” 

Hermione smiled gently at him, “I’m glad I could help. I honestly don’t think I’ve had this much fun in a long time either.” 

Draco grinned and pulled another chocolate frog from the diaper bag, “frog?” he asked, offering one to Hermione. 

“Sure. Lets see if my luck holds out on Fulbert the Fearful.” she took the frog and opened it, snagging the magical chocolate creature mid jump. Draco laughed, “That’s impressive. You’d make a good seeker.”

Hermione shrugged, “not really. I hate flying. Only class I’ve ever come close to failing.”

Draco opened his frog and almost lost it off the edge of the table. Hermione giggled as she pulled her card out.
“Ah! Luck continues. I got Ptolemy. Maybe I should start collecting them now.” She flipped the card over to show the ancient greek geographer and mathematician. 

“He’s a good one. He’ll stick around longer if you ask him a really hard math question.” Draco bit his frog and pulled his card out. Ronald Weasley grinned back at him, eyes bright and excited. Draco nearly dropped the card. 

“Who’d you get?” Hermione leaned over to look as he turned the card toward her. “ah.“ she took a deep breath, and smiled sadly. “Ron.” 

“Why did the two of you break up?” 

Hermione looked up at him, 

“—you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“No,” she glanced back down at the card as Ron’s face disappeared. “It was right after Harry and Ginny got married- they had literally just left for their honeymoon. Ron and I got into a fight about my friendship with Blaise. He’d had a bit too much to drink at his sister's wedding and- well to make a long story short, he wasn’t ready to forgive and forget. I was ready to move on with my life and let past hurts heal, and he insisted on continuing to reopen old wounds that I was trying to let go of.” she looked down at her cup, the froth slowly dissipating in the frosty mug. “So I left. It wasn’t easy to do, and it hurt like hell.” she took a sip of her drink, and Draco just waited, listening. “I don’t know if he’s made peace with the past or not. But we’re on better terms now. He’s invited me to the wedding in a few weeks.” She looked tired, her shoulder hunched as she leaned on her elbows on the table. Draco reached across the table and took her hand.

"I'm sorry he hurt you." Hermione gave his hand a little squeeze. "Thanks. Sorry to make things depressing." She dropped her head into her hands and took a long deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it out slowly, consciously relaxing her back and shoulders. She finally sat up straight, "There. Let's talk about something else. What did you think of the Count of Monte Cristo?"

They sat and talked of books until Scorpius started to fuss, and then they packed up and left.

Chapter 13. Friday night dinner with the Zabini's.

"Do you want us to drop you off at home or do you want to head back from Blaises?" Draco asked, Scorpius' sleepy head drooped against Hermione's shoulder, his thumb tucked into his mouth. 

"I can go with you to Blaises. But I'll need to head home to change before dinner." Hermione laid her cheek against the soft fuzz of the baby's hair. Draco offered her his hand which she took, stepping a bit closer than necessary before he apparated the three of them back to the Zabini’s.

Draco took Scorpius up to the nursery once they arrived, and Hermione apparated home to change into more comfortable clothes, she wanted to just sprawl out on the couch and do nothing for a bit before dinner. Once changed into a pair of jeans and a tshirt Hermione flopped onto the couch with a book, but dozed off within a minute. The alarm on her phone would wake her before the usual dinner hour at the Zabini’s so she let her eyes drift shut without worry.

She woke an hour or so later to the sound of a car door shutting in her unused driveway.

“‘Mione!” her mother’s voice drifted in through the open kitchen window, Hermione sat up and yawned, shaking her wand into her hand to unlock the door for her mother. 

“It’s open mum!” Jean Granger let herself in the kitchen door, leaving it open as Crookshanks darted out into the garden between her feet. 

“How has your week been, darling?” she asked as she set a bag of groceries on the counter, “I brought you some fresh bread to take to Blaise and Luna’s tonight, provided you’re going this week. Are Draco and the baby still staying with them?” Hermione stood up and moved to the counter to start putting the groceries away.

“Yes, I actually had a meeting with him and Headmistress McGonagall about the baby after lunch today.”

“Oh?”

“Scorpius has shown rather strong magic even though he’s still very young, so I recommended that Draco talk with the Headmistress about it, and he invited me to go with them.” Jean folded the now empty grocery bag up and laid it down on the counter as she sat on a stool watching her daughter work.

“And so you went, of course. Did the meeting go well?”

“Very well. McGonagall told Draco that he’s doing fine. Which he is. It's just the typical first-time parent worries and all.” Hermione stacked fresh apples into her fruit basket. 

“So what’s got you so wound up about this fellow?” her mother asked after a lengthy silence.

“I’m not wound up over Draco Malfoy.”

“You are. You haven’t talked about anyone like this since you and Ronald broke up, and I know it’s not because of your school history with him, considering the fact that you've not called him 'Malfoy' once.” she pronounced the surname as Hermione had during her school years- like it left a disgusting taste in her mouth. Jean looked at her daughter, who leaned heavily against the stove.

“He’s just got out of a very bad relationship, an arranged marriage with an abusive wife. The whole reason we’ve been talking lately is because she nearly killed the baby.” 

Her mother's eyes went wide, 

"PPD?"

"Probably closer to psychosis than purely depression, also massive childhood trauma. I've only met her once and she was half out of her mind and from what I've heard of her parents... Draco tried to get her help but she made his life hell for it."

“Are they still married?"

“No, they’re divorced now.” Hermione turned and put a few more things away.

“Oh good. So why don’t you ask him out for coffee or something?” 

“Mum." Jean lifted an eyebrow at her daughter, "yes?" 

Hermione shook her head. "I don't want to push him. He's told Blaise he doesn't want to date for a while. And he literally got divorced last week.” Hermione heard the Pop of someone apparating into the garden, then a knock on the front door. She froze, holding a hand up to still her mother, then walked silently to the door, shaking her wand into her hand. She wasn't expecting anyone and though only her friends and family knew where she lived, there was always that what if in the back of her mind. What if some former death eater decided they weren't so former anymore and managed to get ahold of her address, and decided to show up and take revenge? Hermione knew she was over-reacting and overthinking things, and that with the charms and wards on the house it was absolutely impossible, but better safe than sorry.

 Her mother noticed then that she wore her older brown leather holster- not the black one she had received at her graduation.

Hermione peeked cautiously through the window near the door and Jean sighed, the wizarding war had changed her daughter in ways she was still trying to understand. Hermione dropped her wand as was her habit when she didn’t need it anymore and opened the door. 

“Draco! Is everything all right?” The tall blond man in the doorway was more handsome than Jean remembered, standing in blue jeans and a deep teal t-shirt, especially when he smiled down at her daughter. 

"Everything is fine 'Mione. I brought your candy from honeydukes. I found them when I put Scorp down for his nap.'' He handed her the tin of butterscotch and a bag of lemondrops.

“Oh, thank you. Do you need to get back right away?”

 “No, I thought I'd come bug you since Luna kicked me out of the kitchen. She said she'd call me when Scorpius woke up." 

Hermione smiled, "well come in then." She stepped aside to allow Draco into the house. Draco took in the cozy little cottage, books on every surface, well loved furnishings, photographs scattered through the bookshelves. An older woman that could only be Hermione's mother, sitting at the kitchen counter watching him with a smile on her face. Hermione slipped past him moving into the little kitchen area.

"Mum, this is my friend Draco Malfoy. Draco, my mother, Dr. Jean Granger."

"I've heard a lot about you recently Mr. Malfoy." The elder Dr. Granger said brightly as Draco came into the house. Draco glanced at Hermione, who was putting the last of the groceries away and pulling down a trio of mugs from the cabinet beside the sink. He hoped that the 'recently' meant it was more good than bad. Though the fact that the woman was smiling at him made him think she didn't hate his guts for making her daughter's life hell during school. Well, best foot forward now anyway.

"Call me Draco, please, Dr. Granger." He walked over to her offering a friendly handshake. Jean noticed the black leather wand holster on the inside of his right arm, and recognized the gold initials. He had Hermione's graduation holster. She took his hand and shook it cordially. "Jean." 

"What's your medical specialty, Jean?" Draco asked, moving to the kitchen side of the bar across from her. Hermione gathered the necessary items for a pot of tea and listened.

"Dentistry. Hermione tells me that the wizarding community doesn't have that particular specialty."

"That's right. The general healer handles most every medical need. We do of course have midwives and pediatrics though."

"We have more specialties than that, Draco." Hermione put in as she waited for the water to come to temp. "Though the wizarding medical community is growing by leaps and bounds. Research is important and we need more wizard doctors who also have muggle training." 

"My psychiatrist, Dr. Carmichael, agrees with you." Draco leaned against the counter comfortably, and smiled at her. He was enjoying talking with the Granger women. 

"Our “muggle” medical community has specialties within specialties. Pediatric dentistry, and orthodontist for starts. Charles, my husband, is an orthodontist, and I focus primarily on pediatrics, but I have plenty of adult patients as well." 

"What's an orthodontist?" Draco asked,

"An orthodontist corrects misaligned teeth."

"Ah." The conversation faded slightly, and Jean jumped back a bit to ask a question she had been wondering about since her daughter had first mentioned the young man again the week prior.  

"How long have you been seeing Dr. Carmichael?" Jean asked, knowing that that was one of the reasons that Hermione and Draco got along now. 

"Almost three years, up until recently it's been about once a month, but I've seen him this week and have another appointment with him middle of next week as well. The last month or so has been-" he wasn't sure how to say it or how much information he wanted to share. He didn't want to get into all the negative mess right now.

"Traumatizing?" Jean offered, giving a little insight into what Hermione had shared with her.

"Yeah. Let's leave it at that." The electric kettle clicked off and Hermione got the tea brewing as her mother asked questions about Draco's experience with wizard healers and what he did for work.

"I'm keeping up on the family business but focusing primarily on raising Scorpius at the moment. When he starts at primary school in a few years I'll move into a more hands-on position with the board at the Apothecary." He accepted a cup of tea from Hermione with thanks. She sat a cup by her mother's elbow not wanting to interrupt the conversation. 

"Your family owns an apothecary?" Her mother asked excitedly, Draco bit his lip, "ah, it's pretty much always been a winery. I can't recall if it was ever an actual apothecary.  My mother oversees the vineyard in France these days." Jean laughed lightly,

"Well, a good red can be just as medicinal as sage and lemon balm." She grinned and sipped at the cup of tea. Draco grinned back, "I should bring you a bottle of our Superior Red then." Before she could answer his phone dinged. He pulled it from his pocket and flipped it open. "Scorpius woke up." It dinged again, "and he's asking for you 'Mione."

"Asking for you Hermione?" Jean looked at her daughter, "I thought you said he was just a baby." Hermione looked to Draco, it was his place to decide what to share and what not to share.

"Scorpius is a telepath." Draco said, "he's been able to communicate with me since he was about 4 months old."

"Oh that's why the trip to the Headmistresses."

"Yes. It is not an average bit of magic at all." Draco took a drink of his tea, before remembering that he was supposed to be going back for Scorpius. "Would you like to meet him, Jean? There's no reason to cut your visit with Hermione short. I can fetch him here or we can all go to the Zabini's."

"oh I couldn't-"

"That's a brilliant idea Draco! Do mum! You haven't seen Blaise and Luna in ages, and Scorpius is the sweetest." Hermione said, 

"Well all right then. So long as it won't put Luna out to have me."

"I can go ahead and let her know while you get things taken care of here Hermione."

"Actually Draco, if you wouldn't mind taking my mum, you're better at apparating with others than I am."  Hermione didn't like taking others along when she apparated anymore. Not since the year she spent apparating around the country searching out horcruxes with Harry and Ron.

"All right then, Dr. Granger, if you'd care to join me in the garden." Draco offered the older woman his arm, which she took with a raised eyebrow and a grin at her daughter. Hermione laughed and collected the bread that her mother had brought, then waved her wand and set the house to rights. Jean watched as the windows closed themselves, the cups and tea things floated back to their places or to the sink and the stool her mother had just been sitting on drew itself under the counter, "I'll never get over how magic takes care of the little things." She said with a sigh. Hermione followed Draco and her mother out and locked the door behind her, Crookshanks had a cat door so she didn't have to worry about whether he was trapped in the house or not. 

"All right, have you ever apparated before madam?" Draco asked,

"Never"

"It's very simple for you, it will feel strange, like you're compressed into nothing for a split second. It's not uncommon to be disoriented upon arrival, but don't worry, I've never splinched myself or anyone else. And if for some god forsaken reason it does happen this time, we will have two excellent healers on hand to assist." He looked down at Hermione's mother, getting a glimpse of what the daughter would look like in her 50s. "Splinched? Why does that word sound absolutely horrifying?"

"I'll explain it when we get there" Hermione said 

"Hermione Jean-"

Draco took hold of Jean Granger's hand so he wouldn't lose her, and turned, apparating himself and the older woman away before she could go after her daughter.

They popped back into existence in the Zabini's back garden, 

"God, that was awful." Jean said, bending over and bracing her hands on her knees for a moment before straightening up and looking around, "where in hades are we again?"

"Wiltshire. My family home isn't far from here." Draco took Jean's arm again and drew her closer to the house, knowing Hermione would give them a minute to move from the garden.

"That's almost 2 hours away! And we just went like that!" She snapped her fingers and Hermione popped into existence behind her making her jump, "what is splinching young lady?" 

"Splinching is when you leave part of yourself behind when you apparate. Usually caused by a lack of focus." Hermione rattled off the definition then felt Scorpius in her mind, a mixture of sad and abandoned and excited to see her.

"I'm coming Sunshine." She sent back to the baby.

"I'm going to get Scorpius, I'll find you two in a minute." She said and then walked ahead of them into the house, 

"Hey Luna!" They heard her call. 

Jean looked up at Draco as he offered her his arm again, "you know the last time I met you, you were an entirely different person than you are today."

"We've met before?" Jean patted the holster on his right forearm as she tucked her left hand into the crook of his elbow.

"At her graduation. I don't think you did more than acknowledge her existence, and didn't even do that for her father and I, and I'm pretty sure Blaise purposely steered us out of your general path." Their steps were slow going toward the house, and Jean actually pulled him to a stop and he turned to face her. 

"Three years ago I was still the asshat that bullied her in school. My father had just arranged things with Astoria, my ex wife- abusive ex wife." He sighed, "You're going to meet Scorpius, he's going to show you the worst bits of my life over the last six months, because he doesn't know better. I'm sorry you’ll have to see that." He looked down at the plants growing beside the path and ran his left hand through his hair. "He may also show you a 'memory' of me kissing your daughter." Jean raised an eyebrow catching his meaning,

"Oh?"

"I promise I-"

"Want to kiss my daughter? Or does she want to kiss you?" she asked, suppressing a grin

Draco blushed, not expecting that sort of reaction, "It was her thought. I-" he looked up at the house and decided in that instant that if he wanted to be truly honest with anyone, he needed to start now. "I won't deny that I find her attractive, I have for years if I’m honest. If I'd been raised differently- if my father hadn't been a blood purist- if… if I'd made different choices-” he stopped, his eyes dropping to his right hand clutched in a white knuckled fist at his waist. "In another life, perhaps- things might have been different between us." He consciously relaxed his shoulders, shaking his hands out, and took a deep breath then met her eyes. “But it wasn't meant to be. My marriage was not a good one and I want to take some time to process through things before I start looking for a wife again."

Jean watched him with interest, this conversation was significantly more than she had thought to have with him, "so you think you'd like to marry again?"

Draco looked down at her, 

"Scorpius needs a mother."

"But what do you need?"

Draco met her warm brown eyes again and saw the same care he had seen in her daughter. The Granger women definitely didn't do anything by halves. 

Before he could come up with an answer he heard the door open again,

"Dinner is in the dining room, not the Garden, Drake." Luna called. Draco looked up at her, 

"Coming Luna." He offered Jean his arm again and they walked the last stretch of the path up to the house. 

"Jean, it's wonderful to see you again!" Luna said, embracing the older woman as she welcomed her into the kitchen. 

"I hope there's no trouble with my coming unannounced. Hermione and Draco wanted me to meet the baby."

"No trouble at all. Blaise made fresh pasta, and it's always like he's feeding an army when he does that." Luna assured her, 

Blaise popped his head in the kitchen door, "I heard my name, what's- oh hello Jean!" He stepped into the kitchen, Jean just had enough time to greet Blaise when Hermione walked into the kitchen with Scorpius in her arms. The child looked just like his father. Piercing blue grey eyes and bright blond hair. He looked at her curiously, then looked back at Hermione. She laughed, "Yes, she does look like me doesn't she?" Hermione shared memories of growing up, and all the good things one has with a mother who cares for them deeply. Scorpius compared these new memories with Hermione and McGonagall.  Hermione pulled out her earliest memories, her mother holding her, singing to her during a bad storm when she was 4 or 5. Playing in the garden, making daisy chains. She pulled memories of Narcissa from lunch the week before, “grandmama" She thought to him, then her mother standing next to Draco near the kitchen door, "daddy and nana Jean."

Scorpius withdrew from her mind, turning to look at Draco; he sent the last two memories to his father.

"That's right Scorp." Draco said out loud. 

Jean started when Scorpius turned his attention to her. "Oh!"

He repeated the two memories to her, "Nana Jean, Hermione?" She said, surprised. 

Blaise laughed, "Well if she's Mama 'Mione then you have to be Nana Jean."

Scorpius reached for her and Hermione handed him off to her mother's waiting arms. 

"Mama 'Mione?"

"'Mione in his head. Mama verbally. He's only 6 months old. Blaise just likes to tease."

Scorpius tugged at Jean's mind again and ran her through his litany of memories. Her eyes grew large with the information. Finally when Scorpius finished he laid his head on her shoulder. Draco drew his attention to make sure he had abandoned the mental hold on the older woman who had no inherent magic. 

"I think I need to sit down after that." She said, dropping carefully into the kitchen chair that Draco pulled out for her. Hermione got her mother a cup of water from the sink and put it into her hand. "Thank you."

Jean looked over the little blond head at the infant's tall father "when you said the worst you meant it. I hope that woman is in either a mental hospital or a jail." She took a sip of the water in her hand.

"Currently in jail. She broke in here while I was still in hospital and attempted to kidnap Scorpius. I wanted the mental hospital. She wasn't herself for so long, but she refused to get help."

"Hermione was here though and put her in her place. It was amazing to watch.” Blaise put in, leaning on the back of the chair next to Jean who turned to look at him. Hermione shook her head and sighed. 

“I was less than kind.” 

Blaise scoffed, “She made her bed, and now she’s got to lie in it.” Blaise's inadvertent repetition of Neville's words made Draco flinch just slightly. Thankfully Hermione's mother didn't seem bothered by the fact that they were friends. Or that they might like to be more than friends at some point.

“Blaise-”

“No, she gets no sympathy from me. She blew my front door in and attacked me when I was unarmed. I’m a doctor not a saint, Hermione. And I personally believe that you and Draco both have been too lenient with her. Has everyone forgotten that she chose to use an unforgivable curse? And you two just want to forgive her for that.” 

Luna stepped in then, “Blaise. Lascialo andare. È ora di mangiare." Blaise melted as Luna knew he would, he wrapped his arm around her back and pressed a kiss to her lips 

"Solo per te, fiore mio." He said softly.

Jean's Italian was enough to know that it was Italian. Hermione caught that it was time to eat.

"Let's get the table set then." Draco said, prompting everyone into motion. "Jean, you just sit with the baby, and we'll get everything taken care of." Luna told her and she popped the bread in the oven to warm as Draco and Hermione handled the dishes and Blaise put the finishing touches on the pasta.

They all soon were seated and passing the dishes and talking, Scorpius was in his highchair with a fist full of plain noodles having the time of his life. Jean smiled at everyone in general, "Your father will be sad he missed out." she said to Hermione. 

"Where is Charlie? I could fetch him if he's sitting at home alone." Blaise offered,

"No, he's off playing golf then getting dinner with a couple of friends tonight. My original plan for the evening was a bowl of soup, large glass of wine and a Hallmark movie. Fresh pasta, and a baby are much nicer."

"How could I forget the wine!" Blaise said, and with a flick of his wand a bottle floated off the shelf behind Luna. Draco reached for it, inspecting the label. "Do you still have that '42 white I gave you last year?"

"Probably."

"You have a 1942 vintage?" Jean asked surprised

"Oh goodness no. 1842. I'd suggest the Superior Red, but it wouldn't suit the pasta, and 1006 wasn't a good year for whites."

"I'm sorry- did you say 1006?" Draco looked up from the bottle in his hand, half his mind taken with trying to remember where his glasses were- the print on the label was tiny, and caught the look on Jean's face. Hermione was biting back a grin. 

"Yes. 1006. 11th century, the Malfoy family was granted lands in Wiltshire after assisting William the Conqueror to the throne." He looked at Hermione, 

"Please tell me you've explained the whole pureblood, 'sacred 28' mess."

"Oh I know what a pureblood is, young man." Jean said stiffly. "Just as I know what a Mudblood is." Draco flinched. 

"Mum" Hermione said gently, "the Malfoy family has been one of the primary wizarding families since the 15th century when the wizarding world separated itself." 

"So are you telling me he's some sort of Lord?"

"Essentially, yes." 

"There is no official title, though I'm sure if the last 5 generations hadn't been so stuck up about blood purity someone would have bought one." Draco said dryly as he shook his wand into his hand and transfigured a table knife into a corkscrew.

"Bought a title?" Jean said eyes wide, Luna stood up "I'll get the glasses Draco."

Blaise began talking about quidditch scores while Draco opened the bottle of wine. Jean leaned toward Hermione, "what does he mean buy a title?"  She hissed,

"I'm pretty sure he could buy the whole of Wiltshire if he wanted to." Hermione whispered back, "in fact he probably still owns most of it." 

Luna was back with the glasses and the wine was poured and dinner continued. Jean's eyes on Draco felt different now, and he realized how nice it had been to be seen as just a regular person. Just Draco Malfoy, 26, single father, loves books. Why did he have to open his stupid mouth about the wine?

After dinner Jean sat and held Scorpius until he fell asleep in her arms. The conversation had become a little stilted for a bit, but things had relaxed some after everyone had had a glass of the wine. "I can take him upstairs Jean." Draco said when he saw his son drifting off. "Oh it's no trouble, there's something so nice about a baby falling asleep in your arms that you miss when your children are grown. I can take him upstairs if Hermione can show me the nursery."

"Of course" Hermione stood and walked with her mother upstairs. When she opened the nursery door she caught the scent of cedar and citrus. And as her mother laid Scorpius in the crib Hermione realized that Draco had been staying in the nursery as well. She could just see that his green quilted housecoat lay neatly across the headboard, slippers set by the wall in the thin beam of light from the hallway. The blazer he had been wearing earlier that day had been folded across the back of the rocking chair but slipped off as Jean bumped into it in the half dark. "I made him rather uncomfortable earlier didn't I?" Jean said in a half whisper as Hermione bent down to pick the jacket up. She dusted it off and laid it carefully on the bed. "He told me last week that people know what we’ve done, because of the war and because of his family, not really who we are, and that they will always judge us by the things we have done rather than who we are." She smoothed her hands across the collar of the jacket. The green suited him. "Everyone either hates him or fawns over him these days. So I think he enjoyed you treating him like the average guy that you'd meet at the grocery store or library." She looked up and saw her mother was watching her from the foot of the bed and blushed slightly. 

"Could he seriously buy Wiltshire?"

"I can't say for sure what the Malfoy coffers look like, but general knowledge is that they are one of the most wealthy wizard families. He works because he wants to, not because of any financial need. He had a living allowance settled on his ex wife that makes my yearly pay look like pocket change." 

"And you gave him your holster?" Her mother sounded confused,

"Why do you and Blaise both find this so shocking? It’s just a thing, I had another one in my desk drawer.” Hermione moved toward the door so their whispered conversation wouldn’t wake Scorpius.

“It’s not just a thing though Hermione- you received that because of how well you did at school! And he obviously could have just bought one himself.” Jean followed her out to the hall and pulled the door shut softly behind her.

“I’ve always done well in school, mum. And now I excel at my work. And I love it, and I don’t need a bit of fancy leather to know that.” Hermione took a deep breath and shook her head slightly. “I gave him that wand holster because his ex wife had taken his wand from him so he couldn’t protect himself from her. I’m a healer, and that one thing gave him a measure of security.” she looked her mother in the eyes, dead serious, “I’d do it again, and so much more if it meant he wouldn’t have to worry about his or Scorpius’ safety. I'd do the same for Harry, Blaise, or even Ron.” 

"I know you would 'Mione." Jean pulled Hermione into a hug "Just make sure you're taking care of you as well." Hermione wrapped her arms around her mother's waist and hugged her back tight. 

"I'm doing my best."

An hour later Jean was yawning and she and Hermione said their goodbyes and headed to the garden to Apparate back to Hermione's house. Draco was right behind them after making sure Luna was fine with Scorp sleeping upstairs. "Allow me to escort you ladies home." He said, offering Jean his right arm, she laughed and accepted, 

"Hermione?" He offered her his left hand. She took it with her right, and he drew her to his side then disapparated the three of them. 

Jean gasped as they popped into the front garden, "god that was only slightly better than the first time." She didn't feel like she needed to brace herself, but she did lean more heavily on Draco's arm. 

"You get used to it." He said, 

"You alright mum?" Hermione moved to her mother's other side, a hand at the older woman's elbow.

"Just feeling a touch faint." 

"Here, sit down." She helped her mother to the steps where she sat down more heavily than Hermione liked. 

"Mum" Hermione shook her wand into her hand,

"Hermione." Jean raised an eyebrow.

"I want to perform a diagnostic spell and make sure you're alright."

"I'm fine 'Mione. Probably just had a touch too much wine." 

"Mother."

"If it'll make you feel better go ahead." Jean sighed, knowing she wouldn’t win that argument.

The diagnostic spell told Hermione she was right. She caught Draco's eye, "I'm gonna take a walk about the garden. Give you ladies a few minutes." He had only a basic understanding of the diagnostic magics, but it was enough to know something wasn't right with the older woman's heart or lungs.

Draco walked past Jeans car and down to the end of the driveway. He stayed inside the fence, knowing from Blaise's stories the sort of wards Hermione was likely to have up around her house, and wandered the outer edge of the overgrown garden. He recognized more than a handful of plants from his summers spent working with his mother and wondered when Hermione found the time to work in the yard.

"Mum, what did Dr. Prasad say?" Hermione asked as she sat down beside her mother. 

"It's just a heart murmur 'Mione. I've had it all my life." 

"Mum-"

"Seriously, Hermione. It's nothing to worry about. Menopause is aggravating it slightly but I'm fine. I'm supposed to stay active." Jean took her hand. "I'm fine." she leaned forward "and that fellow walking through your garden is fine as well." She said conspiratorially. Hermione’s eyes darted to where Draco was examining a sunflower that was almost as tall as he was. He glanced back at the house and smiled at her. She blushed bright red as she quickly looked away and hoped the porch light did more obscuring than revealing. "Mother!" she exclaimed flustered,

"Deny it if you dare, darling.” Jean patted her hand, “What did the bard say? ‘Our Lord help my lady! She’ll be forsworn.’”

Hermione laughed, she wouldn’t deny it, “are we genderbending Shakespeare now?” She decided to run with the distraction from both her mothers health and her own embarrassment.

Draco started back toward the front of the house when Hermione laughed, taking that as his cue that the women had finished the more serious part of their conversation. Hermione’s face was pink, and Jean was grinning at her daughter. 

“Shakespeare started it. So don’t blame me.” Jean was saying as he walked up,

“Casting men in women's roles is cross casting not genderbending, mum.”

Jean shook her head, “Why did I let you read encyclopedias as a child?” 

“Because I wouldn’t stop asking you questions?”

Draco leaned over the stair railing next to Hermione, 

“Have you ever stopped asking questions?” he teased, Jean couldn’t hold back the laughter as Hermione turned on him, “my question asking saved the world thank you very much." She quipped smugly,

"And I hope you never stop."

Hermione blushed and looked away. Merlin, why did he have to use such an intimate tone? 

“Well, I need to get home. Am I cleared to drive Dr. Granger?” Jean asked playfully, Hermione sighed and smiled at her mother,
“Yes, mum. You’re fine.” Hermione hugged her mother close, “Just text me when you get home, alright?”

“Of course, darling” Jean reached for the railing to pull herself to her feet but Draco stepped around Hermione and offered her a hand up instead. “Oh thank you.” 

Hermione stayed on the step a moment longer gathering what wits hadn’t abandoned her as Draco walked with her mother to the car. 

“It has been wonderful meeting you and your family today, Draco.” Jean said as they reached her car. 

“I enjoyed meeting you as well.”

Jean opened her car door and stopped just before getting in

“I wanted to apologize for making you uncomfortable at dinner. It wasn’t kind.”

“Thank you.” Draco looked down at the older woman. “It means a lot.”

Jean glanced past him towards where Hermione was still pulling herself together. "She's been through a lot over the years."

Draco glanced over his shoulder and saw Hermione dusting off the seat of her pants as she stood up.

"Do not toy with her." She said firmly. He looked back down at Jean Granger, and saw the same fire that her daughter carried in her eyes. 

"I won't." He promised solemnly. She watched him for a long, long moment. He held her gaze, willing her to see past the blackened exterior of the old Draco, into the raw flesh of the new.

"I'll see you on Sunday mum, give dad my love as well." Jean looked over at Hermione as she walked up next to Draco, 

"I will." She kissed her daughter on the cheek, with that she got in the car and they all waved goodbye as she backed down the drive and headed home. 

Hermione stood watching her mother leave, her arms hugging her torso in the cool night air. Draco stood half a step away, she could feel the solid warmth of him next to her. 

“I like your mother.” he said as the car disappeared around a bend in the road. 

Hermione chuckled,

"She likes you too. I'm sure she's going to give my dad an earful tonight."

"Oh, so your father will hear about this?" He asked with a cheeky grin. Hermione's laughter was contagious and soon the two of them were in stitches.

Chapter 14. Only One Solution.

Jean pulled into her driveway and sent the requested text message to her daughter before going inside. It was nearly 10, and Charles was tucked into bed reading when she made her way upstairs. 

"Evening Love. How was dinner with 'Mione?" He asked as she came in and started shedding the trappings of the day. She kicked off her shoes and dropped a bracelet and necklace into her jewelry box. 

"It was very nice, we went to the Zabini's for dinner. Blaise had made pasta." Charles let his book fall to his chest and looked over his reading glasses at his wife of almost thirty years, watching her move about the room as she prepared for bed. He waited for her to continue- he could tell by the preoccupied way she worked that there was more to say. 

"And?" 

"And I met Draco Malfoy, and the baby." 

"Really?" The book was moved to the night stand and Charles pulled himself up in the bed a bit.

Jean pulled her nightgown on and sat down beside him on the bed. 

"And?" He prompted again when she wasn't forthcoming with information. 

"He's definitely grown up a lot."

Charles took the reading glasses off and looked at his wife, eyebrows raised.

"Do you remember him from her graduation?" Jean asked,

"Of course, tall fellow, looked like a poncy ghost… or maybe a vampire. Wait, could he actually be a vampire? 'Mione said those were real right?"

"Charles, Draco is not a vampire." Jean sighed

"What? He was so pale he put printer paper to shame!"

"Charles! This is serious!"

"I'm being serious. He seriously looked like a poncy ghost."

Jean shook her head. "I think he's in love with her. Or at least beginning to be."

Charles stopped joking instantly, 

"Back to the beginning, Jeanie."

She sighed,

"The baby, Scorpius, is telepathic. Draco is divorced and his ex-wife was physically abusive- He warned me what the baby would show me. And he was underestimating the severity of it. She nearly killed them both. Scorpius would be dead if it weren't for Hermione." She looked at her husband, "why do people stay in those situations?"

Charles sat up and wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her further into bed with him. "Because their abuser convinces them that they can't possibly escape, and if they do, they'll be worse off. Or that they deserve it, or that no one will believe them." He kissed her gently, holding her close. "But he's left her now right? You said they were divorced."

"Yes, and the ex is in jail now. Blaise said something about an unforgivable curse." 

"And he’s in love with Hermione?"

"He told me he's harbored feelings for her for a long time. He all but said that if he'd been raised differently he might have married her instead of his ex."

Charles sat and took that in for a long moment.

“What did you think of him?” Jean sighed, 

"He was kind, respectful, solicitous, nothing like the 'poncy ghost' we met at her graduation. He took care of Scorpius, he was painfully honest with me. He was attentive and warm with Hermione and helped as much as he was able with the dinner and clean up.” Jean turned her head to look up at her husband, “I don’t know when it will happen- he said he wasn't ready to look for a wife again- but I have a feeling that when the time comes he’ll ask Hermione to marry him.” 

“And you think she’ll say yes?”

Jean remembered how her daughter had picked up the fallen blazer and laid it neatly on the bed in the nursery, and how she had smiled and blushed multiple times that night. 

“If he’s smart about it, which he seems to be the sort to think things through- I think she would.”

“Well if he breaks her heart, we can always get her some pigs to dispose of the body.” Charles quipped, Jean laughed and her husband bent his head down to capture her lips in a kiss. 

~~~

Saturday morning saw Draco roll out of bed a bit groggier than usual. After Jean had left he and Hermione had sat out on her porch and talked long into the night. It hadn’t been until the air had turned almost chilly that they had called it and went their separate ways.

He couldn’t keep from thinking about her as he got himself and Scorpius ready for their weekly visit with Astoria’s parents. He wished they could go spend time with Hermione instead. He didn’t want to keep Scorpius from knowing his mothers family- but the more time he spent with the Greengrasses the more he hated having to be around them. 

He had arranged to meet with the Greengrasses at a park not far from the Manor as the weather was nice and he took every chance he got to get the two of them outside. 

“There’s my little poppet!” Adorabella crooned as she walked up to the small quilt Draco had laid out for Scorpius, near a bench that faced a large open green space.

“Where’s Florian?” Draco wasn’t surprised that his former father in law hadn’t shown up.

Florian was one of the henpecked sorts, happy to take a backseat to their overbearing wives, and an escape artist when it came to avoiding errands with the woman.

“He said he wasn’t feeling well this morning and decided to stay home.” Adorabella picked Scorpius up and made all sorts of absurd baby noises at him. Scorpius wriggled in her arms, fussing slightly. 

“Here, let me take him while you get settled on the bench.” Draco said, Adorabella turned away from Draco, 

“I’m perfectly capable of sitting down while holding a baby, thank you. I’m not going to drop him.” she sat down and bounced Scorpius on her knee. The child usually enjoyed it, but this time he wouldn’t settle. Draco reached into Scorpius’ mind and soothed him as best as he could.

“You’re all right. I won’t let her hurt you.” Scorpius settled a little at that, but he still watched his maternal grandmother with cold eyes. Draco swallowed a smile at the mistrust in the infants face. “I know, I don’t much like her either.” Scorpius sent him memories of Hermione and Jean from the night before. Hermione smiling down at him as she picked him up from the crib in the Zabini’s nursery, and Jean rocking him after dinner, humming softly and the sound of the conversation muffled.

“We’ll see them again soon, I promise.” 

Scorpius hummed happily at that and Draco smiled at his son.

“-don’t you think, Dray?” Adorabella was saying

“Sorry, I was lost in thought. What did you say?” The woman rolled her eyes,

“And what were you so lost in thought about that you couldn’t hear me talking to you?” she said sourly, Draco hated how she treated him like a child.

“The house. It’s being remodeled this week.” he lied smoothly. 

“Hmmph- well, I was saying that little Scorpius ought to come stay with me for a day or two soon.” Draco took a moment to gather himself at that suggestion.

“I’d rather not be away from him for so long yet. We were separated for almost three days while I was in hospital recently and he didn’t take it well.” was what he said. What he wanted to say was HELL no.

“Well that’s because he was with that school friend of yours, instead of his grandmother.” she said imperiously, Draco stared at her coldly for a moment

“He was with his Godparents.” Adorabella realized that this argument wasn’t getting her anywhere and changed tacks, 

“But what about when you go back to work, Dray?” She would have had better luck if she hadn’t insisted on using that particular nickname. Draco called to Scorpius in the childs mind, the infant leaned toward him vigorously enough to catch Adorabella off guard and Draco scooped his son out of her arms. 

“I was Scorpius’ primary caretaker before, and shall continue as such for a few years yet madam. I am fully capable of financially supporting my family and caring for my son at the same time.” He said as he settled the baby in his arms. 

“At least let me help you find a nanny.” she offered sweetly, but Draco saw through her.

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” 

“Have you found someone already then?”

“I’m not planning on hiring one.” before Adorabella could come up with some other wheedling, manipulative conversation Draco’s mobile phone went off. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the caller ID, Blaise was supposed to call and give him an excuse to leave in the next ten minutes. But this was a bit early yet. It was Guilford, not Blaise.

“Excuse me, I need to take this.” Draco said to Adorabella, then turned and took a few steps away from where she sat on the bench before answering the phone call.

“Morning Mr. Guilford! How are things progressing?”

“Excellently Mr. Malfoy. I was just calling to ask if you’d be free for the final walkthrough on Monday? The cleaning crew just left and things are all wrapped up here.”

“Monday works perfectly, morning or afternoon?”

“Would 9am work?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Excellent, I’ll see you then.”

Draco flipped the phone shut with a snap, and turned back to Adorabella, “would you-” the look of disgust on her face caught him off guard, but she masked it in an instant. “Yes, Dray?” Draco knew then that he was right in distrusting the older woman, “We need to be getting home. Scorpius will be needing his morning nap soon, and I’ve got some work to take care of before Monday.” 

“I find I have things I need to take care of as well. I hope things go well for you, Draco.” she said as she rose from the bench like a queen from her throne. Draco felt like he was escaping a poised snake as he collected the quilt and diaper bag and disapparated back to the Zabini’s house.

It took all the rest of the day for the sense of impending doom to fade from Draco’s mind. They spent the day playing in the garden with a baby niffler Luna had brought home to nurse for a bit. 

Sunday passed as usual, and Monday dawned beautiful and promising. Draco had packed up his things and left Scorpius with Blaise and Luna, letting them know to come out around 11 or so and they’d go to lunch.

Now he stood in front of his own front door, not quite knowing what to expect from the inside, though he had been intimately involved in the planning and had been present for some of the work; like that wall being knocked out for the conservatory, that had been cathartic to watch. Mr. Guilford was waiting for him, but in that moment he couldn't make himself reach for the handle. Part of him still wished he could burn the whole place to the ground and bury the past. But if he had learned anything in three years of therapy- burying the past does nothing but poison the soil. So that wasn't an option, and he'd spent a pretty penny essentially gutting the interior. The only rooms that hadn't been touched with more than a fresh coat of paint were the library, his office and his mother's room. Those had been his safe places for years, and she had requested her room be left alone for her infrequent visits. 

"You look like an idiot just standing here Malfoy. Pull yourself together and go inside before you're late." He told himself. Then giving himself a good shake, he took a deep breath and reached for the handle. 

The tall imposing black door swung in, revealing the foyer in warm pale green with gold accents. He stepped inside and his house elf, Gadsby, appeared at his side in the neatly made house elf livery his mother had come up with. "Master Draco has returned at last!"

"I missed you too, Gads." He said, "how do you like the changes to the house?"

"It is very strange but not unwelcome. Gadsby and Maudsley are excited for the family to return." 

Mr. Guilford heard Draco talking with the house elf and stepped into the foyer, "Mr. Malfoy! Are you ready for the final tour?"

Draco looked around the bright, airy and welcoming foyer, "absolutely Mr. Guilford."

He was very pleased with the changes that had been made- it was like a whole different house. The exterior was as it had always been, save for the addition of the conservatory, but you couldn't see that from the front walk so it didn't really count. The interior was light and airy now, and every room Draco walked through was refreshing. He had chosen to keep the furniture that matched the new color scheme. Other pieces had been reupholstered or refinished, and others still were set aside to be sold or given away and replacements ordered.

The last room they went through was the new conservatory. They walked in and Draco stopped in the middle of the room, turning slowly to take it all in. The bright glass of the greenhouse and glossy tiles on the floor made the room almost glow in the morning light. The shelves and plant stands stood empty still, and Draco made a mental note to find a botanist to advise on the plant selection. He finished his turn and faced Mr. Guilford, a bright smile on his face, "you have absolutely outdone yourself sir." He happily clapped the older man on the shoulder and shook his hand. Guilford smiled back, glad to see that not a single room sent the young man darting for the corridor in a panic as he had the first time they had walked the house. 

"I am very glad you like it Mr. Malfoy."

"I love it. It's like an entirely different house. Thank you."

"My pleasure Mr. Malfoy."

The door knocker sounded just then. That had to be Blaise and Luna bringing Scorpius and his things from their house, and then they were off for lunch. "Excuse me for a moment Mr. Guilford."

He opened the overly tall front door with a smile on his face, but it wasn't the Zabini's, it was MacReynolds. The look in his eyes made fear squeeze Draco's heart and the sense of doom he had felt Saturday came crashing back down. Before either could say anything the Zabini's apparated just inside the fence. He shuttered his mind quickly before Scorpius could spot him. He didn't need to feel the dread that filled his father's soul at that moment. Draco took a deep breath and plastered the smile back on his face, "Blaise! You and Luna should take Scorp on the grand tour with Mr. Guilford. MacReynolds and I will be in my office." He turned back into the house, Guilford stepped out to the foyer at the mention of his name and greeted the Zabini's, gesturing them toward the closest room. Blaise too saw the look on MacReynolds face and shot a look at Draco who shrugged a 'don't know yet' but they both knew it wouldn't be good news. 

MacReynolds followed Draco silently up the staircase and into the library and from there into the small room with large windows that Draco had taken as his office. It looked out over the gardens at the back of the house and he'd always loved it as a boy. He moved around to his chair behind the desk. "Sit down MacReynolds and tell me what's got you looking like the grim reaper."

the older wizard sat carefully in the chair, "Adorabella greengrass has gone to the Ministry and is claiming that you are an unfit guardian for your son." Draco dropped heavily into his seat. 

"What?" 

"She's demanding custody." 

"But the marriage contract was clear-"

"She's making claims that since he is also currently the only heir to the Greengrass family they should have equal rights. They have also brought your recent additional appointments with your therapist into question and are claiming that your unwillingness to take legal action against Astoria is endangering your son." 

"But she's her daughter! Surely her mother doesn't want her in prison any more than I do!" 

"Sir, I doubt the Greengrass family has much care for disgraced scions." MacReynolds said tiredly. Draco sat stunned. "You are required to appear before the Council on Tuesday at 10am. I would recommend contacting anyone we can think of who would be useful character witnesses and request that they attend if possible. They are sure to ask for that, so we may cut significant time off of the proceedings if we come prepared." 

Draco's mind started to spin, character witnesses. His friends would be an obvious starting point, but he'd need others he'd dealt with on a more professional level as well and who had seen him with Scorpius. Dr. Carmichael would need to be there though he'd never had Scorpius with him for any of his sessions, perhaps Mr. Guilford? He'd had Scorp along on at least one of the days going over the house this past week. Luna and Blaise, the Potters. Harry would be good to have backing him up- especially since he had two kids of his own at this point. Headmistress McGonagall, Hermione.

“Ok, Tuesday. That gives us a week.” he took a deep breath, he could do this.

“No sir. Tomorrow.” The breath in Draco’s lungs turned to ice.

"You ok up there, Drake?" Blaise asked in his mind,

"No."

"I'm coming. Breathe man."

Blaise walked through the lower rooms with Luna, Scorpius and Mr. Guilford. The house looked amazing but he couldn't get his mind off of the look on old MacReynolds face. He looked like he brought news of death. Lucius had died in Azkaban two years prior, so it wasn't him. Narcissa had seemed fine last week when she was out visiting from France- though accidents happened and she wasn't without enemies. Blaise decided to check in with Draco just in case. If Aunt Cissa had kicked the bucket, whether by accident or not, Draco would be a mess. Baise kissed Luna's cheek "I'm going to go check on Drake." He said softly, she leaned into him briefly. 

"Give him space if he needs it." She reminded him.

"I will." And he slipped out of the room, once in the main hall he mentally tapped on Draco's mind.

"You ok up there, Drake?"

Draco's mind felt frozen and stressed.

"No." Blaise's heart dropped into his stomach.

"I'm coming. Breathe man." He took the stairs three at a time, the blessing of absurdly long legs. Six long paces down the hall and he burst into the library, then strode across to Draco's office door which was shut. He knocked on it as he pushed it open. "Drake, what's wrong? Is it Cissa?" 

"Not mother. Scorpius." Draco said, "Adorabella is suing for custody."

"That bitchy bat wants our Scorp?" Blaise plopped into the chair next to MacReynolds, "well she can go straight to hell."

"I have to be at the ministry for the council to decide one way or the other tomorrow 10am."

"WHAT?" Blaise shrieked nearly standing back up again "oh that's fighting dirty."

"We were assembling a list of people who could vouch for Master Draco's conduct and care of young master Scorpius." MacReynolds put in. 

"That's easy, me and Lunette, the potter's, 'Mione, McGonagall, Carmichael…"

"I was thinking Mr. Guilford as well."

"Oh and Pansy. Though she hasn't met Scorp. But the more the merrier right?" There was a long pause as MacReynolds scratched down the names in his notebook, 

"What about Jean? Would it help to have her?" Draco asked,

"Jean?" MacReynolds asked,

"Dr. Jean Granger. Hermione's mother. She came over for dinner Friday night and met Drake and Scorp. She's a muggle though."

"Ah, as beneficial as it would be to have her testimony- the rules about muggles entering the ministry would make her attendance problematic."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking." Blaise sat back in his chair, "so do we split the list up?"

"No need. I'll have this taken care of by lunch and let you know what I hear back." MacReynolds dropped his notebook back into his case and stood up. 

"Thank you, Mr. MacReynolds." Draco stood up as well, feeling slightly better about the whole situation. 

"Glad to help, Mr. Malfoy." And he turned and left the office. 

By dinner Monday night, Draco sat in the dining room at the Manor with MacReynolds, Blaise, Luna, Hermione, and the Potters. The others had all responded that they would be there the next morning, but these friends had come to him when they had heard. Ginny held a small dark haired infant a couple of months younger than Scorpius, who Hermione held. Harry paced along the table behind his wife, another dark haired toddler playing on the rug by the window. James and Albus. They were just a year apart. "Harry, would you please sit down and eat something?" Ginny snapped, "you're making me crazy." Maudsley had prepared a light meal, but no one really ate much. "I feel like something is off about this whole thing." Harry said, stopping his pacing only to clutch the back of the dining chair next to his wife, "it's very short notice."

"I agree. It feels underhanded, like they have some trick up their sleeve." Blaise leaned back in his chair, his arm draped across Luna's shoulders. 

"Exactly." Harry agreed. He started pacing again, Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I have checked at the ministry and we are to meet at 10am tomorrow. I would arrive early in case they try anything as underhanded as moving our assigned room at the last minute." MacReynolds said.

Draco nodded, he felt less lost at sea with these people around him. Like he could make it through whatever the next day held if he only leaned on their strength to get him through. 

"So 930 by that ugly statue in the lobby?" Blaise asked, everyone agreed and the party broke up, Harry and Ginny taking their small sons home via the floo, Blaise and Luna disapparated from the dining room and Hermione walked with MacReynolds and Draco to the door. 

"Thank you for everything MacReynolds. I don't know what I'd do without you." Draco shook the older man's hand firmly. 

"Just doing my job, Master Draco. I’ll see you in the morning." and MacReynolds was gone, disapparating with a pop from the front garden. Draco shut the door and leaned his forehead against it, wilting slightly. His left hand pressing into the ache that had blossomed in his chest as the stress of the day had kicked his pain tolerance down a couple of notches. “merlin, this is a mess.” he said to himself.

“It’ll all work out.” Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder, “you don’t have to deal with all of this alone anymore.” she had come straight out from work as soon as she got off. She hadn't even dropped her medical robes in her office, they lay across her chair back in the dining room. He wasn't going to get into the what if's right now. He was a Malfoy. Worst case scenario he could buy his way out of it. He stood up straight and turned to face her. "Thank you for coming tonight." he said as Scorpius reached for him. He took his son from her arms and she straightened her blouse. 

"I'm glad I could be here." She looked up at him, "will you be alright here tonight?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine." Scorpius laid his head on Draco's shoulder and Hermione smiled at the picture the father and son made. She rubbed Scorpius' back fondly. "You do so well with him." She said quietly, "everything will be alright tomorrow, I'm sure."

She picked up her bag that sat on a bench nearby, "I'd better let you get that sleepy head in bed. Goodnight, Draco."

He pulled the door open for her, 

"Goodnight, Hermione." He watched as she stepped out into the front garden and lifted a hand to wave goodbye as she disapparated. 

He turned back into the house and softly shut the front door as Scorpius was already asleep in his arms. He took his son up to the nursery and laid him down carefully in the crib that had been his as an infant. Once Scorpius was asleep Draco went through the nursery into his own room. Astoria had kicked him out of their shared bedroom the minute she found out she was pregnant, and so he had moved into the room that had belonged to his mother when he was growing up. He and Astoria had shared the room across that had been his father's, up to that point. He walked through his room and into the common area between the masters and mistress' rooms. Fresh paint, new carpeting and window treatments, the old dark wood fireplace had been replaced with bright tile. The only furniture that remained from before was the old writing desk that sat in front of the windows. He walked through this room as well and opened the door to the masters room. The old four poster bed had been removed, replaced with a new one in a more modern style. The window in that room had always been tall and narrow- Mr. Guilford had replaced it with a wider, deeper one that allowed more natural light in and afforded a comfortable spot to sit and read. Draco looked around, taking in all the changes. He considered moving into this room after Scorpius was out of the nursery. But that would still be a year or so away. Time enough for those decisions later. He returned to the common area and spent some time reading before turning in for the night. 

Next morning Gadsby brought him Hermione's robe that she'd left in the dining room the night before. Draco had the elf hang it up to return to her after the meeting at the ministry. Blaise and Luna arrived around 9 and Luna volunteered to watch Scorpius at home instead of dragging him to the ministry with all the adults. So with a few minutes to the appointed meeting time Blaise and Draco took the floo to the ministry. 

At 10am sharp the council began its opening remarks. Adorabella sat smugly on the far side of the room observing the proceedings. Her case had already been put forth and all that was left was for Draco to defend himself. MacReynolds presented each witness and in a matter of an hour they were finished and the council called Draco forward.

"Mr. Malfoy. It is the decision of this council that you will give over custody of your son Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy to his Maternal grandparents-" Adorabella smirked happily in her chair.

"Wait! I have been caring for him since birth." Draco interrupted, feeling like he'd been struck.

"You have been keeping him in an unsafe environment, where you allowed him to be grievously injured. Were it not for Dr. Granger, your son wouldn't be alive today." The council member said hotly

"Astoria was his mother! I never thought she could-"

"Regardless Mr. Malfoy," the Council member interrupted 

"if not me then Blaise" Draco flung a shaking hand toward his friend who sat off to his right. "If you won't allow me to raise him, then give him to his godfather I beg you. The Greengrasses don't love him like I do, like his godparents do. Please just let him grow up in a loving home." Draco pleaded desperately for the heart of his son.

"Mr. Malfoy, we were not finished!" The council member snapped, and Draco clutched the bar in front of him, swaying slightly.

"You will give over custody of your son, OR you will marry a witch qualified to help raise such a unique child within the fortnight."

"What!" Adorabella gasped,

Draco paled, “define Qualified” he choked out.

"A witch in good social standing, intelligent, and experienced with children. Any other questions Mr. Malfoy?“ 

"No." Draco swallowed, "thank you." He forced himself to stand tall, though all he really wanted to do was collapse in on himself, but he wouldn't give Adorabella the satisfaction of knowing how close to the heart she'd struck him.

"Very good. We shall adjourn until either proper marriage certificates are presented to the council or until you cede guardianship to the child's Maternal line. Good day."

Draco stood unmoving at the bar until Blaise took his elbow and drew him back to the table with Mr. MacReynolds as Adorabella Greengrass stalked angrily toward the head councilor.

"What am I going to do Blaise?" He asked in a daze. 

"Right now you're going to pull yourself together and thank everyone for coming. And then we're going to go home and see Scorpius and Luna and figure this all out tomorrow after a good night's sleep." Draco nodded, 

"Yeah. Home." He turned to the people who had come to support him, Dr. Carmichael and Mr. Guilford were talking together. Ginny Potter’s cheeks were flushed pink and her eyes burned and Harry seemed to be attempting to calm her down. Headmistress McGonagall looked like she wanted to give the council speaker the worst detention she could think of. Pansy was there talking quietly with her fiance. and Hermione in the same deep blue suit she had worn to the meeting with McGonagall. He took a deep breath as the conversations died down and everyone looked at him. "Thank you all for coming." He said, then he stood there for an awkwardly long moment, “I’m- I’m very grateful for all that you’ve said to try and help me here today.” and then it hit him. He was going to lose his son to the Greengrasses. He wavered on his feet slightly, and then Blaise and Hermione were there. 

“Take him home Blaise, and quickly, before he has a full blown panic attack in front of god and everybody and the council changes their mind for the worse. I'll see everyone here off and meet you all at the manor in a bit." Blaise nodded and took hold of Draco’s elbow again, drawing him through the cluster of people and out of the room. “Come on mate. Let's get home and get you a stiff drink.” 

Hermione took a deep breath and turned to face the rest of the group as Draco walked out with Blaise. “Thank you all so much for coming, and on such short notice.” she reiterated “I know it helped to hear all of your glowing words about how he's been doing so well with Scorpius. Dr. Zabini has taken him home and I'm sure Draco will be in touch with you all soon. Thank you again.” And she turned to where Mr. MacReynolds was collecting his papers. "That was handled very well, Dr. Granger," he said kindly. 

"Thank you Mr. MacReynolds." she sighed. 

"I'll be by the manor in a day or so and see what Master Draco's plans are from here. I'm sure I shall see you around soon." He said, and with his case in hand he left the courtroom. Everyone else filed out after him.

"That was the worst handling of a case I've ever seen in my life." Minerva McGonagall snapped once she reached the corridor "I swear some people have no sympathy anymore." The old woman sighed and looked at the young one before her, 

"Well. I’ll see you soon, Dr. Granger.”

“Thank you, see you later, Headmistress.” and McGonagall was gone.

“Ginny, you can’t hex the council or Mrs. Greengrass.” Harry said as he and Ginny walked past Hermione

“They’re idiots!” Ginny hissed angrily

“I agree with you. They are idiots. You still can’t hex them.” Hermione shook her head, smiling slightly. 

“Hermione! How could they!” Ginny glared back at the room they had just left. “Giving that sweet baby to such a nasty old bat.” 

“Or get married. He has to give up the baby or get married.” Harry corrected. “‘Mione, do you have plans for lunch? We’re off to that bistro Ginny likes so much- what’s it called?”

“The Glasshouse. It’s that place we went to the other week.”

“Thanks for the invite, but I need to get to the manor. I told Blaise and Draco I’d be out as soon as things were taken care of here.”

Harry wrapped Hermione in a brotherly hug, “you know if you need anything we’re here for you, I know how much you care for Scorpius.” he said quietly, she hugged him tight, 

“Thanks Harry. It means a lot.”

Harry took Ginny’s hand and the two of them said their goodbyes, leaving her standing in the corridor by herself. Everyone else had filtered past while she had been talking with Harry and Ginny. 

Give up his son or get married. She wanted to slap some sense into the council. She walked to the apparition point and turned, apparating to Malfoy Manor. 

The door was opened by a smart looking house elf she had met the night before, 

“Dr. Granger, you are expected.” he said, and he led her to a room off the foyer. Draco sat crumpled on the couch, Blaise was pacing in front of a small fireplace. 

“What am I going to do? I can’t lose him Blaise” Draco was saying. “I can’t.” his voice cracked with his heart breaking. 

Hermione took a deep breath and stuffed her own aching heart deep in a box to protect Scorpius when he found her. She'd unpack that at home. Alone. Right now, she was going to help Draco. Somehow.

"Dr. Granger is here, Master Draco." The house elf announced. Draco looked up as Blaise turned to the door, 

"Thank you, Gadsby. Would you have Maudsley bring tea up, please?" He said. "Yes sir." And the house elf disappeared. Hermione watched as Draco gathered himself physically and emotionally, dropping the well worn mask of indifference over the whole facade. It was like watching him turn back into the cold-hearted boy he had been in school rather than the warm, caring man she had come to know in the last two weeks. Blaise looked from Hermione to Draco. 

"Damn it all to hell." He spat. Draco met Blaise's gaze with ice. He stood up and adjusted his blazer. 

"Blaise, I would appreciate it if you refrained from using such language while you are under my roof and within my son's hearing."

Blaise pointed a finger at Draco "You're shutting down because you don't know what the fucking hell to do and that is NOT healthy Drake. I will not stand by and watch you shut everyone out. AGAIN." 

“Get out.” Draco's voice was cold as death, face devoid of emotion.

“Drake-” the house elf returned with the tea tray at that moment. 

"Maudsley, see Dr. Zabini to the door please, and inform his wife that I require her assistance with my son a bit longer and request that she take him to her home immediately." Draco turned to the window behind him, dismissing the elf and his friend without another word. "Yes, Master Draco." The elf sat the tea service on the table, "Dr. Zabini?"

Blaise glared at Draco's back, 

"I hope you're happy, Malfoy." He spat the name at his friend, but there was no reaction. 

Blaise left muttering about fetching his wife home himself. 

Hermione stood silently watching Draco as she had been doing since she stepped into the room. He stood in the window for a long time. 

"I thought I said to get out." He said finally, still facing out the window.

"You told Blaise to get out." 

"Well, unless you have a solution to offer, you may as well leave too." He lifted a hand to the window sash and tucked the other into his pocket.

Hermione stood quietly for a long moment mulling over the situation. In the end he had to get married or give up his son. There really was only one solution. He had to get married. She had promised him he wouldn't lose Scorpius. And she wasn't going to break that promise. So logically- rather than risking Scorpius and Draco's safety and happiness on some gold digger who might end up just as bad as Astoria or worse, Hermione realized there was only one thing to do. 

She had to marry Draco Malfoy. 

Her mother would certainly have questions- Ron would probably ask her why she was sacrificing herself. Was it a sacrifice? She didn't think it was. She found him attractive and they had formed a decently strong friendship over the past couple of weeks. They could at least have a friendly, respectful marriage, which was more than he had had with Astoria. Scorpius would grow up in a home with parents who loved him. Because while she wasn't sure exactly what she felt towards his father, she realized that she loved Scorpius as if he were her own child and the thought of never seeing him again made her feel physically ill. 

Draco turned slightly, just enough to look over his shoulder at Hermione. She stood in that ravenclaw blue tweed suit and black heels. Hair pulled back in a low soft bun, hands clasped at her waist. She wore no jewelry, and almost no make-up. And he wouldn't change a thing about her. Dr. Hermione Granger, golden girl, Gryffindor princess, looked up at him. 

"There's only one solution."

"I know." He turned away from her, "I have to get married again. I'm sure I can find someone willing. I've got enough damn money for that." He said bitterly

"Draco."

He didn't look at her again, but he heard her footsteps then felt her hand on his arm. It almost made him lose his composure. 

“Do you really want to marry just anyone? To have a stranger raising your son?” he looked down at her, “because I don't want that for you. You can't marry someone who doesn’t care about you and Scorpius.”

“What do you propose then?” the coldness in his voice began to melt, but he didn't look at her.

“Marry me.” 

Draco's mask slipped just slightly, but Hermione couldn't tell what emotion he was trying to hide behind the indifference. "I dare anyone to say I don't meet all the qualifications the council set out. I am already familiar with your son's peculiar magic and I honestly don't give a damn about your money." Draco's hand moved from his pocket to her elbow as he turned more towards her, the hand that had been up on the window dropped to his side. "I know you wanted to take more time before pursuing any romantic relationships, this place is big enough that we could still take that time. Nothing has to change other than our legal relationship and my address." She assured him. "I'm sure that we can learn to live with one another." He lifted his free hand to her face, 

"Are you sure?" He asked softly, "this isn't just some thing you have that can help- it's your whole life tied to mine. I'd bet good money the Greengrasses are paying the media off and the minute they realize that I'm- that we- aren't going to give Scorpius up, that will change. It will affect your career." 

She hadn't considered that. She tried to think that through, but his touch made her blood turn to fire.

"Either kiss me or let me go, I can't think like this." She said breathlessly, his eyes fell to her lips, and for a moment she thought he would kiss her. But then he stepped back, his thumb brushing her bottom lip as his hand dropped from her face.

"You need to think this through. I know how much your work means to you." He turned back to the window. He was still wearing that damn mask. 

"I doubt they could ruin me." She said after a minute, 

"You'd be surprised at the kind of dirt they will find, or make up." He leaned his shoulder against the window frame and looked down at the flowers growing beneath. Hermione took a deep breath and weighed the options- maybe losing her job because of the media, or watch their lives be torn to shreds? Scorpius ripped from his father's arms and given to people who couldn't care less that their daughter needed serious mental help and was sitting in jail because of that. "My job is making children's lives better. I can't- I won't stand by and let them take him from you- from us." Draco looked up at her, "you know they wouldn't let me see him either." He just watched her silently. She watched him back, then slowly she saw the mask of indifference melt away and he reached for her. She stepped into his arms, he took a deep shuddering breath and they held onto each other for a long minute. 

"Thank you." He said softly. 

"Join me for lunch?" Draco asked after a while, his composure back in place, the mask of indifference gone.

"I was planning on it, will you call Blaise and set things right?" Draco stepped back, but didn't release her entirely, 

"Why don't we just go over there and tell them the good news and pick up Scorpius?" He held her hands in his, a smile on his face. Hermione smiled back, "that would be lovely."

"I just need to get something from upstairs and then we can go."

"Shall I wait here?"

"You can walk with me if you like."

Hermione went with him, walking side by side up the broad staircase. She knew that the entire upstairs had been repainted and rearranged. The staircase split in two at the top, Draco took the right hand stairs, "this is the family wing," he said as she followed him, "that's the nursery," he pointed to a door on the left that stood a jar, "when scorp’s outgrown it, he'll move to one of those rooms." There were four or five doors on the opposite side of the hall, "that was my room growing up." Draco pointed to the second door on the right as they passed it. He pushed the last door on the left open. It led to a sitting room with doors on opposite walls, the traditional master suite. Hermione looked around as Draco went through the door on the left. The central room reminded her of the head's common room at Hogwarts, a small couch and chair sat before an empty fireplace, built in bookshelves lined the walls on either side. A small writing desk sat in front of windows that lined the far side of the room, thick blue curtains hung open allowing the early afternoon sun in and the walls were white- or a very very light blue. She moved to the windows which looked out over the front garden. A plush beige carpet lined the floor, and she didn't hear Draco come back from what must be his bedroom. "What do you think? You're welcome to change anything you don't like." She jumped, "no, it's lovely." She said, "did you find what you needed?"

"Yes." He hesitated, "Hermione, this isn't how I wanted any of this to happen." He took her left hand. "But, if we're going to get married, I want you to have this." He slid a silver band with a large blue black pearl set in the jaws of a green eyed dragon, onto her finger. She felt it snug down to fit perfectly. "Draco, it's beautiful. Thank you." 

"No, thank you. Once again I owe you the life of my son." He pressed a kiss to the back of her left hand. Hermione's cheeks flushed and her heart pounded, "Shouldn't we be going?" She squeaked, Draco tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. "Do you have everything you need?" She nodded, enchanted pockets were the best thing ever. Until laundry day that is.

Draco turned and apparated them both to the Zabini's front garden. 

Chapter 15. Sickle or a Sixpence?

Draco felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he stood on the Zabini’s front step and knocked on the door. Everything would be alright. His heart reminded him of the imagined kiss- and her admonishment to kiss her or let her go. He almost had kissed her, but he hadn’t wanted to color her decision with her emotions. The possibility of actually having a loving relationship though… he shoved that excited little ferret back in its box. That was something to think about later. Right now he owed his best friend an apology. 

Blaise opened the door with a cold look on his face, 

“What do you want, Malfoy.” he snapped.

“We’re getting married.” Hermione said before Draco could answer, 

“What?” Blaise looked at Hermione, 

“We’re getting married.” she said again

“When?”

Hermione looked at Draco “It’s in our best interest if we do it before Adorabella realizes we’re not giving him up.” He said,

“So right now?” Blaise raised an eyebrow. 

Hermione nodded once, and Draco took her hand “yes. Now.” 

“Ok, you got a plan?” Blaise crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the doorframe, 

“I need Harry and Ginny, they’re out to lunch. We can split up and meet at the ministry.”

“And we’ll get MacReynolds and draw up the license and contract.” Draco hadn’t expected things to take this turn, but what had to be done had to be done. 

"Alright then." Blaise leaned in the door, “Luna!” he shouted, “pack it up, we gotta go!” 

“Go where?” she asked, coming to the door with Scorpius on her hip. He squealed “dada!” and Draco took his squirming son from Luna.

“They’re getting hitched. Right now. Guys are getting MacReynolds, girls are getting the Potters. See you at the ministry in one hour! Don’t be late.” Blaise kissed his wife and pushed her toward Hermione. He snagged the diaper bag from the hall table then locked the house up. 

“What are you ladies waiting for? We’ll see you there.”

Luna took Hermione’s hand, “where are we going?” 

“That bistro we went to week before last with Ginny.” Luna nodded, and they apparated away. 

When they got to the restaurant Hermione pulled her cellphone from her pocket and punched in Harry’s number. 

He picked up just before it went to voicemail,

"Hermione, what's up?"

“Harry- Luna and I are outside the restaurant, I’m getting married in an hour and I need you and Ginny.”

“You’re what?” Harry asked, his voice surprised, “what is it?” she heard Ginny’s voice in the background

“I’m getting married in an hour and I need your help.” 

“She said she’s getting married in an hour” Harry said to Ginny, then Ginny was on the phone

“Hermione!”

“We’re outside Ginny.”
“We’re on our way.” and the call ended. Within a minute Ginny was dashing out the door of the restaurant looking around for Hermione.

“There you are!” she said, wrapping Hermione in a hug, “I figured that you’d choose this, but I didn’t think you’d do it today! Please tell me we have time for you to change. This suit is lovely, but you wear it all the time.” Hermione checked her watch, 

“We’ve got a bit more than 45 minutes before we have to be at the ministry.” Harry walked out of the restaurant then,

“That’s time enough.” Ginny grabbed Hermione and Luna, but Hermione took Harry's arm,

"Harry, can you go to MacReynolds office for me? I know there's legal documents that I'll have to sign- but you've got that power of attorney for wizarding legal stuff I gave you. Stand in for me for the prenup? I'm not worried, I trust Draco, but I know it will help things go faster."

"Of course 'Mione." He pulled her into a hug. "That's what family is for."
"Thank you." and the girls were gone.

Once they got to Hermione's the first thing Ginny did was fling open the closet and start shuffling through stuff, “Luna you do something with her hair please! That bun was perfect for this morning- but she needs something different pronto.” Hermione sat obediently on the stool that Luna placed in the middle of her bedroom floor, and allowed her friend to start pulling the pins loose from the bun. 

“Ginny, what are you looking for?” Hermione asked as Ginny began digging through the boxes of things stacked in the closet floor

“That silver dress you wore to the Christmas party last year?” Ginny pulled a box from the closet and opened it- the stack of winter clothes inside looked promising. 

“Merlin no! That made me look like I was covered in tinsel. I don’t know why I let you talk me into that. I took it to the charity shop after new years." 

"Damn." 

“What about that green one?” Luna asked pointing with the comb, Ginny held out a fist full of green fabric from the closet

“This one?”

“No, the spring green to your left.”

"There isn't anything green to my left." 

"Green and white" Ginny lifted the skirt of a white sprigged muslin dress "Yes." 

“That is not green, Luna.”

“It’s got green sprigs on it.”

Ginny pulled the summer dress from the closet and held it up. “I’ve never seen you wear this one ‘Mione” it was flowy with puffed sleeves and a ruffled hem. Very feminine and sweet looking.

“That was for a picnic luncheon at work last summer. It got rained out so I don’t think I’ve ever actually worn it.”

“It’ll work. I doubt Draco will have time to change- and it’ll look nice with that green blazer he had on this morning." Hermione shook her head. 

“We’re eloping Ginny.”

“Yes, and? No reason not to look your best. Now makeup!”

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione stood in front of her mirror, make-up done, hair pulled half back and her favorite black flats on. She caught the glint of the ring on her finger and took it off to look at it more closely. It was made to be a dragon coiling around the finger, the blue black pearl clenched in its jaws, tiny emeralds for eyes.

“What's that?” Ginny asked,

“My engagement ring- or well, my wedding ring now I guess. Draco gave it to me before we left the Manor.” Hermione said

“WHAT? Put it back on and let me see!” Hermione put it back on and held her hand out for Ginny and then Luna to inspect it. 

“Narcissa told me about that ring.” Luna said, “She had it made for Draco when he was born and gave it to him when he turned 21. It was meant for his wife, but he told Blaise he couldn’t bear to give it to Astoria.”

“Oh Hermione! That’s so romantic!”
“Ginny- we’re getting married so he doesn’t lose Scorpius. This isn’t a romantic thing, this is a logical thing.” 

“It might be a logical thing right now, but give it a few months. He’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you.” 

“Ginny!”

“What? Luna, you have to have seen it too!” 

“Definitely.” Luna said, "he already can't keep his eyes off you." Hermione blushed bright red.

“I wonder if Draco will wear the same ring he had with Astoria?” Ginny mused, 

“I don’t think he will.” Luna tweaked Hermione’s hair slightly.

“‘Mione- don’t you have your grandfather's ring? I remember you wore it for a bit during that last year at Hogwarts.”

“I do!” she turned away from the mirror and dug through her neglected jewelry box- necklaces, earrings, bracelets she never wore. And there- the dim gold of her grandfather Granger’s wedding band. He had passed away while she had been gone searching for horcruxes with Harry and Ron, and she’d worn his ring for a year after the battle. She hoped that Draco would understand the value it had to her.

"Oh! Here are your pearl earrings, they'll match your ring Hermione!" Luna said as she looked through Hermione's jewelry box. She also found a necklace with a Sapphire pendant.

"There. Sapphire for your birthday and pearls for his. Too bad you don't have any amethyst for Scorpius." Luna commented.

"It's something Blue as well." Ginny said counting the items off on her fingers "Old- the ring he gave you is old. New- your dress, never been worn. Just need something borrowed- and do you have a sickle for your shoe Hermione?"

"Ginny- it's a sixpence, not a sickle."

"Well muggles would have to choose a different coin of course. It's something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sickle in your shoe." Ginny quoted the old rhyme,

Hermione picked up her discarded skirt and pulled her purse from the pocket with a sigh.

"Oh! I have it! Double luck!" Luna exclaimed and disapparated, leaving Ginny and Hermione looking at each other mildly confused, but then- it was Luna.

She was back before Hermione had finished putting the silver sickle coin in the bottom of her shoe at Ginny's insistence. "Here! Something borrowed." The bracelet she clasped on Hermione's wrist was studded with amethysts. "Blaise gave it to me for my birthday last year. And now you have pearls for Draco, amethyst for Scorpius, and sapphires for you."

Hermione looked at the bracelet on her wrist and then up at her two closest friends,

"Thank you both." She said, pulling them into a group hug. "I'm so glad I have you to walk with me through this." Ginny and Luna hugged her back, 

“What’s our time look like?” Luna asked after a minute.

Hermione glanced at her watch, though she still had her brown leather holster on her right forearm (Ginny tried to get her to ditch it but she refused) she had traded her black leather banded watch for a more decorative one they found in the bottom of her jewelry box.
“10 minutes.” 

“Let's roll. Don’t forget that ring ‘Mione!”

With her grandfather's band on her left thumb and her beaded bag of everything on her wrist with her watch and Luna's bracelet. She was as ready as she’d ever be.

Blaise grabbed Draco's arm and disapparated to MacReynolds office. It was nearly 1, so the man ought to be finishing lunch. Draco realized that all this was going to screw with Scorpius' naptime. He probably ought to look into getting one of those backpack baby carrier things. Draco stopped Blaise before his friend could charge into the office and pulled him off of the main thoroughfare. "Blaise- I wanted to apologize for being a prick this morning. You were trying to help and I shut you out and I'm sorry."  Blaise looked at his best mate. He'd nearly lost it just an hour ago, and now he stood with fresh hope in his face. Blaise had been two steps away from panic himself. The thought of seeing Draco lose Scorpius had made him sick to his stomach. He pulled Draco into a brief brotherly hug.

"I won't lie, I was panicking too. I'm glad you and 'Mione have figured stuff out though. Now let's get this paperwork done and get you married off again before the Greengrasses figure out what we're doing." 

They walked into the office and were waiting to speak with the secretary when Harry came in, official Auror robes making the others in the waiting area give him a wide berth. He joined Blaise and Draco, 

"The girls are off to Hermione's." He looked Draco in the eye, "I'm letting you know right now, I'm here to make sure she's taken care of." Draco nodded, "of course. Thanks for coming." He offered Harry Potter his hand, much as he had their first year. "I assume this will make us brothers in law?" Draco said, cracking a grin as Harry took his hand firmly.

"Practically. Seeing as you can't exactly legally adopt a person as your sibling. But I swear if you hurt her Malfoy…"

"I know this isn't the traditional love match, Potter, but I do care for her."

"Good."

The secretary called Draco then and they all trooped to MacReynolds office. 

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, Dr. Zabini. Please sit." MacReynolds greeted the trio, "Master Draco, I assume you've made a decision about the meeting at the ministry this morning. What can I do to help?"

"I need a marriage license for today, and a prenup for myself and Dr. Hermione Granger. We're meeting the ladies at the ministry in-" Draco glanced at his watch "35 minutes."

MacReynolds didn't even raise an eyebrow. He called in a junior associate to handle the marriage license and pulled out a copy of the prenup for Draco's first marriage to adjust. "And who will be speaking for Dr. Granger?"

"I have power of attorney for Dr. Granger." Harry pulled a folded piece of paper from his robe and handed it to the solicitor. MacReynolds looked it over and nodded, 

"Excellent. That will speed things along. Mr. Malfoy, are there any particular changes that you wish to be made to the arrangement you had with Ms. Greengrass? Or shall we start with that as our basis?"

Draco did have a few changes to make, and Harry made sure that Hermione's assets would be protected as well, her little cottage in Oxfordshire, and anything she might inherit from her family. In the end both men were satisfied and Harry was sure Hermione would be as well. It took them every moment they had to get everything done though. MacReynolds recommended they go by the floo network to the ministry for the sake of time.

Blaise went first, Luna spotted him before he saw her and the women gathered by the fireplace waiting for the others.

Harry came next and swept Ginny into a tight embrace, "God I'm glad we didn't have to go through that when we got married." He said into her hair. Ginny laughed as Draco stepped out next, Scorpius in his arms. 

"Mama!" Scorpius giggled, grabbing for Hermione who stepped forward and took him from Draco's stunned arms. "'Mione, you look lovely." He finally said as MacReynolds came through the floo and charmed the dust off of his suit. "Dr. Granger, I have a few things for you to look over and sign. Do you have an appointment with the magistrate?"

"Not yet."

"I can take care of arranging that while you go over the paperwork 'Mione." Draco said, his hand at her elbow. 

"I'll take Scorpius." Luna offered, Hermione handed Scorpius over to his Godmother and followed MacReynolds to a small bench that sat nearby. Once settled he handed her a roll of parchment. 

"This is the prenuptial agreement that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter came up with, please read through it and if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them."

She unrolled the parchment and realized it was nearly as long as her arm. It was a good thing she was used to reading medical journals. She scanned through it quickly, it covered the basics- what was hers, what was his, what would be joint property, what would happen in the event of a divorce before consummation, her cheeks flushed pink at that thought- there would have to be a conversation about that with Draco later. What would happen if they divorced after a year or more. Or children. Everything was laid out. She knew she was committed to this, and she hoped Draco was as well. 

Harry walked over as she finished reading and knelt down beside the bench where she sat. 

"You don't have to do this, Hermione. You don't have to save him."

She looked at Harry Potter, the boy who lived, who saved the wizarding world, who loved her like the brother she had never had. 

"You didn't have to save him either, Harry. But you did, because it was the right thing to do."

 And then she saw Draco walk back through the room to where Blaise and Luna stood with Scorpius and Ginny. And her heart flipped- he would be her husband, and Scorpius her son, in a matter of hours. 

"He's changed, Harry, and I care for him. And I love Scorpius. And I can't stand by and watch their lives be torn apart." She looked at Harry, "if this same thing had happened a year from now would you still be telling me not to?"

"I'm not telling you not to marry him, Hermione. Just making sure that it’s actually what you want. Also I had ten galleons on the two of you being at least engaged within a year." 

"Harry Potter!“ Hermione smacked at him. 

"Blaise said nine months."

Hermione shook her head, "you men are the worst." 

"I know, but you love us." Harry stood up and offered her a hand up, 

"I do." She took it and he pulled her into a hug. "Sign your papers, Dr. Granger, and let's get you married to the ferret."

"Harry!"

He kissed her cheek and let her finish the work with MacReynolds.

When she was done going over the papers, and was ready to sign her name on the dotted line Hermione looked up at the older wizard, “do you have any questions, Dr. Granger?” he asked kindly,

“Only one: what would it take for me to adopt Scorpius?” 

A calculating smile spread across MacReynolds face and he reached into his bag, “I believe I have the form right here.” he handed her another collection of papers. "Mr. Potter mentioned how much you cared for little Scorpius, a fact that I saw with my own eyes last night. I believe Dr. Zabini was joking when he suggested these be drawn up as well, but Mr. Malfoy and I both agreed it wasn't a bad idea to have them on hand just in case."

Draco spotted Harry and Hermione talking near MacReynolds, the prenup rolled up in her lap. Harry knelt beside her, and then he stood and helped her to her feet before the two of them hugged. Draco felt his heart seize as Harry kissed her cheek and turned back to join the group. 

Hermione asked MacReynolds a question, then took the pen he was holding out to her and began signing the papers as the secretary Draco had spoken with came over to their little group. 

"Mr. Malfoy, the Magistrate will see you now." 

"Thank you, I just need to fetch my fiancèe." He gestured toward where Hermione sat with MacReynolds.

"Of course." 

Draco started walking toward Harry, his long legs eating up the hundred or so feet between where the group waited and where Hermione sat signing papers. 

"Is it time?" Harry asked as he and Draco met halfway. "It is."

Harry turned back, "Hermione." He called, she looked up "last chance to change your mind."

"Not happening, Harry." She stood up and handed the papers to MacReynolds and the two of them joined Draco and Harry. 

"The Magistrate is waiting for us." Draco told them as Hermione took his offered arm and they returned to the group. The eight of them followed the secretary to the magistrates office.

"Will there be an exchange of rings Mr. MacReynolds? Or just the papers signed?" Hermione asked as they walked. "You may exchange rings if you wish Dr. Granger, but these sorts of elopements are usually very bare bones." 

They reached the magistrates office then and Hermione held Draco back. 

"Hermione?"

"I want you to have this." She pulled the battered gold band from her thumb, "it belonged to my grandfather."

"Hermione, I-"

"I know it's not much," she said quickly, "but I didn't want you to have to wear the same band as before." He took her hands in his, 

"Thank you." She took his left hand and slid the ring on his finger. She had charmed it to resize itself when she wore it at school so it fit like it had been made for him. He took her hand and kissed it as he had when he put the ring on her finger earlier, and then Blaise was interrupting them, "are you two coming or not? We don't have all day here."

The paperwork was quick and barebones. There were no vows, no rings exchanged, no "you may kiss the bride." Only papers signed and then being ushered out of the office- a newly minted family. 

"Why'd you decide to keep Granger, 'Mione?" Blaise asked, 

"It's a lot of trouble to change the medical license. So I remain Dr. Granger." 

"I still get to introduce you as Mrs. Malfoy though, right?" Draco asked, wrapping an arm about her waist and pulling her close to his side. Hermione smiled up at her new husband, "of course."

"Next stop is back to the council offices from this morning." Draco turned to MacReynolds who walked beside the group, "we have all the paperwork they requested correct?"

"Yes sir." 

They had to wait some time for the head council member to be free, Draco and Hermione sat together, Scorpius dead asleep in Hermione's arms, her head resting on Draco's shoulder, his arm warm around her. Harry and Ginny were talking softly a little ways off on Hermione’s left.

Blaise and Luna were sitting on the other side of Draco, and Blaise poked him in the ribs "Don't look too happy. People will think you just got married." He quipped. Draco just smiled softly. Then Blaise noticed the wedding band Draco wore.

"Eh, where'd that come from?" Hermione sat up a bit straighter, 

"Hmmm?"

"The ring. Also I see you've got Drake's ring on 'Mione. But when did Drake get a new ring?"

"It's not new precisely. It belonged to my grandfather. He died while I was off with Harry and Ron looking for Horcruxes. I wasn't able to go to his funeral or anything, didn't even know he had passed until I went looking for my parents. But he left me that band. Along with a letter about how he and my grandmother had met and been married for over 50 years before she passed." 

The head council member's assistant finally stepped out to the hall. 

"Mr. Malfoy, the councilor will see you now."

The group all stood, stretching legs and backs, Hermione shifted Scorpius as little as possible but it didn't matter. He was solidly asleep. The Malfoys, Potters, and Zabinis followed MacReynolds into the office. 

"Mr. Malfoy, didn't expect to see you again so soon. Have you come to a decision regarding this morning's meeting?"

"We have," Draco said, standing slightly behind the chair where Hermione settled with Scorpius. The rest of the group arranged themselves along the wall by the door.

"You’ve come to surrender the boy, then?"

"On the contrary, we've come to submit the requested marriage certificates."  He lifted a hand toward MacReynolds who pulled the papers from his case and laid copies of the pertinent documents on the council members desk. 

"We would like to request a written receipt of those documents as well as an affidavit stating that we have completely complied with the requests of the council." He laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "Dr. Granger, as you know, is a respected pediatric doctor at St. Mungos.”

"Dr. Granger? Not Dr. Malfoy?" The man picked up the various documents that MacReynolds laid down. 

"That is correct." Draco said smoothly, the older man seemed disturbed that she hadn't changed her name. "Sir, my wife has spent the past six years earning her medical license and establishing herself as a leading pediatric researcher. I would never ask her to give that up for the unnecessary vanity of taking her husband's name.”

“This is highly abnormal, Mr. Malfoy.”

“What is?” Draco leveled a cool look at the council member. “My wife maintaining her own family name? Or the Ministry requiring marriage to be a prerequisite for guardianship of my own child?"

He frowned magnificently, "This is a charade, Mr. Malfoy."

Harry, standing like a shadow at the back of the room, cleared his throat and drew the attention of the room. He leveled a tight smile at the councilor. "Quite."

“The council informed me that my options were to give over custody of my son, or marry a witch qualified to assist me in raising him." 

"Within a fortnight." Harry interjected from the back of the room.

Draco nodded to him, "Dr. Granger is both qualified and willing, and I know my former in-laws. It would do me no good to wait the full fortnight when I could take care of the business today. I’ve already told you my opinion on the name change, which I would like to point out was not part of the terms of the agreement from this morning.” 

Hermione took the hand that Draco had placed on her shoulder and held it gently. Presenting a united front.

“Do you have anything you’d like to add to this conversation, Dr. Granger?”

Hermione smiled sweetly, “Only that I would appreciate it if you could finish our paperwork so we can go home. My son is quite done for the day, and my husband and I have not had lunch yet.”

“Your stepson, Dr. Granger.”

“No, my son. I believe Ms. Greengrass, when she signed the divorce papers, also signed away her parental rights. You'll find the adoption orders with the marriage contract."

MacReynolds nodded with a proud smile, "All quite legal, and binding." 

Draco looked around him, Harry Potter, MacReynolds, Blaise, Hermione, none of them were there for their own gain. Each of them was there, fighting to make sure that his family stayed together, because they loved him and because it was the right thing to do. This was how he wanted to live his life, with these people. His family. Some of them had been with him for years, others were new additions, but he knew he could lean on them, and he wanted to be there to help them in turn. This was what he wanted for his children, and his children's children.  

Harry crossed his arms across his chest, "So all that's left for you is to do your job. I'm certain the Greengrass family would want to be informed as soon as possible. You have their contact information, I assume?"

"It's on record." The council member said tersely.

Harry clicked his tongue, "I'm sure it is."

The older man's face turned slightly purple and he snatched up a pen and signed the affidavit and receipt MacReynolds had prepared while they had waited. 

He almost threw them across the desk. 

"There. Now get out." 

The papers collected, the group filed out of the office. In the hallway, Draco stopped Harry- “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.” 

“I’m glad I was there. That’s a dirty wizard for sure. The Greengrasses information is ‘on record’” Harry scoffed, “didn't know that’s what we called address books these days.” 

Draco nodded. Hermione handed the now waking Scorpius to his father and hugged Harry. “Thank you Harry.”

“That’s what family is for ‘Mione, Drake. Congratulations.” He planted a quick kiss on Hermione’s cheek and shook Draco’s hand. “Now, I have some work to do.” Ginny slipped an arm around her husband and pulled him down for a kiss, “nail him to the wall, babe.” she said. 

“I intend to.” he said his goodbyes to the rest of the group and was gone.

“Well,” Ginny sighed, “I ought to get home to my babies,” she hugged Hermione, and then Draco in turn. Draco was only slightly surprised at the hug from the fiery young woman. 

“You take care of her, Drake.” she said, “and you let me know if she’s not nice to you too.” Ginny shot a stern look at Hermione who grinned at her friend. 

"Well then." Blaise said, clapping Draco on the shoulder, "back to the Manor? I feel this needs some celebration. And cake. Can't get married without cake."

Draco laughed happily and Hermione took his arm, "I think a celebration would be a lovely idea." She said, "Ginny- why don't you bring the boys?" 

Ginny grinned, "thanks 'Mione, but I ought to get them home, and mum will want to know what kept us. Would you prefer to tell her or should I pass along the good news?" 

Hermione glanced at Draco, then back to Ginny. He wondered if Molly Weasley would be one of those friends that would turn against her because of him. He hoped not, "I'd like to tell her if you don't mind. I'll be in touch soon." She hugged Ginny close again and the younger witch left to floo home.

The rest of the party descended upon the manor en masse, Maudsley procured a cake and late luncheon in fine fashion. Draco told Hermione how shocked Blaise had been when he and MacReynolds had agreed that having the adoption paperwork on hand wouldn't be a bad idea. MacReynolds explained that even had the council refused to accept the marriage between Draco and Hermione, they wouldn't have been able to remove Scorpius from Hermione's custody as adoptive mother without a solid reason. 

Hermione sat beside Draco while everyone talked about what had transpired when the two groups had split up and just took everything in. Draco reached over and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. 

He leaned over, "You left your medical robe here last night." He said, 

"That's fine, I usually leave them at work unless they need laundered. The hospital elves will wash them for me, but I generally prefer to bring them home." She stopped, this would be her home now. She'd have to take some time off work and figure out how on earth she was going to transition her library and everything from the cottage, and they still had to tell their parents they were married. Draco slipped an arm around her shoulders, "whatever just went through your mind to give you that sour look, we can deal with tomorrow. Right now, we're celebrating our family." She looked at him and then across the table, Luna was playing peekaboo with Scorpius while Blaise held him and talked with MacReynolds. "Our Family."

Chapter 16. Cold Realizations.

After everyone left Draco took Hermione on a tour of the house. She was surprised at how warm and welcoming it was now, though she wasn't sure if it was the decor or the attitude of it's master. Draco seemed to be enjoying himself vastly as he showed her over the whole house. They even visited the house elves quarters in the lower portion of the house. The old stone cells where Voldemort had kept his prisoners all those years ago had been turned into a comfortable elf apartment. Hermione was introduced to Gadsby and Maudsley and their family. She was surprised to find the two elves were married and had a handful of well dressed children- and a nanny.

"Our eldest daughter works at hospital" the bright-eyed elf said as she introduced her younger children to the new Mrs. Malfoy. 

"Oh, what's her name?" Hermione had attempted to learn the name of any elf who worked directly with her or dealt with her office, though in a hospital the size of St. Mungo's, it was a significant challenge.

"Dancie, Mistress." Hermione couldn't remember if she'd ever spoken to a Dancie. "I'll be sure to say hello if I ever see her at work."

They said goodbye and returned to the main portion of the house. Hermione looked over at Draco as they climbed the stairs from the erstwhile dungeon. 

"I believe they have a nicer house than I did at medical school."

Draco grinned, "mother and Maudsley had the time of their lives repurposing those rooms." He glanced back over his shoulder, remembering the way they had been used before and sobered. "After my father died and we had the freedom to work, we made a lot of changes."

Hermione took his arm, 

"I love what you've done here." She said encouragingly. "It's beautiful."

Draco expected a stronger reaction from the girl who practically lived in the library at school, upon seeing the library at the manor, but she just took it all in quietly as they walked along the shelves. She paused glancing over a few of the titles closest to her, "how are they organized?" 

"In the standard fashion. Same as the library in town."

Draco knocked on the end of one of the bookshelves and a young house elf with glasses perched on his nose, popped into existence next to him. "Master Draco." He said with a bow, "Binxley, this is my new wife, Dr. Hermione Granger." Draco turned back to her, “Binxley is Maudsley's eldest and works strictly with the books here in the manor. He can help you move any books you like from the cottage, and can locate anything you need within the collection here." 

"I am trained in repairing, preserving, and rebinding books as well." The elf put in,

"Thank you, Binxley. I think I'd like to have you go over the library at my house, and let me know of any overlap between that library and this one first. Then I can decide how I want to arrange my books." 

"I can do that now if you would like, Dr. Granger" The elf volunteered excitedly,

"Oh, no, tomorrow is fine. Thank you." The elf bowed and Draco took her hand as they finished their tour. “Binxley speaks very differently than his parents.” she said quietly as they left the library.

“He started working with us after my father was sent to Azkaban. He’s had a significant education by house elf standards, and not an insignificant one by wizarding ones either. He knows more about what we have in the family library than anyone else.” 

It was nearly 9pm and the sun was finally setting as he walked her through his room into the nursery, where they looked in on the sleeping Scorpius. Draco watched as Hermione stepped up to the crib and looked down at his son- no, he was their son, her son, now. Draco joined her, taking her hand that rested on the top of the crib and looked down at the baby sleeping peacefully. "What are you thinking?" He asked softly,

"Thinking about what Astoria lost and how I played a part in that."

Draco took a step away from the crib and pulled her with him gently.

When they had put a few steps of distance between them and the sleeping child he looked her in the face, "Astoria made her choices. You did nothing but protect the innocent." 

"But I- I took her son from her."

"Hermione, she gave her son up. You didn't take him from her." He drew her from the nursery through his room and back into the common area. The windows were open allowing the summer air to circulate through the room. Hermione walked to the windows and looked out at the late setting sun, a sudden breeze drifting through the windows lifted her hair from her face and twisted her skirt around her ankles. She had been very quiet since they'd come upstairs and Draco wondered if she was regretting the choices she had made earlier that day.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the summer wind, she could smell the roses Narcissa had planted in the front garden. She knew that they needed to talk about the mundane things like living arrangements, her work schedule- her cat. Crookshanks was going to have a ball with such a place to creep all over. She hoped he’d get on with the house elves. She could feel Draco watching her. She had no idea what to make of him at the moment. That morning- when she’d told him they could still keep the distance she’d thought that was what he had wanted. Those six months he had been going on about to everyone but her. Then Ginny and Luna talking about how he looked at her.

It had been five years- honestly probably a bit longer than that- since anyone had looked at her like that. She’d had a few short lived flings since she and Ronald broke up, but none of them had been serious, and at least a couple of them had just been trying to get into her bed.  She’d only been duped by that sort once.The small mantle clock above the empty fireplace chimed the hour and reminded her that she had work tomorrow.
“I usually get up for work around 6. Will that bother you?” she asked, turning to see Draco leaning against the back of the small couch, arms folded across his chest. 

“Hmm? Uh, no.” he stood up straight and moved his hands to his pockets. “I’m a fairly early riser myself. Gives me a chance to get stuff done before Scorpius wakes up for the day.” she nodded,

“I have to go in tomorrow and update all my records and see about getting some time off to take care of things here. But I ought to be home well before dinner-” she stopped “What time do you usually have dinner?” 

“What time do you usually have dinner?” he turned the question back on her, she shrugged, 

“I get wrapped up in my work- unless I have plans. Half the time I end up at home at 10pm with leftover pasta and a research hangover.” Draco raised an eyebrow at her. 

“If you went home at all.” he quipped, joining her by the window where the breeze was starting to feel a bit heavy with humidity, there would probably be a storm tonight. 

“I think you probably ended up asleep on that couch in your office far more than you’d care to admit.” Hermione looked up at him, he wore an almost silver grey dress shirt and black slacks- the dark green blazer she’d seen him wear multiple times had been left behind in the dining room downstairs. 

“I never had any real reason to go home.”

Draco drifted closer to her, enjoying how the wind played havoc with her hair. “Will you have a reason to come home now?” come home. To come home, not to a dark silent cottage in Oxfordshire with an overgrown garden, but to this hulking manor house, where she’d be greeted with Scorpius’ excited squeal of “mama!” that would eventually grow into “mummy’s home!” and maybe one day- she looked Draco in the face and saw a soft smile on his lips. Maybe one day it wouldn’t just be her son running to greet her, but his father as well. He reached up and tucked her hair back out of her face, “do you have a reason to come home now, Hermione?” he almost whispered, and she realized how very close he was standing- his hand at her face, thumb brushing across her lips making the air in her lungs turn to fire.
“I have at least one- he calls me mama.” she said breathlessly. Her heart felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out and take her guts with it. Draco stepped closer still, he’d not allowed himself to kiss her earlier, but now, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes on his lips. He leaned down and to his delight she met him half way in a tentative, careful kiss. She stepped closer to him, dropping the small beaded bag she’d been clutching and burying her hands in his hair as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him. God, she didn’t know the last time she’d felt like this. Hearts pounding in tandem as the kiss deepend into something much less careful. Draco had a fist full of her skirt, and she had her hands at the buttons of his shirt, and realized what she was about to do. It wasn’t the lightning outside that pulled her away, it was the lightning within. What was she doing? Six months, he’d said. She stepped back, perhaps too suddenly, perhaps not soon enough. Her hands flat on his now bare chest, slender fingers framing the jagged silver scar that crossed his chest just barely missing his heart, his shirt untucked and more than half unbuttoned. He’d been so good to keep her boundaries in mind, and here she was flinging herself over his. For a long, breathless moment they stood apart, but still in each other’s grip, trying to read the other’s eyes. There was hurt in his face and she felt the guilt flood through her. After all he had been through with Astoria, how could she betray his trust like that? She could feel his heart pounding, his hands resting on her hips. 

A gust of wind blew cold rain through the windows, shocking them into motion. They scattered to further edges of the room, closing windows quickly, then stood awkwardly, each uncertain the meaning of what had occurred as the first claps of thunder rattled the sky, as if applauding their faux pas. 

They both broke the silence at once: “I-” “We-”

Draco cleared his throat. “We ought to get to bed. Do you need anything tonight?” 

“No, I’ve got everything I need—” And Hermione noticed her empty hands and the beaded bag half-way across the room. She hurried over to retrieve it, and offered a quick smile as she snagged it from the floor, “good night, Draco.”                                                     

“Good night, Hermione.” They both turned and headed to their doors on opposite sides of the room. 

Both doors closed with quiet clicks. 

And both stood backs pressed against the door. 

Hermione was even more confused- they were just friends- he had said he wanted to take time before getting involved with anyone- but he had just kissed her and how he had kissed her. She felt warm and breathless all over again just thinking about it. Hell- she had kissed him as much as he had kissed her. She’d practically ripped his shirt off. Merlin. Did she have any self control left? And the look of hurt in his eyes. God, Granger! Why did she have to throw herself at him like that? She wasn’t thinking about the fact that they’d literally gotten married that afternoon- and that she’d legally adopted Scorpius- only that she’d had kissed him and she didn’t know if she’d be able to sleep after that.

Draco on the other side of the other wall slid down to the floor and buried his face in his hands. He took several deep breaths trying to ease the ache in his chest- the ever present pain from the scars mixed with a deeper emotional ache- listening to the rain pound against his bedroom window and the thunder rattle the glass. They’d kissed, and Merlin, he burned for her, it felt like every nerve had been lit on fire. He could still feel her hands on his skin, the warmth of her body soft against his. And then how cold he’d felt when she’d pushed him away. She’d pushed him away as soon as she realized what they were doing. He shook himself mentally, letting his head fall back against the door behind him. The cold hard truth was that she’d married him to keep Scorpius safe. That was all, but god, it ripped his heart to shreds and put it back together again all at the same time. 

He could see it in his head clear as day- the smile on her face as she came through those ridiculously tall doors to hear the thundering of small feet and the joyous shriek of “Momma’s home!” the way she’d catch the small boy up in her arms and swing him around, laughing “what did you do today, Sunshine?” but would that delighted, adoring smile melt from her face when he came into the hall? Would she greet him with a simple nod, “Draco, hope your day has been well.” ? He had to accept that that was all he deserved from her. He knew she’d at least give him simple civility. He climbed to his feet with a deep sigh. He needed to take a bit and adjust the wards around the house. The normal ones kept people from apparating in and out of the house itself unless there were exceptions made. He wanted her to be able to come and go as freely as from her own little cottage. 

~~~

Hermione finally calmed down enough to take a good look around the room that was hers now. It was decorated in shades of blue from the light winter sky walls to the rich cornflower blue bedspread. The curtains and cushion in the window seat matched the curtains in the common room, and the built-in bookshelves (all mostly empty), floors, and furniture were all a warm pinewood. A large silver guilt mirror stood in one corner near a door that she assumed lead to the closet. The nightstands held lamps with stained glass shades. Aside from the furniture- she could see the mirror having belonged to Narcissa at one point- the room was bare of any personal touch leftover from it’s prior inhabitants. Though larger and obviously newly furnished it wasn’t unlike her bedroom at the cottage which was also done up in shades of blue. She walked over to the bed and dropped her beaded bag on it. That little bag had been her constant companion during the year she spent on the run with Ron and Harry. It carried all the necessities for a week away- including instant coffee, cash (both muggle and wizard types), and several days worth of military style meals. She carried a small tent as well. She had just recently removed those vital documents and irreplaceable things that were better suited to pride of place in her home. 

Her father called her paranoid. She had lived on the run for almost a year and called it being prepared. 

She squished the pillows experimentally before picking one that felt most like the one she had at home, and chucking the rest to the side closest to the window. The bed was huge compared to the double she slept in at the cottage. Her next task was to check out the closet and then find the bathroom. They had been so preoccupied in the common room that she hadn't thought to ask. 

The door opened into a walk-in closet that lit up as soon as she entered. It was filled with a variety of shelves and space to hang things, a dressing robe and a couple of womens nightgowns hung on one side, her medical robe that she’d forgotten the day before hung on the other and at the back of the closet- another door. She walked through and pulled the second door open and found the bathroom. The lights here also came on as she walked in. It was massive and very modern. The sink with a large counter and well lit mirrored vanity was situated on her right, another door stood open showing the toilet just beside that. To the left were the shower and a soaking tub- no, that thing wasn't a tub. It was a frickin pool with jets. It held steaming water and a tiled shelf in the wall had salts and oils.

She would have expected the room to be filled with steam from it, but magic of course kept everything perfectly dry. The shower, soaking tub, and sink all had towels with the Malfoy crest embroidered on them close at hand. She decided to go ahead and get cleaned up and dressed for bed. So went back through the empty closet and fetched her bag from the bed. 

Once back to the bathroom she took a quick shower then decided to try the soaking tub out for a bit. The water was the perfect depth and temperature and she floated until she began to feel sleepy. The towels she found were on heated racks and felt like she was wrapped up in a warm cloud. Money might not be able to buy everything, but it could definitely buy all the comfort of a warm fluffy towel. She dried her hair and got dressed in her second most favorite set of pajamas- the only ones she had tucked in the bag, brushed her teeth then took herself off to the overly large bed with a book until she fell asleep reading sometime around midnight.  

6am came bright and well washed from the nights storm. Hermione's watch woke her as usual, 20 minutes before she needed to be at work. She dressed quickly, her emergency bag held a handful of outfits, but she'd need to go home and get clothes today. Right now she pulled a blouse and dress slacks from the bag and magicked the wrinkles away. The shoes she had worn the day before would work with the outfit and it was nice enough for work. She tied her hair half back and then left her room, her medical robes folded across her arm. Draco was on the couch with a cup of coffee and a notebook he was actively writing in. He looked up when she walked into the common area. “Morning, ‘Mione.” he said, trying to not be stupidly awkward and formal.  “I took the liberty of having Maudsley bring up some breakfast if you’ve got a few minutes before you have to leave.” she realized then that there was a decent spread on the coffee table in front of him, pastries, sausages, eggs, toast, not quite the works, but most of it.  “Oh- thank you. I do still have a bit of time.”  She laid the robe across the back of the chair then poured herself a cup of coffee and collected a small plate of food before deciding to sit down on the couch next to Draco. “What are you writing?” she asked as she sat down, he looked up at her, his hair falling into his eyes. He brushed it impatiently away and frowned back down at the paper- he had left his glasses somewhere in the chaos of yesterday and couldn’t for the life of him remember where. He wondered if there was some way he could charm them to the holster like his wand. “Drafting a letter to my mother. There’s going to be some shit in the newspaper this morning I’m sure, and I wanted to give her a heads up of what had happened on my side- well, our side. You’ll want to see Mrs. Weasley as soon as you can as well…” he looked up again, “unless you think she’ll be angry, in which case I vote to just leave it.”

“Oh she’ll be more than angry, just not with us.” Hermione took a sip of her coffee and Draco raised an eyebrow, 

“With who then?”

“The greengrasses and the ministry council. Possibly the media… depending on what sort of stuff they print.” She put her cup down and ate a bit of her breakfast. 

Draco squinted at the paper in his lap again, then huffed, leaned forward and knocked three times on the edge of the coffee table. Maudsley popped into existence at the end of the table, “what can Maudsley do for Master Draco?” she asked, 

“Have you seen my glasses anywhere about?”
“Gadsby has put them in your office sir. Should Maudsley fetch them?” 

“Yes please. Thank you Maudsley.” and the elf was gone- and within seconds was back again with the silver rimmed glasses in her hand.

“Thank you.” Draco took them and put them on. 

“Anything else, sir?” Maudsley asked,
“No, Thank you Maudsley.” she nodded and then disappeared. He sat back on the couch and relaxed as he glanced over the letter he could actually comfortably read now.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from grinning at the change in Draco’s face as he wore the thin silver frames. She could almost picture him at the head of a classroom- maybe teaching Arithmancy or Potions. The well loved t-shirt and sweatpants he wore kept her grounded in the present though. Draco turned to Hermione, 

“If you– What are you grinning at?” she smiled wider. 

“Too many late nights reading?” her eyes sparkled as she teased him 

“You know that’s not what causes presbyopia.” he smirked at her, "You'd be half blind if it did." Hermione laughed and Draco smiled down at her, chuckling as he picked up his coffee. Hermione grinned at him as she glanced at her watch- “oh god, I’m going to be late!” 

“You can disapparate from here. I adjusted the wards last night, so you can apparate in and out as you like." Hermione couldn't help but be a bit surprised at his thoughtfulness. She knew she oughtn't be surprised- he’d been nothing but thoughtful since they’d become friends.

“Thank you.” She set the plate back on the table then stood and grabbed her medical robes, shrugging them on. “I’m going to see if Molly can meet me for lunch at the hospital- if you and Scorpius want to come out, I’m sure she’d love to see you both.” Draco wasn’t sure of that himself, but any excuse to spend more time with his wife was one he would take. 

“We’ll be there.”

She nodded and stepped away from the table so as not to over turn it when she disapparated, and then she was gone.

Draco sat there for a long moment, savoring the memory of the laughter they had shared. Things would be better with Hermione than they had been with Astoria. They had to be.

Hermione took a deep breath when she appeared at the hospital and shook off her nerves, she’d have to defend her precipitous marriage multiple times today she knew. First things first- HR to update her records, then off to her supervisors office to get permission to at least work from home for the rest of the week. 

HR was quick and easy, the witch at the desk was professional and didn’t even blink at the name Malfoy on the records. 
“That's everything taken care of now. Congratulations again, Dr. Granger!” she said as Hermione collected her things, 

“Thank you so much! Have a lovely day!” and Hermione left the office. Next stop- Dr. Bachand’s office.  

This one would be a bit more challenging.

Dr. Bachand was easily as old as McGonagall- if not older. Crap, she needed to let McGonagall know as well. Ah, well she’d send that owl when she got home. Dr. Bachand looked up at Hermione as she knocked at the open door. 

“Dr. Granger.” he said as he leaned back from the desk, “What brings you down to the dungeon this early in the morning?”

“I need a few days leave, sir. Or at least permission to work from home.”

“Oh, and why is that?”
“I’m moving house this week.” 

“Really? Decide to sell your place?” 

“No sir, I was married yesterday, and need a few days to get settled with my husband and new son.” Dr. Bachand raised an eyebrow at her,

“Married? Dr. Granger? I thought you were married to your work. What poor sot has managed to tempt you away from your books?” he laughed, 

“Draco Malfoy, sir.” The jovial smile melted from Dr. Bachand’s face and he stared at her so long she had to force herself not to fidget beneath his gaze.
“You married that feckless son of a death eater?” he finally asked

“Sir! It’s been eight years, I think he’s proven his worth.” She exclaimed,

“Obviously, or you wouldn’t have tied yourself to him.” he said almost sarcastically. Hermione took a deep breath to keep her attitude in check. He was still her boss, even if he was being a bit of an ass.

“Anyway, may I at least work from home this week so I can get my things moved?”

“Take the week Granger. Take the whole damn month if you want.” he dropped his head onto his hand, “This is going to be all over the papers, merlin’s beard.” he moaned. 

“Thank you, sir.” 

“Oh, don’t thank me yet. You’ve got to tell the ward. I won’t be the one to break that news.” Hermione nodded.

“Of course, I’d better go do that.”

“Oh and congratulations!” Dr. Bachand called after her as she left his office. She sighed. That could have gone worse she supposed. But still, ‘the feckless son of a death eater’? She shook her head. 

Hermione headed up to the ward next, she’d need to let the charge nurse know that she wouldn’t be in this week, and call Molly about lunch… she had a phone, but didn’t know how to really use it. Arthur had successfully got Wi-fi going at the Burrow though, which was impressive to say the least. Maybe she’d call Molly first. She pulled out her phone and dialed the older witches number.

“Hermione!” the warm voice of Mrs. Weasley answered the phone after the second ring.

“Molly! I was wondering if you’d be free to come out to lunch at St. Mungo’s this afternoon? I have someone I want you to meet.”

“Oh someone to meet! Hermione! That’s wonderful! Absolutely ‘Mione! Does 11 o'clock work for you?” the older woman gushed excitedly

“That would be lovely. See you soon Molly!” Hermione couldn’t help but smile, she knew that Molly loved her like her own child- she only hoped that that love would give Draco a chance despite the history between the two family’s.

“Bye dear!” Hermione hung up and texted Draco the time for the meeting with Molly then walked the rest of the way to the ward’s nursing station. 

Thankfully Missy was working there this morning instead of Lucille. 

“Hey Missy.” She said as she leaned on the counter,
“Dr. Granger! How did things go with that family emergency yesterday? Is everything all right?”

“Yes, everything is fine, thank you. Things went a bit crazy in the afternoon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I uh, I got married.”

Missy’s jaw dropped open, “Married?” 

“Yeah.” just then Lucille came dashing around the corner with a copy of the daily prophet in her hands,
“Missy! You gotta see this! Oh!” she stopped in her tracks, “Dr. Granger!” The paper was quickly tucked behind her back. 

“You may as well share it, Lucille.” Hermione sighed, “I know it’s about me.”

The paper came back out and the headline was less damning than Hermione had expected. 

Malfoy’s Hogsmeade Meet-up Have old enemies turned lovers? The picture below was from their walk through Hogsmeade the Friday before, and showed her tucking her hand into the crook of Draco’s elbow after he had saved her and Scorpius from nearly eating cobblestone, and looking up at him with a tender smile on her face. The article went on to detail the shops they’d been seen entering, and other general gossip rag thoughts, leading the reader to believe that it had been a secret rendezvous between the two of them. Hermione sighed again.
“Draco and I were married yesterday. There was nothing explicit nor secret about our meeting in Hogsmeade. We had gone up to Hogwarts to meet with McGonagall about the baby.”

Lucille stared at Hermione for a long moment. Not quite as long as Dr. Bachand had- but almost.

“You Married Draco Malfoy?” she asked

“Yes.” Hermione said. Lucille’s eyes got bigger than Hermione thought healthy.

“Is he really as hot as the papers say?” she asked 

“Lucille Montgomery!” she snapped, “I would appreciate you keeping your opinions of my husband to yourself from now on, thank you very much.” the young nurse blushed, 

“Sorry Dr. Granger. It won’t happen again.”

“I trust it won’t.” she took a deep breath, “now, there will likely be significantly more idiotic stuff printed about both myself and my husband. The simple facts are that he was divorced before any of this happened.” she waved at the newspaper, “his ex wife made the sort of choices that land a person in Azkaban, and now she’s having to deal with those consequences. Now, I came up here to let you all know that I’m going to be working from home this week.” Hermione was glad she didn’t have any in person appointments scheduled this week, and wasn’t due for another day in the Emergency department until the following week. Thank goodness for having research weeks built into her schedule. 

“Yes Ma’am.” Missy said, she really hadn’t even needed to tell them that, but it was the polite thing to do and she liked the nurses she worked with- even if some of them were a bit overzealous in their fangirling over certain people. Hermione glanced at her watch, she still had a few hours before lunch, so she said goodbye to the nurses and headed to her office. She was going to collect her notes and stuff to work on at home- and maybe get a little bit of work done before Draco and Scorpius showed up for lunch.

Draco finished drafting the message to his mother shortly after Hermione left and had it sent off via Owl by the time Scorpius woke up. As had become almost habit by now, Scorpius reached for his fathers mind, sending thoughts of people saying her name over and over again. “‘Mione?” he asked, Draco smiled down at his son, “momma” he said out loud as he picked the baby up. Scorpius sent thoughts of Astoria and feelings of dislike- he didn’t want her. He wanted ‘Mione.

“No sunshine, Hermione is momma now. Astoria won’t be back. Just you and me and momma Mione.” Draco sent him the memory of them waiting outside the councilors office. Scorpius asleep in Hermione’s arms, her head resting on Draco’s chest, his arm around her shoulders. “Our family, momma, daddy, and Scorpius.”  Scorpius seemed to think on this for a moment, then went back to asking for ‘Mione. Draco laughed, “We’ll see her at lunch, Sunshine. She had to go to work.” He sent memories of having lunch at the hospital with Blaise. Scorpius sent happy thoughts of Hermione holding him and walking with him through the halls of St. Mungo’s. Draco loved how much Scorpius looked forward to seeing Hermione. His phone buzzed with a text message as he finished getting the baby cleaned up and dressed for the day. 

Molly will be here at 11, come a bit before and we can walk up together? -H

Draco texted her back, grinning at the fact that she’d signed the text message.

Will be there 1045. Scorp misses you.

Awww, I miss him too. Wish it was lunch time already. The nurses had a field day with the Daily Prophet article.  

Draco hadn’t seen the paper yet, but he had Gadsby bring him a copy while he fed Scorpius. It was honestly tame. He had expected Adorabella to drag him through the mud. But then- maybe she hadn’t been informed of the marriage until after the article had been set to print. He texted Hermione after he finished reading it

The article isn’t as bad as I expected. But there’ll probably be worse tomorrow. I like the picture though, maybe we should frame it?

It was almost time for them to leave by the time she texted him back

If you want. I don’t have signal in my office just so you know, so if it’s an emergency you’ll need to send a patronus. See you soon!

Draco and Scorpius had spent a good bit of the morning in the garden, enjoying the early sunshine and watching the bees buzz around the flowers, but finally it was time to head to the hospital for lunch with Hermione. Draco felt his heartbeat speed up at the thought of seeing her again. Why was he so nervous? 

Hermione kept looking at her watch- it was almost 11 and Draco and Scorpius weren’t there yet. She was getting worried something had happened to the two of them, but she had to get to the cafeteria to meet with Molly. Maybe she’d have a text message from Draco explaining things once she got to a spot with better signal.

Molly was waiting at a table against one wall of the Cafeteria when Hermione walked in, 

“Hermione!” She cried happily, wrapping the young woman in a motherly hug. “Oh, it’s so good to see you dear!” she took hermione’s hands and noticed the large silver dragon on her ring finger- “oh my! What’s this?” Hermione had a sudden feeling that things weren't going to go well.

“Lets sit down Molly.”

“Hermione?” she asked as the two women sat across from each other. Hermione’s phone beeped and she flipped it open

‘Poop-agedon happened- gonna be late.’  

The text from Draco made Hermione chuckle and helped calm her nerves.

She looked back up at Molly with a smile on her face,

“Sorry- The boys are running a bit late- you know how the diapers are always the worst the minute you have to be somewhere.” Molly laughed but was still confused-

“Hermione, you said you had someone you wanted me to meet, and this lovely ring- what on earth is going on?”

“What did Ginny tell you about yesterday?”

“Only that Harry was called off to work, and that the Malfoy’s got everything figured out, but it took a bit longer than expected.”

“The council decided that Draco had to either give up the baby or get married.” Molly stared at her for a long moment, realization dawning-

“Oh Hermione.” she said softly, “are you sure?”

“It was the right thing to do, Molly.” she looked down at their hands- Molly’s worn gold band and her elaborate silver dragon. Molly lifted her hand to Hermione’s face- tilting her chin slightly to look at her-

“But what does your heart say, Sweetheart?”

“I couldn’t live with myself if Scorpius was taken away. So I did the only thing I could to keep that from happening.”

“You agreed to marry Draco Malfoy? The boy who made your life hell in school?” Molly's hand dropped to the table top,

“I married the man who has done nothing but be kind, thoughtful, and compassionate to not only myself, but to his abusive ex wife." Hermione said, "Who has shown himself an amazing father to his son, and dear friend to Blaise and Luna. He was just a child at school Molly, we all were. You know what a horrible person his father was.” she pleaded for Molly to understand.

“But he stood by and watched you be tortured in his own home!”
“He was 17! What could he have done that wouldn’t have gotten himself and his mother killed? Not to mention the rest of us. He did what he had to to survive." Hermione stopped and looked at Molly for a long moment, then she looked down at her hands, fingers knotted together. Finally she started again, more gently this time. "I know his family did terrible things to yours- so if this-" she took a deep breath "if My family, my husband and son, isn’t something you can accept right now, then just tell me, Molly. I love you, and I don’t want to cause you any further pain, Draco wouldn’t want that either." She didn’t want to hurt the Weasleys. She should have listened to Draco and left well enough alone, thinking about it now- she wasn’t sure why she thought this would go well. 

Molly took a deep breath and took in everything Hermione had said. She knew the young woman was right, but she couldn’t forgive the family who had taken her son from her. Not yet.

“I can’t right now Hermione. I’m sorry.” she said sadly,

Hermione nodded, tears filling her eyes.

“I understand Molly- sorry I called you all the way out here for this.”

“Don’t be ‘Mione, Thank you for telling me in person. And one day- one day I’ll be ready, just not today dear.” the older witch blinked back tears, “and I’m so very proud of you for doing what you felt was right, and I hope you will be very happy with him.” 

Draco came into the Cafeteria then and Molly looked over her shoulder when Hermione raised a hand to him. The smile on the young man's face was a bit worried, she thought. But then, Hermione was on the edge of tears. The baby in his arms was giggling happily and babbling “mama! Mama!”

Hermione stood up as Draco reached the table,

“We’ll leave you and your family in peace, Molly. Just let us know when you’re ready to see us.” She took Scorpius from Draco as the child was nearly bent in half trying to get to her, “mama! MAMA!” he shrieked.

“Hermione?” Draco asked carefully- looking between his wife and the older witch who rose from the table at the same time, both women were almost crying, Hermione was doing a fairly good job keeping herself together- but Molly Weasley looked like she might break down at any moment. 

“Mrs. Weasley? Is everything alright? Should I send for Mr. Weasley?” he asked, his hand going to the older woman's elbow. She didn’t jerk away from him, but she did step away. “No” she sniffed and brushed a tear away.

"No, I'm perfectly fine. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." She collected her bag, gave Hermione a brief hug and looked Draco in the face, "Such a shame. You don't deserve this." She said almost sweetly, the look on her face cold and hard. Draco felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

You don’t deserve this.

You don’t deserve life, and love, and happiness when better men and women suffered and died while you played death eater on the wrong side of the war.  

Draco mentally shook himself, he’d dealt with this demon of guilt and shame before and he could deal with it now. Molly Weasley walked out of the Cafeteria, leaving a wake of curious bystanders watching Draco and Hermione. The conversation hadn’t been loud enough for any but the closest to hear- but everyone recognized at least one of the three of them, Dr. Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and the bright haired Mrs. Weasley. 

Draco looked at Hermione, “are you all right?” he asked, stepping closer to her. She took a deep breath and stood up a bit straighter.

“I’m fine.” she said, “lets just go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, just lets go home.”

“Of course, sorry that didn’t go well.” Hermione shook her head, 

“we can talk about it at home.” They walked toward the exit, but Hermione turned them toward the Staff Apparition room, “it’s closer to go this way.” she said, Draco shrugged and followed her. Once they reached the room Hermione handed Scorpius to Draco “I have to be the one to disapparate us from here.”

“Are you sure? I know you don’t like apparating with others.”

“I don’t like it because I spent a year taking turns with Harry moving us around the country, trying to avoid dying, not because I’m bad at it.” she snapped, Draco looked down at her- the tears were rolling down her face silently. He took her hand, “Take us home love.” he said gently. And she did.

Draco looked around surprised to find himself in what was obviously Hermione’s bedroom in her little cottage in Oxfordshire.

“Oh Draco- that’s- this- I didn’t mean-” she stuttered, the tears choking her words as she realised what she had done, “damn it!” she sat down on the edge of her bed and sobbed into the edge of her medical robes. Draco sat down on the bed and rubbed Hermione’s back as she cried hysterically into her bunched up robes, Scorpius sitting in his lap, thumb in his mouth, watching everything. 

“‘Mione- I’m so sorry that that went so poorly. I’m sorry your friends keep abandoning you because of me.” 

“I- I had h-hoped that she’d be ok with it.” Hermione sobbed, she dropped the robes to her lap, “She never m-m-minded me and Blaise being fr-fr-friends.” 

“Blaise’s Aunt never tried to murder her daughter, and his family weren’t actually death eaters.” Draco pointed out gently, “none of his family were there when Fred died.” Hermione turned and buried her face in Draco’s chest still crying and Scorpius snuggled into Draco’s other shoulder. “Hold on- I can’t sit like this.” Draco pushed her gently away and shifted so his back was against her headboard, Scorpius on his left in the middle of the bed, “come here and let me hold you, Granger.” He said the name gently as he reached for her and she melted into his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. Scorpius laid his head on Draco’s other shoulder, his thumb in his mouth, his free hand working it’s way into Hermione’s hair. Draco wrapped his arm around her, just holding her close for a long while, as the tears finally subsided. She blew her nose on her robes then shifted to shrug them off, tossing them to the floor beside the bed, but she didn’t get up. Instead she laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm about his waist comfortably. He just wrapped his arms around her again and enjoyed the peace of being together. 

Chapter 17 Mesdames Malfoy.

Scorpius drifted off to sleep beside them and Draco was feeling a bit sleepy himself when Hermione spoke

"Draco?"

"Hmmm?"

"Sorry about bringing us here earlier. I really did mean to go to the manor."

"I'm not sorry. I like this house. It's warm and homey and welcoming."

And if they'd gone to the manor, she'd have disappeared into her bedroom to cry by herself and Draco wouldn't have been able to hold her like this. He pressed a kiss to her hair, enjoying how she felt in his arms. Hermione's stomach growled then and Draco chuckled low in his chest. "We never did get lunch did we?" He said softly, realizing that he was rather hungry as well, and Scorpius was passed out on the bed beside them.

"There’s food in the kitchen. We won’t starve.” she whispered back. Draco didn't want to get up, but they did need to get on with their day. He sighed. "Come on then. Let's see if we can escape the baby and get something to eat."

Hermione huffed, but rolled out of bed. She kicked her shoes off and went to her closet, pulling out a Tshirt and jeans to change into. The fancy blouse and dress slacks weren't what she wanted to work in at home. "I'm going to get changed, then I'll be right down" she said in a hushed tone so as not to wake Scorpius. Draco was on his feet by that point and casting a couple of charms over the bed so they'd know when Scorpius woke up and one to make sure he couldn't fall off the bed. He shot her a thumbs up as she closed the bathroom door behind her. 

Hermione stood in the bathroom for a minute and just breathed. Molly had chosen to walk away. Which meant the rest of the Weasleys probably wouldn't want her around as well. Ginny of course was the exception. That saved her the trouble of deciding what to wear to Ronald’s wedding in two weeks time anyway. She sighed heavily. What on earth was she going to do? Draco had held her and let her cry it out, just as sweet and caring as you please. And the way he had said Granger… it made her heart flip. It just felt natural to be with him. She heard her bedroom door squeak open and Draco's footsteps on the stairs to the main floor. It was a bit strange to have him in her house though, despite the fantasies she'd had about just this sort of thing. She quickly changed into the clothes she’d grabbed, and then snuck out of the bedroom so as not to wake Scorpius. 

When she got to the bottom of the stairs she found Draco with every cabinet in the kitchen open, leaning against the counter staring into the shelves that made up her pantry.

“Well that’s an interesting way to figure out where stuff is.” she said as she leaned on the counter behind him. He turned, “trying to see what you’ve got out here. It looks like you didn’t make any sort of list the last- oh” he counted under his breath “six times you’ve gone shopping.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’ve got six bottles of golden syrup up here.”

Hermione giggled, "mum brings me groceries once or twice a month, and apparently I use significantly less of that than she thinks I do."

Draco laughed and turned to sort through the refrigerator. 

"Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"Just trying to decide what to make you for lunch." Hermione's eyebrows went up,

"You're making me lunch?"

Draco pulled a container of cooked chicken from the fridge.

"Of course. By the state of your kitchen I think I'm probably the better qualified of the two of us to be cooking."

"Hey! My kitchen is perfectly adequate." he turned toward her again and caught the look in her eye- she wasn’t teasing as much as he was. He leaned across the counter and took her hand, 

“I’m sorry, I was teasing. The kitchen here is perfectly adequate. Missing some of my preferred spices maybe, but we have everything we need here. Now, allow me to make you the most delicious chicken salad you’ve had in the last decade, and make you swear off ever eating at St. Mungo’s Cafeteria ever again.” Hermione couldn’t help but smile at him, “All right.” he grinned at her, then went back to collecting the needed ingredients and utensils.

“So when did you learn to cook?” 

“I picked it up a few years ago.” he pulled a knife from the knife block and inspected the edge. “I did more of it muggle style after– after Astoria took my wand.” He put the chicken on the cutting board and started dicing it with quick efficient strokes. Hermione was secretly a bit impressed with his knife skills. He dumped the chicken into a bowl and started picking through a stem of table grapes she'd picked up the week before, pulling off the ones that were still good. "You kept at it, even without magic?" she pulled out the kitchen stool and sat down, “cooking is something I enjoy. Making something useful with my own two hands. I had to learn to do a lot of things without magic, so having something I was already marginally good at to fall back on when I screwed up everything else, helped.” He took the paring knife from the open drawer beside the sink and started slicing the grapes into quarters. 

“I imagine that was quite difficult for you.” Hermione snagged a grape from his pile of acceptable ones and popped it into her mouth. 

“It was more difficult than it needed to be. Astoria has never been the compassionate sort.” He finished slicing the grapes and added them to the bowl with the chicken, then looked around for a second.

“Dishrags?” 

“Left of the sink, bottom drawer.” He pulled a towel from the drawer and wiped his hands off then turned back to the counter where she was raiding the bowl for another few grapes. He raised an eyebrow at her. 

“I know you’re hungry, but give me a chance to actually finish without you eating all my ingredients.” She hid a grin behind her hand as she popped the grapes into her mouth.

“Here” he broke a rib of celery off the stalk and handed it to her. 

“Aw. grapes are nicer.” She took the celery though and bit it as Draco deftly chopped a second rib. Hermione started looking through the stack of ingredients he’d lined up on the counter. Chicken, grapes, he had a single green apple, the bottle of lemon juice concentrate from the fridge, plain yoghurt, the small bag of walnuts she had purchased to make banana bread an absolute age ago and then forgotten to use. Celery. She took another bite of the rib in her hand and then started turning the spices around so she could read the labels. Garlic powder, salt, pepper. Draco added the celery to the bowl with everything else,

“You wouldn’t happen to have any parsley, scallions or dill out in that chaos of a garden would you?” he asked. “Coriander would work too.” she looked up at him, 

“I have all of those planted out back.” She got up from her stool and grabbed the shallow basket with garden shears she had sitting beside the door to the back yard. Draco rinsed his hands and followed her out the door. He stopped on the steps, he had expected more of the chaos of the front garden but the back garden was neat well tended beds. 

“Do you want all of those? Or were you just listing off options?” she asked as she walked across the small green space. 

“Uh, parsley, scallions and dill all together would be nice.” he looked through the beds while she collected the herbs. Lemon balm, chives, sage, basil, tarragon, one bed on his left was bursting with a variety of mints and thyme, a large rosemary bush flourished by the door to the house and lavender grew on the other side. The beds were filled with edible plants of all sorts. Hermione was back with the herbs in a moment, “I’m going to work out here while you finish in the kitchen.” she said, “the beds are getting a little neglected.” 

“All right.” he turned and went back into the house while she started puttering around the garden humming to herself.

He left the door open, and opened the window above the stove too and soon heard her start to sing as she worked. She bounced between tunes like a radio charmed to switch channels. 

"Are you going to Scarborough fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Remember me to one who lives there, for he was once a true love of mine." She hummed a few bars then started "’twas the last rose of summer, left blooming alone. All her lovely companions are faded and gone." A few more hummed bars and she started again "Oh the oak and the ash and the bonny ivy tree. They flourish at home in my own country." Draco realized he was standing there just listening to her instead of paying attention to his work. 

He quickly finished the chicken salad and walked back to the doorway, Hermione was on her knees pulling mugwort from one of the beds. "I like you,” she grunted as she ripped a small plant out of the dirt and chucked it over her shoulder, “but you really shouldn't take over like this." Draco's heart hit the ground at the same time as the young plant. He wasn't trying to take over- he just wanted to help her. "I mean seriously. I know now that you've got a rhizomatic root system." She pulled another 8 inch tall weed from the garden bed and sat back on her heels, lifting the plant to look at it with what could only be her 'mcGonagall' look. He could imagine her using it on Scorpius one day for sliding down the banisters or getting caught sneaking out for a forbidden moonlit jaunt on his broom. "I should have planted your butt in a pot." She said sharply to the plant in her hand. Draco couldn’t help but laugh with relief. She was talking to the plants. Menacing them really. Hermione’s head whipped around at the sound of his laughter, 

“What’s so funny, Malfoy?” her tone was lighter than it would have been in school– she didn't quite spit his name out. But then his laughter was too. 

“Just laughing at myself, Granger.” he grinned at her and leaned a shoulder against the door frame, arms folded across his chest, “I forgot for a moment that my pompous ass isn’t the center of the universe.” she raised an eyebrow at him and tossed the mugwort over her shoulder, which made him chuckle and shake his head ruefully. She dragged the back of her hand across her forehead. Her skin glistened with sweat, and she had dirt all over her hands and streaked across her face. She’d only been working for ten or fifteen minutes, and she seemed to glow in the sunshine which brought out the golden highlights in her hair. He walked over to her and held out his hand to her to help her up. She almost took it- but then realized how dirty her hands were. 

“I’ve got dirt on my hands.”

“I know.” she looked up at his smiling face and slowly put her hand in his. He pulled her to her feet, leaving mere inches between them. He moved his hand to her face, brushing away the smudge of dirt on her left cheek. She wanted to kiss him again. Last night didn’t seem real in the bright daylight. But the guilt she had felt then still threatened to smother her. 

She blushed and looked away from him. “I should get cleaned up.” she stepped away before she gave in and kissed him. She moved around him and into the house.  Draco turned and followed her,

“Hermione.” She went to the kitchen sink and turned the hot water on and scrubbed her hands quickly. “What's wrong?" He stepped up behind her, "Why do you keep running away from me?" The faucet squeaked as she turned the water off, then gripped the edge of the sink with still wet hands. Why was she running away? Not from him- but from the fire that blossomed in her belly every time he touched her. Because every time she reached for him, fear and guilt threatened to drown her. He wanted time and she was doing a terrible job giving it to him. She sighed heavily. She knew- but how was she supposed to tell him? ‘Hey Draco, after the baby is asleep you want to go down to the library and look up the definition of Consummation?’ Merlin, she spent too much time in the books. There probably wasn’t a man on the planet that would catch the proposition in that.

“Hermione?” she could feel him standing close behind her. Impulsively she stepped back enough to lean against his chest and he wrapped his arm around her waist. She sighed again, placing her hands over his- her head falling back to rest on his shoulder. 

“I can’t explain it- but I’m not running away from you, Draco.”

He looked down at her, not quite sure what to make of his wife of less than twenty four hours. One minute she’s practically running away from him- the next, they’re cuddling in the kitchen. Kitchen. Lunch, that’s right. He pressed a kiss to her hair, “promise you’ll tell me when you can?”

She nodded. 

“That’s all I need then. Now, lunch is ready if you’re hungry.” she looked up at him, and smiled. His heart skipped a beat- Merlin she was beautiful. 

“Thank you.” 

~~~

Hermione took the first bite of the chicken salad sandwich Draco had made and stopped. She stared at him, eyes wide, hand flapping as she chewed.

“What?”

“Good God Draco!” she exclaimed once her mouth was empty, 

“What’s wrong?”

“This is delicious! ” he laughed as she took another enthusiastic bite,

“I told you it would be.''

“I will never doubt your skills in the kitchen again.”

“You doubted me?” he put a hand to his heart, “Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy- I’m hurt.” 

“Did you pick up the drama king tendencies from Blaise or did the two of you develop them independently?” Draco laughed, 

“Oh, Blaise will always out drama me.” 

It felt strange hearing him call her Malfoy. There was an element of anonymity that they both garnered from having separate surnames. He could be Mr. Granger at her work events if he desired, at least until someone recognized him, and she could easily hide behind Mrs. Malfoy. Though Mrs. Malfoy held its own celebrity status, it would be vastly different from the one she held on her own merit.

They finished lunch, chatting mostly about the gardens both at the cottage and the manor. Hermione was surprised to hear how much personal work Narcissa had put into the grounds and how much Draco had enjoyed the time spent in the dirt with his mother.

“I was just thinking about those weeds you were pulling in the garden.” Draco dried his hands on the dish rag and tossed it across his shoulder.

“what? the mugwort?” Hermione was just putting the cling film back after wrapping the leftover chicken salad to take with them back to the Manor. 

“Yeah. My mother has a charm she used to use in the garden that would keep the more invasive plants in their own space. It’d keep the mugwort from taking over.” 

“That would be wonderful. I hate ripping them out over and over again.” They finished putting the dishes away, and Hermione looked around the now tidy kitchen, “Would you like the grand tour?” she asked suddenly, realizing that this was only the second time Draco had been in her home. 

"I'd enjoy that." 

Hermione took him over the whole house. It was bigger than he expected. She took him through her office/library last, "Do you want Binxley to bring any of your books to the manor?" He asked as he walked along the floor to ceiling shelves in the small room.

"Well, if I'm going to be living there full-time then yes. I'll want most of them." She checked the stacks of papers on her desk, making sure that there wasn’t anything she needed to take with her immediately. All of her notes and such from work were already tucked into her bag.  

"What if we spent the weekends here?"

Hermione looked at him, surprised.

"You'd want to spend the weekends here?"

"Yeah. It's nice.” he leaned against a bookshelf, “Quiet, peaceful. It'd be a good get away, and it's closer to your parents. It'd be nice to spend some of the summer here too, or at least split it between here and the villa." Hermione raised an eyebrow, 

"The villa?"

"Well, my mother is living there currently so we'd need to run that by her first of course.”

"Draco. You have no idea how pompous you sounded just then. Growing up we'd have a couple of weeks in Brighton during the summer, every couple of years or so we'd go to France or Switzerland for a bit."

Draco grinned, leaning toward her "well you married into money, Love. So get used to silly things like summers wherever you want to go. I can buy you an island in Bermuda if you want." Hermione blushed slightly, he’d called her Love at the hospital as well.

"I don't need an island in Bermuda, Draco."

"Perhaps not. But do you want an island in Bermuda?" She shook her head with a laugh.

Scorpius woke up then and they moved up to her bedroom, Draco got a bottle for Scorpius and sat on the bed and watched Hermione go through her closet. "trying to decide what to take with you to the manor? We could just go shopping and get you a whole new wardrobe if it'd be easier." He commented as she shuffled through stuff. 

"Not necessary, Draco. I'll take all but the stuff I usually wear on the weekends." She stacked the clothes beside him on the bed. The two Weasley sweaters he had seen her wear regularly were on top of the stack and she ran her hand along the H with a sigh. 

"I'll have to make my own Christmas sweater this year I imagine." She said softly. 

"You knit?"

"Yeah. Molly taught me one year." She looked over at the two of them sprawled out on her bed. Scorpius was waving his arms around while he had the bottle, trying to grab at Draco's face. She smiled, "babies are the strangest creatures" she laughed as Scorpius succeeded in snagging Draco's mouth as he opened it to say something. He caught the bottle with the hand supporting Scorpius and pried the sharp little fingers off his teeth. "You're dangerous." He said to the grinning babe in his arms. "Anyway I was about to say that I did manage to get that letter off to my mother this morning, so I expect I'll be hearing from her soon."

"How do you think she'll react?"

"I don't think she'll be too upset. She likes you, and when she came to see me in Hospital she all but told me to ask you out." Hermione raised an eyebrow at him,

"Is that why she was so nice to me in the cafeteria?"

"Why? Because she likes you? Or because she wanted me to get over myself and ask you out?"

"Either."

"Most likely." He grinned at her. "She'll probably want to take you shopping soon too."

"For what?" Draco shrugged, 

"My mother will come up with something I'm sure." 

Hermione shook her head.

"Well, I have everything I want to take with me, so we can head back to the manor whenever Scorpius is done eating."

Draco gauged the milliliters left in the bottle with a practiced eye. "Eh, about five more minutes. I know you've got your clothes all together- but is there anything decorative you want in your room?"

"Oh, yeah." Hermione went to her side table on the opposite side of the bed to Draco and decided to just wrap everything in the quilt from the bed since she was planning on taking it too. So she stacked the table's contents in the middle of the bed by Draco's knees. A photo of her, Ron, Harry, and Ginny together at Hermione's graduation from Hogwarts, all smiling and laughing together. Another picture of Hermione and her parents taken sometime after her medical school graduation. It was a muggle photo, the traditional family portrait, poised and static. 

A few keepsakes, a stack of books, the entire contents of the drawer just dumped into a pile on the bed. Her jewelry box and makeup kit and a couple other photos joined the pile before Scorpius was done. Crookshanks came into the room at the sound of things being dumped out, and yowled at Hermione.

"Oh Crookshanks! There you are." The cat jumped onto the bed close to Draco’s legs and eyed him and the baby. Scorpius turned his head and watched the large orange cat that was bigger than he was. 

“Crooks, be nice to the baby.” the monstrous cat padded carefully along the bed beside Draco until he stood behind Scorpius’ head and sniffed at him suspiciously. Scorpius bent backward to look back at the animal. Draco was prepared to snatch his son out of the claws of death itself if the elderly cat attacked. But Crookshanks just rubbed his forehead against Scorpius’ head and the deep rumble of a purr started in his broad chest. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione smiled and watched as her beloved cat crawled into Draco’s lap, curling up close to the baby. Draco hesitantly put a hand out to touch the bushy creature now laying across his legs. Crookshanks bumped his head against Draco’s hand. 

“Well, the two of you have Crookshanks approval. Just don’t try and move him from your own lap or he’ll be ticked off with you.”

“So how am I supposed to get up?” Hermione grinned at him,

"You don't. You're stuck there forever." 

"'Mione. Seriously, he's cutting off my circulation." Scorpius had his hand buried in the thick wiry fur and had given up the bottle to try and roll toward the giant cat. 

Hermione clicked her tongue at the cat, "Crookshanks," she called. He turned a lazy eye on his mistress and yawned before tucking his front paws in under his chin, his tail flicking back and forth in a way that seemed to hypnotize Scorpius. 

"Crookshanks, come here." The cat just settled more comfortably into his fur. Hermione sighed and shook her wand into her hand. The cat's ears twitched as Draco watched a small belled toy float into the room. Hermione let the toy fall into the bed closer to herself than Draco, and the cat pounced on it with a vengeance. "Merlin, he's a bloodthirsty creature."

"And that's why you don't want to tick him off." She grinned at him again "noted. You ready to go?" He gathered Scorpius to his chest and got off the bed surprisingly gracefully. 

"Yeah." She waved her wand again and the quilt folded itself over the contents on the bed and shrunk down to fit in her bag. She picked up crookshanks as Draco summoned the diaper bag, "see you at the manor."

Hermione apparated directly into her room at the manor and began putting her things away while Crookshanks wandered about inspecting the room.

She was just deciding where to put the photos when a knock sounded at the door behind her, "Come in, Draco." She called, not bothering to turn around.

"Getting settled in I see." Hermione spun on her heel, Narcissa Malfoy stood in the doorway, face neutral, her loose green linen slacks and a cream silk blouse gave her a relaxed air.

"Mrs. Malfoy." She exclaimed.

"Call me Narcissa," the older woman said almost warmly, "and I shall call you Hermione. It will be far too confusing for us both to be Mrs. Malfoy, my dear." 

Hermione gathered her wits, "of course." She said, placing the photo of her and her parents on the bedside table, "Would you care to sit in the common room? I can have Maudsley bring us tea."

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” Narcissa turned out of the doorway and made her way to the small couch. Hermione decided to try the knocking trick Draco had used earlier in the morning- hoping that it worked for any table, she tapped three times on the bedside table and Maudsley appeared beside her instantly. “What can Maudsley do for you m’am?”

“I need tea for myself and Narcissa please, in the common room.”

“Yes ma’am” the elf popped away and Hermione took a deep breath. Draco had said that his mother liked her, so she just needed to relax and be normal. 

She joined Narcissa in the common room and sat in the high backed chair that was set at the end of the coffee table. Narcissa sat on the couch like a queen, poised and serene.

“How has your day been, Narcissa?” Hermione asked,

“Rather interesting. I was not expecting a letter from my son explaining how the two of you had married so quickly and what the Greengrass Harridan has been up to- stooping to bribing council members to legally kidnap my grandson. I swear the woman has no sense.” Maudsley brought the tea then and Narcissa fell into old habit and served as if it were her hosting and not Hermione. Hermione didn’t care- the old fashioned manners were as yet beyond her. 

“Now, Hermione.” Narcissa settled back into the cushions of the couch, the delicate bone china cup and saucer barely making a sound “As you have married my son, I feel I owe you a level of honesty you will rarely find among our acquaintances." 

“I hope you will always feel like you can be honest with me, Narcissa.” Hermione took a careful sip of her tea, Narcissa gave a small perfunctory smile.

“Yes, well. Perhaps one day.” she responded softly, she cleared her throat “I like you very much as a person, Hermione, and respect you highly as a professional. But you should know that as Draco's wife, I do not trust you.”

“I don’t understand.” Hermione put her cup back on the table in front of her,

“Don’t understand what, my dear?”

“How can you like me, and respect me, but not trust me?” Narcissa took a sip of her tea, then ordered her cup and set it lightly on the coffee table before speaking. 

"You can like a person without sharing your heart. You can respect someone without ever speaking to them. But would you willingly give over the protection of that which you find most precious into the hands of someone you barely know?"

Hermione sat thinking about what Narcissa said for a long moment, 

“People do that to me every time I am given care of their children at the hospital.” she said finally.

“Yes, an arena where you have built trust and understanding with those that come there for help. I have no reason to trust your loyalty to my family or to my son. The history between the two of you alone gives me reason to doubt your sincerity.” Hermione felt her blood rise,

“I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t care, Narcissa.” she said with more force than she intended.

“No doubt.” Narcissa said cooly,  “I know my son trusts you or he wouldn’t have given you that ring.” she flicked a finger toward Hermione’s hand “But until you have proven your loyalty to Draco, I shall reserve judgment.”

“And how do you expect me to prove my loyalty?”

“I’ll know it when I see it.” Hermione looked at her mother in law, indignation crawling up her spine.

“Since we’re being honest here- what’s your true opinion of the two of us?”

Narcissa’s face was carefully blank, “It is never wise to allow anyone to know your true opinion of them. I understand that you were raised in such a world that can afford to trust unproven bonds. I dearly hope that you will not allow yourself to be so taken in now.” she folded her hands carefully in her lap and took a deep breath, “That said, you have repeatedly saved my grandson's life over the past two weeks, so perhaps I can trust you this far." She looked Hermione in the eye, "Honestly, I believe you will be an asset to this family, and a wonderful mother to my grandson.” 

“Momma, where are you?” Draco called sing-song through the halls, bouncing Scorpius in his arms, “Momma! Where aaaaarrrreeee yoooouuuuu?” Scorpius giggled and shrieked.

“Momma!” Draco sang

“Mama!”

“Momma!” the two of them burst through the doors into the sitting room to find Narcissa and Hermione deep in conversation. “There she is! And Grandmama too. I wondered where you'd wandered off to when I got back from the diaper change, mother.” Hermione turned and Draco’s heart warmed at the way her face lit up. Scorpius flung himself toward Hermione, shrieking happily at the sight of her. Draco shifted the baby in his arms to better contain the chaos. “I can take him, Draco.” she laughed as Draco joined them. He dropped Scorpius carefully into her lap. 

"I decided to come welcome Hermione to the family while you were occupied." Hermione wasn't quite sure what to make of that. It had been a rather strange welcome so far.

"Mother." 

"Draco."

He kept eye contact with his mother for a long moment before he turned to Hermione,

"Are you doing all right here?” he asked softly

She nodded,  “We’re doing well.”

Hermione looked up and smiled at him, not the baby. Him. "I'm glad. I’ve got an appointment with Dr. Carmichael in 20 minutes, so I have to leave, but I’ll be back in a couple of hours." 

"We'll be fine here." She bounced Scorpius on her knee slightly and he giggled. Draco impulsively leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek then turned to Narcissa, “Be nice to my wife, mother.” He said, as she took his hand and squeezed it gently. 

“Of course, my dragon.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek as well. 

“Can you stay for dinner?”

“I would love to. I don’t have to be back until tomorrow evening.”

“Excellent. I’ll let Maudsley know about dinner on my way out. I’ll see you ladies in a bit.” and he was gone. 

Narcissa looked over at Hermione- the younger woman was a bright shade of pink, she had her hand on her cheek where Draco had kissed her, the other held Scorpius securely in her lap. Narcissa suppressed a smile. Hermione and Draco would be good for each other.

“Now, Hermione, if you are free tomorrow morning, we should meet with my dressmaker and aesthetician first thing. And there are a few things in the vault that are by rights handed down to the wife of the head of the house that you should see. Thank Merlin, they’re only ever removed for special occasions or I’m sure we’d have a hell of a time getting them back from the Greengrass family.” Hermione looked up at Narcissa, still reeling from the sweetly affectionate kiss Draco had placed on her cheek.  

“Dressmaker?”

“Yes, dear. You need a new wardrobe. The things you had hanging in the closet are hopelessly middle class, and you are a Malfoy now. You can run around in denim and cotton if you desire- but please, we can do a better quality than that. And we shan’t even MENTION Polyester.” Narcissa looked appalled at the very idea of being seen wearing polyester. “And you need to consider what image you are projecting- people will be watching to see what you wear and how you act. All the world’s your stage now, my dear, and you, a principal player.”

Chapter 18. Lavender's Blue.

Draco decided to walk a bit before apparating home after his session with Dr. Carmichael. The weather had been unbelievably hot, but he had a lot to think about and needed to take some time to process. 

He’d told Carmichael everything. It’d taken nearly an hour just to catch him up on everything they hadn’t hit the week before. From Astoria becoming physically abusive, to getting to know Hermione again, to the kiss and how he had felt when she’d pulled away from him when things started getting more intimate.

Why did he feel that way? Because he was afraid she wouldn’t love him.

Why was he afraid? Because he wanted her to love him.

Why did he want her to love him?

(Carmichael loved asking why and Draco had had to learn to look for the deeper answers.)

Why did he want her to love him? Because he loved her. It was stupid. In school it’d been mixed with vitriol because he hated himself for being so drawn to her- the one girl his father would have murdered him for loving. Now, she was literally his wife, his father was dead and gone, there was no reason not to love her. 

But how was he supposed to tell her? She deserved to be courted, pursued, wooed… He had that famous Malfoy charm, surely it wouldn't fail him now that he finally had a woman he wanted to give the world to. 

Merlin, he was getting maudlin. Draco dragged a hand through his hair and stopped in a spot of shade. There wasn’t much of a breeze though, and even the shade was sweltering. He stood staring at the muggle cars going by for a minute. He was somewhere in the middle of London, halfway to a decent sunburn on the back of his neck.

"Drake!" He turned, Harry Potter strode toward him, 

"Harry!" The two wizards shook hands cordially. 

“I was just on my way back to the ministry, what’s got you in this part of London by yourself?”

“Taking a bit of a walk after my session with Dr. Carmichael. Trying to get my brain back together before going home.” Draco ran a hand through his hair again which was damp with sweat. “Kinda thinking I should head home soon though- it’s hot as merlins balls out here.”  Harry laughed
“Yeah, it’s a lot cooler in Godric's Hollow than out here in London."

"You and Ginny fix up Potter Cottage then?" Draco asked

"Yeah.” Harry pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Speaking of home- we host a twice monthly pick up game of quidditch and we could use another player if you’d care to join us. We’re playing this Saturday if the weather holds.” the glasses slid back to where they’d started 

“That would be a lot of fun.”

“Bring Hermione and the baby, we’ll have a barbecue or something. Maybe transfigure the patio into a pool if it’s still this bloody hot.” Harry shoved his dark hair out of his face with an impatient gesture.
“That’s a great idea. Might have to do the pool trick at home. I'll check with Hermione about Saturday, but barring something pre-existing on her calendar, we should be there.” 

"Excellent! It'll be fun playing together instead of against each other." Harry grinned and glanced at his watch, “Crap, I gotta run. See you Saturday Malfoy!”

“See ya, Potter.” Draco watched as Harry jogged away, then turned down a side street and looked for a secluded spot to disapparate back to the Manor. 

There was a ten degree difference between London and the Manor and Draco sighed with relief as he stood in a shady part of the front garden for a minute. He felt Scorpius reach out to him, "I'm home, Sunshine." He sent to his son. Sunshine. Hermione’s nickname for the child fit so well. He felt the excitement of his son bubble over as he poured out the memories of the last couple hours into Draco's mind. 

Hermione playing with him, Narcissa walking through the garden with him, pointing out all the different flowers and bugs. Hermione laying out the quilt and snuggling as he got fussy from the heat, then singing to him. He liked it when she sang to him. Narcissa and Hermione laughing about something. And then just the pleasant vibration of Hermione's voice as she sang. 

"I'm coming, Sunshine." he whispered to the baby’s mind.

Draco walked around the house on the off chance that the Malfoy women were still out in the garden and found his mother knee deep in a flower bed and Hermione and Scorpius sprawled out under the large shade tree some meters off, she was humming again. 

"Enjoying yourself, mother?" He asked, 

"Vastly as always, my dear." She held a hand out to him as he approached and he took it, giving her the leverage needed to come gracefully to her feet. 

"How was the visit with Carmichael?” she dusted her hands off on the apron she wore over her favorite slacks. 

"Insightful, as usual." He looked over to where Hermione and Scorpius lay. "How are things here?" He asked, his mother also watching Hermione pat Scorpius' back rhythmically. 

"They're excellent. She's a natural with him, loving but not overly indulgent. I think I offended her slightly earlier, but she's been cordial and kind. She does have quite a bit to learn as Lady Malfoy, but I think she'll do just fine." Draco raised an eyebrow at his mother, 

"You approve, then?"

His mother turned a shrewd eye on him, her lips quirked in a knowing smile, "does it matter?"

"You never liked Astoria." 

Narcissa's face twisted with disgust.

"Do not mention that fishwife to me." she hissed "If they hadn't taken her off to Azkaban when they did she'd have had a tragic accident with one of those big muggle contraptions that carry people around- oh, what is it called?" she waved a hand as if to trigger her memory, 

"A bus?"

"Yes that. Or maybe she would have washed up somewhere along the Thames. You never know." Narcissa glanced at her nails, and sighed before looking back across the yard and smiling at the peaceful domestic scene that she saw there.

"Ah, but Hermione is wonderful. She's got spunk and I like her. We're going shopping tomorrow, no boys allowed, so find something to do with yourself and Scorpius while we're gone."  Draco laughed, 

"Of course, mother."

"Now go see your wife and let me go back to my plants." Narcissa gave him a small shove toward the tree and he went willingly.

“Hey, ‘Mione, do we have anything going on Saturday?” Hermione opened her eyes as Draco dropped to the quilt next to her, Scorpius starting at the sudden movement. He had been excited for a bit when Draco had apparated home, but had settled back down pretty quick when she started singing again. Draco put his hand on Scorpius’ back as the baby rubbed his face vigorously into Hermione’s stomach. 

“nothing that I know of. Harry's birthday is Monday though so I probably ought to double check with Ginny.”

“It’s his birthday?!” Draco exclaimed. Hermione shifted to look up at him, 

“You seem unnecessarily surprised.” 

“It’s just that I ran into him in town and he invited us out Saturday for pick up quidditch and a barbeque but didn’t say anything about his birthday.” 

“He doesn’t make a big deal out of it. Ginny will though. So be warned.” 

“Warning received.” he leaned back on one hand as Hermione sat up, settling Scorpius in her lap “how did things go with my mother?”

“Considering she told me she didn’t trust me, pretty well I think.” Draco’s eyebrows went up. “To be fair she also said I’d be an asset to the family and was doing wonderfully with Scorpius.” 

“She really does like you quite a lot.”

“I was kind of getting that feeling.” Hermione looked across the garden to where Narcissa was working, “she’s also waiting for me to ‘prove my loyalty’ to you. Though I’ve no idea how she expects me to prove that, in my world marriage and adoptions are not small things. It takes time to get a divorce, and you can’t reverse an adoption. So even if we split up- he’s still my son.”

“You saw how it works here, and among my set it’s even more transactional. Especially the marriages.” he brushed his hand across Scorpius’ head and the baby grabbed at him, grinning his little toothless grin. Hermione looked at him again,

“Draco, the last thing I want is for our relationship to be transactional.”

"I don't want that either."

"So where do we stand?"

"Well," Draco laid down flat beside her and took a deep breath. "Pretty sure the Potters and Zabinis were betting on how quick we'd get married even before all this mess with the Greengrasses."

"Harry told me they were yesterday. Apparently it's turned into how quickly I'll end up pregnant." Hermione blushed a deep red

Draco's eyebrows just about hit his hairline, "wow- they really must be bored if they're betting on our sex life." 

"Draco!" Hermione sounded appalled, she wasn't a prude- but she was a bit easily embarrassed.

"What? We're married, we've got to talk about it at some point, may as well be now since we've already started."

"True.” Hermione sighed and Draco tucked a hand under his head. 

"I think Astoria and I had sex like three times? As soon as she found out she was pregnant that was it and she caught it on her first cycle after the wedding." 

Hermione did the mental math,

"That's almost 16 months." 

"Give or take. How long has it been for you?”

“About three years." Her cheeks were on fire still, "I had a couple of flings during medical school after Ron and I broke up, but once Blaise and Luna got married-”

“You and Blaise hooked up?" Draco turned his head to look at her,

“No!"

"Thank Merlin. That'd be weird." 

"No. He's definitely got a type and I don't fit it."

"but I bloody do." Draco muttered.

Hermione giggled, "I imagine it's been interesting having a best friend who'd as soon flirt with you as his wife eh?"

"And she just sits back and laughs at me for getting flustered." He flung an arm over his face. "How’d we end up talking about Zabini's sexual preferences?”

“You asked if he and I had hooked up.”

“That’s right. Moving on. Three years. That’s a long time.”

“Honestly, I’ve been so wrapped up in work and anyone who might have been interested never made it past the stack of books on my desk once I got started at the hospital.” Draco felt her shift on the quilt beside him and lowered his arm so he could see her. She'd laid down on her side facing him, her lower arm supporting her head. Scorpius attempting to roll over between them.

“You were the same way at school. I think everyone was shocked when you showed up with Viktor Krum for that yule ball 4th year. I’ve always wondered how that happened.”

“He found me in the stacks studying and stuck around, he was surprisingly academic and shy off the pitch.”

Draco dropped into a decent imitation of the famous Quidditch player's accent. "Oh, so it wasn't the foreign accent and athletic build?" Hermione laughed 

"Hardly, he had the hardest time pronouncing my name and I'm pretty sure he asked me simply because I wasn't throwing myself at him." Draco raised an eyebrow, 

"I would have thought it was because you're beautiful and intelligent." Hermione blushed. 

"Please, I was a spotty 15 year old who couldn't figure out how to tame her own hair on a daily basis."

“I’m just glad that I outgrew the idea that the whole bottle of gel in my hair every morning was the best thing ever by then.”

“I do like it better the way you have it now.”  Hermione laughed and Draco ran a self conscious hand through his hair.

“It’s a bit long at the moment. I haven't had the time to get it cut recently.”

“I noticed it was getting in your eyes this morning.” 

Binxley popped into existence suddenly, making both Hermione and Draco jump. Hermione sat up as the house elf addressed her.

“I have finished cataloging your collection milady.” he held out a sheaf of papers and Hermione had to lean across Draco to accept them. Draco almost pulled her down on top of him but resisted the urge as she was also leaning across Scorpius who grabbed at the hem of her tshirt happily. 

“The first three pages are the books that we do not already have here in the Manor Library. I took the liberty of including an expense report should you desire to duplicate them rather than move them. The last page lists the books that would benefit from rebinding, and the collections that could be combined into single volumes.”  

“Thank you, Binxley.'' She sat back and flipped through the papers as Binxley turned to Draco and snapped his fingers, the black leather wand holster appearing in his hands.
“I was able to find enough Thestral hide to complete the modifications we discussed as well sir.” Draco sat up and took the holster, inspecting the work closely. His glasses were tucked neatly into the space Binxley had created to hold them on the holster alongside his wand. 

“Binx, you are exceptional.” Draco exclaimed, 

“Thank you sir.” Binxley turned back to Hermione, “Let me know what you decide with the books milady.” 

“I will Binxley, thank you again.” Binxley bowed and popped back to the house. Hermione moved to kneel next to Draco, looking at the holster as well. 

“What’d you do?”

“Built in a space for my reading glasses so I’ll stop misplacing them like a dunderhead.” He ran his fingers along the stitching. They had discussed several options, and in the end Binxley had suggested a sort of strapped pocket lined with green suede that wouldn’t mar the lenses and could easily be adjusted should Draco choose significantly larger or smaller frames in the future. He pulled his wand from his back pocket and set the charm for the wand and the adjusted spell he’d been working on for the glasses then strapped it to the outside of his forearm, same as Hermione wore hers. With the glasses on it, he couldn’t wear it covering his dark mark or risk crushing them when he picked Scorpius up. He shook his wand into his hand with a clockwise twist of his wrist. Then dropped it and turned his hand anti-clockwise and his glasses dropped into his fingers, he placed them on his face and they stayed. He put them on top of his head- something he didn’t do often, and they stayed there as well. Then he took them off and put them on the quilt and they returned to the holster just as his wand had.

“That is very impressive.” Hermione said appreciatively as Draco turned to her, eyes alight with his success. 

“I came up with it this morning and talked with Binx about it before we met for lunch. I wasn’t expecting it to be done today.” 

"May I see?" She asked, he instantly pulled the holster off his arm and handed it to her, glasses, wand, and all. She carefully removed the wand and gave it back to him before examining the little pocket flaps that had been stitched on. Draco put his wand down and leaned forward to look as well. When the wand reappeared in the holster Hermione took it out again and handed it back to him a second time. He looked at the wand in his hand, when he had gone back to Ollivanders to replace his original wand he had lost, he had expected to have another made of the same materials. The wood was the same springy hawthorn, but the core was different. His first had been unicorn hair. This one had a dragon heartstring. He turned it in his hand as Hermione looked over the leather work, and then he realized she kept giving it back to him for the same reason she gave him the holster in the first place. 

"The work is amazing. You can't even tell that it wasn't made this way originally." she said, running her fingers along the stitching. 

“Binxley is quite amazing.” He agreed, “he was able to find enough of the original leather to make the pocket out of the same material.” Hermione looked at him

“That seems like a lot of unnecessary effort.”

“It was worth it though. You said yourself it looks like it was designed that way.”

“That was a complement to the craftsman- not the materials.” 

“Yes, but the best craftsmen use the best materials.”

“Did you see this?” she asked holding it out to him again, her finger placed just beside her initials. There, done so well you would have thought it was original to the holster, Draco’s initials, D.L.M, then the Malfoy crest in tiny detailed miniature, smaller than her pinky nail, and below that, in the same space it had always been H.J.G. Draco grinned and put his finger just below her initials, Hermione looked again, it wasn’t just H.J.G. it was H.J.G.M. As Hermione was deciding what she thought of that Maudsley popped into existence beside them.

“Dinner is ready whenever you desire ma’am, master Draco.” 

“Thank you Maudsley." Draco said and Maudsley popped back to the house, Draco stood up and offered Hermione a hand to her feet “I think my staff likes you.”

“I assume they didn’t like the last Mrs. Malfoy.”

“No one liked the last Mrs. Malfoy, including her.”

Draco picked Scorpius up and the baby kicked happily, shrieking with giggles as his fathers face came into his view. “Dadadadada!” he babbled.

“I’m happy to see you too, Sunshine! Let's get cleaned up shall we?” 

Hermione tucked the library papers into her back pocket then shook the quilt off and folded it neatly, smiling at Draco and the baby.

“What do you plan on doing with the library integration?” he asked as they started walking toward the house.

“Probably look through what you don’t already have and bring over the ones I need.”

“What was the total for the duplicate copies?” 

“I didn’t get that far, the first page at least was entirely muggle authors. I don’t have anything of particular monetary value among those, a few are annotated, but only my very favorites.” 

“If it’s under £50k just buy secondary copies. It’ll be good for the children to have more muggle authors in the library here.” 

“£50k! You could rebuild half my library for that!” Draco stopped and looked at her seriously.

“Hermione. You’re going shopping with my mother tomorrow. I need you to swear to me that you will NOT say a word about the expense. My mother will ruin my quarterly budget if you do.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, “look, Astoria had a quarterly clothing allowance that I don’t see mother blowing out of the water unless she’s feeling particularly chaotic.” Draco shifted Scorpius in his arms. “If you don’t make a fuss about the expense she’ll probably keep it simple and let you stick mostly to what you and the dressmaker agree on. You make a fuss and she’ll have evening gowns ordered for the next year’s worth of holidays, and a full maternity kit just in case.”  

Hermione’s eyes went wide, “all right… is she that keen on grandchildren?”

“I do love babies, but the two of you have plenty of time, so don’t rush into things.” Narcissa said, coming up behind Hermione and making her jump. “Draco.” she sent a look at her son that would have made a lesser man flinch. “I am fully aware of your ‘quarterly budget’ thank you very much, if you recall who taught you how to assemble those?” Draco grinned cheekily at his mother, “why father of course.” he teased, and Narcissa snapped her apron at his knees, careful to avoid the baby in his arms.

Dinner went well, Hermione had been worried it was going to be super formal, but was set at ease when Draco knocked at her door in blue jeans and a black tshirt. Narcissa was warm and personable, making Hermione feel welcome and at home- also making her wonder what the hell she had meant by saying she didn’t trust her earlier that day. Everything Narcissa said and did made it feel like she wanted Hermione there and it was all very confusing. After dinner Draco took Scorpius upstairs to bed while Hermione talked with Binxley about what she wanted to do with the library.  

Eventually they all went their separate ways for bed. Narcissa turned in around 10, and Draco and Hermione sat up and talked until midnight when Hermione couldn’t keep the yawning at bay any longer. 

“We should go to bed.” he said half sleepily himself. 

“Yours or mine?” Hermione yawned, Draco blinked at her.

“What?”

“What?” she blinked back, wavering slightly on her feet as she stood.

“Good night, Hermione.” Draco said, realizing she was half asleep on her feet.

“Night Drake.” she yawned again. She stumbled into her room and changed into one of the silky nightgowns that hung closest to the bathroom door. It was soft and she liked the way it felt on her skin- it also took less effort to put on than her normal shorts and tshirt. She was asleep almost before she had the quilt pulled up over her shoulders. 

She was woken up at 4am to Scorpius in her mind. Just darkness and fear. “Mama” the word was whispered in her mind, but quickly rose to a wail “mama!”

“I’m coming darling. I’m coming.” she flew out of bed and was across the common room in a heartbeat. She walked right into Draco’s bedroom without a second thought and was across to Scorpius’ door and in the nursery before she even realized she’d been in his room. Scorpius lay in the crib crying very quietly. “Mama” he sobbed a bit more loudly. She scooped him up, 

“Oh Sunshine. It’s all right. Mama’s here.”

Draco woke up when Scorpius started crying, but laid there for a minute, listening to see if he’d settle back down. He settled almost instantly, and Draco rolled over to go back to sleep. The old lullaby his mother used to sing to him running through his mind. 

Lavender’s blue, Dilly dilly

Rosemary’s green.

When you are king, dilly dilly

I’ll be your queen.  

Hermione paced to the window that looked out over the same garden hers did. Scorpius snuggled sweetly into her shoulder, his thumb in his mouth, his other hand buried in the curls at the nape of her neck as usual. His tears had eased to hiccuping breaths as she sang to him. Her heart felt like it would burst with the love she felt for the infant in her arms.  

“Roses are red, dilly dilly

Violets are blue,

You love me so, dilly dilly

And I love you." She sang softly, 

"Let the birds sing, dilly dilly

And the lambs play

We shall be safe, dilly dilly

Out of harm's way."

Scorpius was fast asleep again by the end of the song and Hermione carefully laid him back down in the crib. "I love you, my little Scorpius." She whispered, "And I promise I'll always be here, as long as I live, my son."

Once she was sure he was asleep she turned and crept out of the room, pulling the door shut silently behind her. Draco's room was dark, the curtains drawn almost fully across the windows, blocking out the lamplight that had lit Scorpius' room. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, and she was slowly able to make out her husband sleeping peacefully. He looked like he was about to roll off the bed, but he also seemed so much more relaxed than he had been at the hospital. She walked quietly to the bed and just watched him for a long moment. His bare chest, etched with scars, rose and fell slowly in deep peaceful sleep, one foot hanging off the edge of the bed. Her husband. This wasn't how she had imagined married life. Separate bedrooms and the guilt. She’d imagined her first week married sleeping blissfully in her husband's arms.
Of course, when she had been imagining married life she’d been an impassioned 19 year old, who thought that the engagement ring on her finger would be her happily ever after. Now she was a disillusioned 26 year old married to a man she was so afraid of hurting that she just kept holding herself back. She sighed softly and slipped out of Draco’s room, walking back to her own bed. 

~~~

Hermione woke up to her phone ringing. She flipped it open and mashed the answer button.

"Morning mum" she said groggily,

"Hermione! Wait- were you asleep? Don't you have work today? I was expecting to have to leave a message."

"No, um took a couple days off. Draco had a family emergency Tuesday, so I've been helping him with Scorpius."

"Oh I hope it's nothing too bad. I was just calling to see if you'd gotten the reservations for tonight taken care of?“

"Oh God!“ She sat up in bed. "No, I totally forgot with everything that's happened here. I can let you know by lunch though."

"No worries 'Mione, we can go out tomorrow instead."

"No really mum, tonight is fine. I'll text you as soon as I've got the reservations taken care of."

"If you're sure, Sunshine."

"It's dad's birthday, we have to go out! And he hasn't met Draco and Scorpius yet."

"Oh will they be coming?" She heard the surprise in her mother's voice and realized what she'd said. Crap! She hadn't told her parents yet.

"Uhm, if that's all right with dad." 

"Of course, darling. I'll let you get back to stuff and I'll see you tonight. Bye!"

"Bye."

The phone beeped off and Hermione flopped back in bed. "Crap!" She sat up again and got dressed quickly. She needed to find Draco and figure out where they were going for dinner.

Hermione found the rest of the Malfoy family in the new parlor chatting about the vineyards upkeep over coffee while Scorpius rolled around on the carpet, he’d finally figured out how to do both tummy to back and back to tummy and was officially mobile.

"Ah! Hermione, perfect timing, I was just about to come find you, we have our appointment with the dressmaker in fifteen minutes." Narcissa said as Hermione walked in. She looked at Narcissa, eyes huge. She'd forgotten that the older woman was even in the house. 

"Hermione? Everything alright?" Draco asked, noticing the wild look in her eye.

"It's my dad's birthday tonight and I was supposed to get dinner reservations and I totally forgot with all this, and then I forgot to tell them and now–"

Draco stood up and took her by the shoulders, his hands sliding down to her elbows. 

"Hey, it'll be ok. I can make the reservations while you and mother are out and let your mother know when and where alright? Does that work?" Hermione nodded, "just the three of you right?" She shook her head

"You and Scorpius as well and I haven't told them we're married yet. I'm such a terrible daughter." She moaned, burying her face in his shoulder. Draco chuckled, patting her back. 

"I'll get the reservations made. Send me your mother's number and I'll call her."

"Thanks, Draco." He leaned back, lifting her chin with a gentle hand. 

"My pleasure, Love. Now, you go have fun shopping, pick something lovely to wear to dinner tonight."

"Draco, please remember that my parents are middle class muggles. Upper middle class. But middle class. No fancy dress robes only places."

"Got it. Nothing too posh or wizardly, I promise." He bent and kissed her lightly, "have fun, Scorpius and I are going to the library as soon as we've got dinner plans settled."

Hermione felt like she'd melted to the spot when he kissed her, the blood rush made her dizzy.

"Yes, yes, go on with you." Narcissa said, shooing Draco and Scorpius out of the room. Then she turned around and placed an egg sandwich in Hermione's hand and took her by the elbow to the seat Draco had vacated. "Sit and eat that, I have some things I need to talk to you about before we leave." Hermione obediently sat. 

"Why does he keep doing that?" She asked dazedly.

"Because he's always been an impulsive cheeky little dragon." She poured Hermione a cup of coffee and reminded her to eat. "We're on a very tight schedule." Narcissa sat back down on the couch and took a sip from her own cup. "Now, I know you're used to being sweet and kind to everyone you meet. But I Must warn you away from such behavior from now on. It is much better to hold yourself apart at first and allow yourself to warm to a person or people as they show themselves trustworthy, than it is to trust right away. It will only cause heart ache and bad press for us all." Narcissa took another drink of her coffee as Hermione chewed and thought about what she had said 

"Oh! Like a professor coming across really stern the first bit of the semester to weed out the students who don't care." She said finally. "precisely." Narcissa set her coffee cup on the table and stood up, 

"Now, if you're ready, I shall take us to see Muriel.”

Chapter 19. Dresses and Dragonets.

Hermione was unsurprised to find herself standing in Madam Malkin's front parlor. She was surprised however at seeing Madam Malkin herself bustle into the room, she was as old as Hermione's great grandmother would have been had she still been alive. "Narcissa! How wonderful to see you dear." She greeted Narcissa with a familiar hug, then turned to Hermione, "ah, Dr. Granger! I wasn't expecting you!" Hermione shook the old woman's hand, "It's lovely to see you again, madam malkin." She said. It had been three years since she'd been to the shop for her medical robes and madam Malkin had brought on a couple other robe makers as the outfit was growing to be more than she could handle on her own. 

"And lovely to see you as well, dear. Now, Narcissa. When is your daughter in law arriving? And are we needing a full wardrobe reset? She just had a new set at the beginning of the season. Or are we going into maternity again?"

"Astoria Greengrass won't be back. My son and Dr. Granger were married this week. It hasn't been announced to the public yet, though I'm sure it will be soon."

"An elopement? How lovely. So we shall need that maternity set then?"

Hermione blushed, "No. Not for a while yet I'm sure Madam Malkin. At least not until Scorpius is a bit older."

"Ah, well I'm sure I'll be among the first to know when the time comes. Now, is this what you wear on a daily basis, dear?" Madam Malkin talked and moved like a hummingbird, never stopping. She circled Hermione, plucking at the blouse and slacks she wore.

"This is usually what I wear to work, yes." She stood as relaxed as possible- which with Narcissa standing off to the side perfectly poised and Madam Malkin buzzing about was rather difficult.

"Her closet is half muggle, Muriel."

Hermione held her peace. Her closet was closer to three quarters muggle fashion, Narcissa had only glimpsed her work clothes. 

"Oh don't be such a snob Cissa. Most witches' closets are these days." Madam Malkin stepped away from Hermione, taking in the cut of her clothes. "You're still wearing the same medical robes you purchased here, correct?"

"Yes, they're still in very good repair since I do mostly research at the hospital."

"Ah, that explains the business casual." Madam Malkin turned to Narcissa, "what are we doing today?"

"The polyester has to go." she said firmly.

"Ah, well, send over what specifically needs to be replaced on that front and I'll have one of the girls make them up in better fabrics. But her style is classic, so don't mess with a good thing Narcissa." She warned, then turned back to Hermione, "that blue tweed you had on in the daily prophet article suited you beautifully, darling."

Narcissa sighed, "Muriel. She needs clothes that won't paint a target on her back." 

"She'll be fine. She's got more taste than most of these society mesdames. Anything else we need to work on today?"

Hermione was happy to be done so easily, "I don't think so."

"Oh! You need something for tonight, Darling." Narcissa turned to madam Malkin, "birthday dinner for her father, business casual."

"Oh, excellent, I have just the thing." Madam Malkin waved them out of the parlor and into the main fitting area as Hermione's phone pinged. She flipped it open as she followed Narcissa and madam Malkin out. 

Send Jean's number, reservation at La Serre, Brighton 7pm. wizard run, but plenty of muggle traffic. Can we take the floo from your place?

Hermione stopped just inside the dressing area to type out the reply.

Jean Granger +441608555000

That works, 645 at my place then?

Draco responded immediately

Yes. also fyi DP headline ‘Where’s Astoria Malfoy?’ WW special edition ‘Hermione Granger: Heroine, Doctor, The Other Woman?’

Hermione glared at her phone for a moment, the media was idiotic. She could just imagine what those two articles would have in them. Astoria Malfoy, missing? Run away? Murdered! *Gasp!* And the witch weekly special was probably pure slander, making her out to have had an affair with Draco and casting Astoria in the role of poor wronged wife. She sighed and tucked her phone back in her pocket. Narcissa and Madam Malkin were looking over a stack of books, discussing what cut would best suit Hermione when she heard a voice that made her cringe.

"Oh WonWon, isn't it just lovely?" Lavender Brown stood on the other side of the room twisting and turning before the full length mirror, the gown she wore was lovely Hermione had to admit, and it suited her beautifully. She had nothing against Lavender except for the fact that she insisted on calling Ronald ‘WonWon’ like she was a toddler. Ronald Weasley sat on the low couch with his nose in a quidditch periodical, "It is lovely Lav, have we finished with the fittings yet? I've got a meeting with the Chuddley Cannons man in an hour and I'd like to eat first."

“Hermione darling, come look at this.” Narcissa called, and Ron’s head whipped up like he’d been slapped. “Mione!” he stood up and strode across the room, he was even with Blaise in height, but built like Draco. He caught her in a bear hug, much to Lavender’s disgust. 

“Hey Ron.” she squeaked as he set her back on her feet.

“Haven’t seen you in ages! How’ve you been?”

Lavender stalked over and took Ron’s arm,  “I’m sure Mrs. Malfoy has been doing quite well Ronald.” She snarled. Ron blinked at her, 

“Mrs. Malfoy is over there.” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward where Narcissa and Madam Malkin were still leafing through the books, but Hermione caught Narcissa’s eye. She was watching to see how things would go. “I was talking to Hermione, Lavender.”

“Molly told you then?” Hermione asked Lavender cooly. 

“She was in high dudgeon when she got home from your ‘luncheon’ yesterday. And you are officially uninvited to the wedding.”

“Lavender Elizabeth!” Ron looked at his fiance in horror. “What demon has possessed you woman?”

“Didn’t you see the article in the Daily Prophet this morning? Or witch weekly?”

“Lavender. Speak plainly.” 

Hermione sighed,

“I married Draco Tuesday afternoon, Ronald.” she said softly, expecting a similar reaction as his mother. Ron looked at her, then as he typically did- said the last thing she would have expected,

"Do you love him?"

Hermione hesitated, she didn't know. She wanted him desperately, wanted their relationship to be free and easy, companionable at least. She wanted to love him and for him to love her. But she didn't know if that was going to happen. "I– I don't know." She looked away from Ronald's bright piercing blue eyes, "it's complicated." Ron watched her for a long searching moment. 

"I think you do, but you're holding back." He took her hand, and she looked up at him again. "Don't make him doubt you 'Mione. You deserve to be happy and if Malfoy makes you happy then embrace that." He said, then grinned, "Even the ferret deserves a wife who loves him."

Hermione blinked back tears, Ron always was able to see right through her. "Thank you, Ronald."

He gave her another hug, "Congratulations to you both. Now, I've got to call my sister. She owes me money.” 

He flipped his phone open and punched in Ginny’s number, “and you ARE still invited. Malfoy and the munchkin too.” then he stepped out of the room "Ginny! I've just seen ’Mione" 

Lavender looked at Hermione with contempt. 

"Don't even think of showing up at my wedding with that– that Death eater on your arm." Lavender hissed, incensed. "Wonwon might not care but I sure as hell do." Hermione leveled an icy glare at Lavender Brown, soon to be Lavender Weasley. 

"Are you a toddler or do you need to see a speech pathologist?” Lavender’s mouth dropped open at the insult. “His name is Ronald , and he's going to be your husband, not your child so stop infantilizing him. You're an adult. Act like it. If Ronald wants me and my family at his wedding then we will be there. For your sake, we won't stay for the reception.” Hermione stepped closer to the seething red faced witch, lowering her voice, “And if you EVER call my husband a Death Eater again, you won’t have to wonder what happened to Astoria Greengrass." The blood drained from lavenders face leaving her an ugly shade of green, "Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I'm needed elsewhere." Hermione turned and walked over to where Narcissa was waiting with Madam Malkin. 

"Everything alright, darling?" Narcissa asked, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulders and pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I'll be fine." She wiped away a stray tear and took a deep shaky breath, allowing the anger to fade. 

"I know you and Mr. Weasley had been engaged at one point…"

"Oh, no. Ronald and I are just friends now." 

"Still friends? Draco told me what happened with Mrs. Weasley yesterday." Hermione looked up at Narcissa and smiled. 

"Yeah, still friends. Now, what have you ladies come up with?"

After they decided on an outfit for that evening, as well as a dress for the upcoming Weasley wedding, they left for the aesthetician. There Hermione felt like she was cramming for a test. Don't do this, do do that. She felt like it all boiled down to moisturize and match your makeup to your person, not your outfit. She could manage that. 

Lunch at an exclusive bistro in London was quiet and she and Narcissa talked about plants mostly. Then, just when Hermione thought they'd be going back to the manor, Narcissa reminded her they had one more stop. Gringotts.

There she learned that Draco had arranged a monthly stipend to be deposited to her account. When she saw the amount she nearly choked. "Narcissa! That's too much." 

"Take that up with your husband, dear. He's the head of the house. We are here to see the vault."

Not the main vault though. The smaller specifically for the family jewels vault. Hermione felt like she was standing in a room half museum, half jewelry store. "Here, these are yours as long as you and Draco are together and will be passed down to Scorpius' wife when the time comes. You are welcome to use them whenever you desire, but they remain the property of the estate." 'These' encompassed an entire wall of assorted jewelry. Rings, necklaces, earrings, circlets, even a tiara or two. Hermione looked over everything, the glittering shining mass was well organized and overwhelming. She doubted she'd ever actually wear any of the finery outside of the holiday celebrations when it would be expected. As she reached the end of the set she stopped. Of a hundred and fifty different things, a necklace caught her eye. It was a strand of milky white pearls with an exquisitely carved emerald dragon wrapped around them as if snuggling them. It would suit the dress she had chosen for the dinner that night, and wasn’t particularly showy. And she loved it instantly.

"Narcissa, could I wear this tonight?" She pointed to the necklace, not daring to pick it up. Narcissa stepped over to her and picked up the pearls, running her finger along the dragon. It yawned and stretched, a long green tongue flicking over its eyes, before it settled back down, curling up to sleep. Hermione stared.

"Tha– That's a live dragonet."

 Narcissa laughed lightly and laid it in Hermione's palm. "Yes dear. She's very attached to that strand of pearls, so long as you're gentle she doesn't mind them being worn. Just be careful with Scorpius, she doesn't like being grabbed at."

Hermione looked down at the strand of pearls and tiny dragon in her hands. "Perhaps I shouldn't disturb her then." The dragon opened one eye and looked at her for a long moment, then uncurled and stretched again, preening her tiny wings for a moment before taking flight and looping around Hermione's head once. She stopped about 8 inches from her face and flapped a few times, then settled back down with the pearls. 

"I think she likes you." Narcissa took the pearls from Hermione again and clasped the necklace about her throat.

The dragon settled against her collarbone and purred happily. 

"There. That's settled, now home again. I'm sure Draco and Scorpius are missing us."

~~~

Draco looked over the morning edition of the Daily Prophet to see the formal wedding picture of Astoria staring solemnly back at him. The headline “WHERE’S ASTORIA MALFOY?” was sure to draw attention. The article was damning, and would probably convince half the wizarding population that he’d murdered her and chucked her body in the Thames. Pair that with the Witch weekly special edition that claimed he and Hermione had been having a long standing illicit affair and was the cause of her own break up with her ex-fiance years prior and things were just peachy. He tossed the papers aside and texted Hermione for her mothers cell number and to let her know about the headlines before she ran into anyone in town. 

He dialed Jean’s number, reminding himself that the woman didn’t know he’d married her daughter as the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hi Jean, this is Draco.”

“Oh hello! I hope everything is alright, Hermione said you’d had some family emergency lately. I hope you and Scorpius haven’t been sick or anything.”

“We’re quite well, it wasn’t health related and everything is fine now, we’re through the worst of it I think. I was calling because Hermione had some appointments she forgot about this morning and I told her I’d take care of the reservations for tonight. Can you meet us at her house at 645?”

“Of course. Where are we going?”

“A little french place in Brighton run by a friend of a friend. La Serre.”

“Oh I think we’ve been there before. It’s right on the beach isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I was thinking we could take Scorpius down to the ocean after dinner if that’s alright.”

“I’m sure it would be lovely. So 645 at Hermione's. Please tell me there’s a different way to go than apparition.” Draco chuckled,

“We’ll go by floo.”

“By Floo?” he could hear the confusion in her voice,

“Uh- through the fireplace? Like Father Christmas.”

“Oh! That will be a bit messy won’t it? Should we change when we get there?”

“There’s cleaning charms, Jean, don’t worry.”

“All right.” she sighed. “645, business casual at Hermione’s. We’ll be there.”

“Excellent, see you tonight.”

“See you then, Draco.”

Jean looked at her phone. Draco Malfoy had taken over the arrangements for the birthday dinner while Hermione had appointments. Something was afoot.

“Who was that, love?” Charles asked as he walked through the kitchen,

“Draco.” Charles raised an eyebrow at his wife as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Draco called you?”

“Yes, he’s made the dinner reservations for us tonight because Hermione forgot and was busy. We’re to meet them at her place at 645 tonight. She wants you to meet Draco and Scorpius.” Charles hummed,

“Sounds like she’s getting serious about this guy.” he sipped his coffee, “What are the chances this is introducing the boyfriend to the family?”

“I would not be surprised.” she said dryly.

Hermione and Narcissa came in through the front door of Malfoy Manor and breathed a sigh of relief. The heat was becoming unbearable outdoors. Gadsby showed up as soon as the door shut. “Mistress” he bowed to Hermione and then Narcissa, “Lady Narcissa”

“Gadsby, is my son about?”

“Master Draco is in the library.” 

“Very good. I’m going up to my room to gather my things, Hermione. I’ll be down to say my farewells in a little while.” 

“Thank you for everything today, Narcissa. I enjoyed getting to know you better.”

Narcissa placed a motherly hand on Hermione’s cheek. “You did well today. I’m very glad that Draco has you. If you ever need anything, I’m only an owl away darling.” she pulled Hermione into a tight hug. “The two of you will do so beautifully together I’m sure.” Hermione hugged Narcissa back before the older woman left for her room and Hermione went to find Draco in the library.

Draco heard the library door open and stepped to the railing of the second floor to see who had come in. His wife walked through the shelves below him, hands brushing lovingly along the spines of the books. He wished he could pull her into the stacks and kiss her soundly. He’d thought of doing that at school, but she definitely would have hexed him for that back then.

“Draco?”

“Here.”

She looked up and smiled when she saw him leaning against the railing. He couldn’t help but smile back. “Did you and mother have a good time in town?”

“We did. And your budget is intact.”

He laughed, “I wasn’t really worried. Just didn’t want you to be overwhelmed.”

“Well you could have warned me about the vault.”

He grinned at her, “Nah. Did you find anything you particularly liked?” her hand went to her throat, and he realized she was wearing a short strand of pearls. He started down the stairs then, trying to remember if there was more than one necklace in that style in the collection. “Nuri?” he called, and the little dragonet unfurled itself and took off across the room, meeting Draco as he hit the main floor. The creature shrieked a tiny little dragon call and swooped onto Draco's shoulder, rubbing itself affectionately against his neck and chin before twisting away and snuffling a tiny fiery sneeze well away from his face. The dragonet yipped and squealed and squeaked miniature dragon roars as it took to the air again, twisting, turning and darting about like an excited puppy.

Draco chuckled, lifting a hand to the little dragon and she landed on his palm, sitting proudly as if to say, 'see what a pretty dragon I am?'. "I missed you too, Nuri." He stroked her head and back with a single finger as Hermione joined them at the bottom of the stairs. The dragonet wasn't more than seven inches long from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail, and sitting tall and straight she was only about three and a half inches high. Hermione could hear the dragon purring like a cat as it preened.

Draco looked up at her, the dragonet launching itself to perch on his shoulder again. “Did mother pick the pearls?”

Hermione shook her head “I did. I thought they’d suit my dress for tonight- I didn’t realize the emerald dragon was alive until she picked them up though.” Hermione lifted a hand to the diminutive creature, it eyed her warily for a moment, then decided to have a go and swooped from Draco’s shoulder to her own, burrowing into her curls. She felt it pulling and tugging, until it had made it’s way to the crown of her head and sprawled out like a headband, it had a decent weight to it, and as Hermione turned her head she could feel that it wasn’t going anywhere easily. Draco smiled down at his wife and the tiny dragon that had been his companion as a child.

“Her name is Nuri?” Hermione asked, Draco reached out and tucked a curl under the Dragonet’s tail, and another on the other side under her chin, pulling Hermione’s hair away from her face. The dragonet purred happily again as he ran a finger along her snout. He leaned against the railing at the bottom of the circular staircase,

“Yeah, the pearls belonged to my great grandmother I believe. The dragon became attached to them on a trip to eastern europe and decided she’d stick around. Mother favored the pearls for a few years, and–” he looked down at her, realizing she was standing very close, listening avidly to his story. The green dragon in her hair, the pearls at her throat, the sparkle in her eyes. Merlin, she was beautiful.

“And then what? How did you become friends with Nuri? Did you name her?” Hermione prompted, Draco cleared his throat. 

“Uh, yeah. Um, I was playing in mothers jewelry box and Nuri decided she was done with me messing with her hoard I guess. She came at me snapping and growling. Scared the dickens out of me honestly and I ran away crying. I really was a horrible little coward.” she took his hand, 

“You’re not anymore though.” 

“I still find myself afraid of the stupidest things,” he admitted.

“Like what? I promise I won’t laugh.”

Draco smiled at her, “Like you.”

“You’re afraid of me?” Her eyes went large and worried, he tugged on her hand and pulled her closer,

“I’m not afraid that you’ll do anything like Astoria did.” he reassured her, “I’m afraid that I’ll do something stupid, trigger the wrong memory, or scare you somehow, and that you’ll leave.” he looked down at their hands, hers small and tan in his. She laced her fingers through his. 

“I can’t promise that I won’t ever walk away, because we all do foolish things in anger. But I can promise that I will always come back to you, Draco.” he lifted her hand and kissed it. Hermione blushed, half wishing the kiss had been more intimate- half chiding herself for wanting more than he could give.

"There you two are." Narcissa said.

"Mother. You heading home?"

"Yes, I've already seen Scorpius." She joined them by the stairs, Draco released his wife and gave his mother a hug then she turned to Hermione, and the younger woman knew she'd somehow won Narcissa's trust. 

"You'll be back to visit soon won't you?" Hermione asked, 

"Of course. Who else is going to teach you how to manage the backstabbing society women? Though the way you handled Lavender Brown at Madam Malkin's was beautifully done." Narcissa took her hand and squeezed it gently. "Take care of each other." Hermione looked up at Draco and smiled, 

"We will." she said. 

~~~

Hermione set the makeup brush down and took a deep breath as she looked over her hair and make up. She still had to get dressed, but the rest of it looked better than passible. Light natural makeup, the pearl necklace, the dragon had stayed in her hair, so she’d left it as Draco had done it, half pulled back. It would all fall in her face as soon as the dragon decided to return to the pearls, but that wouldn’t be too much trouble, she always kept hair ties and pins in her bag. She pulled on the tea length dress that Madam Malkin had suggested. The short waisted long sleeve bolero jacket made it so she’d still be able to wear her wand holster, for which she was glad. She sighed into the mirror one last time as she stepped into the low black heels. She finally turned away from the mirror and went out to the common room. 

It was half past six when Draco finally finished getting Scorpius ready to go, and pulled on his favorite green jacket. He was more than a bit nervous to be meeting Hermione’s father, at least it would be in a public space so he doubted the man would physically attack any of them. But he was prepared to take Hermione and Scorpius home early should there be any emotional abuse from her parents, and they could figure out how to get themselves back to Oxfordshire without magic. He picked Scorpius up and walked out to the common room, hoping that Hermione was almost ready to go.

 She was pacing like a caged lion in front of the fireplace and she looked every inch a Malfoy. Draco stopped mid step and just gaped at her. She wore a fine green silk dress and black bolero that suited her figure to perfection. She looked more nervous than he’d ever seen her before.

She spotted him half way through her pacing and stopped, “Draco? Is everything alright?”

he just nodded dumbly. “You look… wow.”

She blushed lightly, “Thanks. I can take the diaper bag if you like.” She stepped over to him and he obligingly handed her the bag.

“Nervous?” he asked, brushing her hair away from her neck- his fingers just skimming the warm pearls.

“Yeah.”

He took her free hand “It’ll all be alright.” he reassured her, “your parents love you.”

“Molly loved me too.” she took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears that threatened at the thought of that abandonment.

“You’ll muss your mascara if you start crying ‘Mione. Happy thoughts. Scorpius is excited to see Nana Jean again.”

She smiled a watery smile at the baby in Draco’s arms. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, “remember, no matter what happens, you have family here who loves you.” She nodded, 

“Thank you, Draco.” She squeezed his hand back, and he looked down at her shoes hesitating

“Hermione, do you mind if we wait to tell them till we get to the restaurant? I’d be more comfortable knowing that there were witnesses.” he said anxiously,

“We can do that. I can just tell them outright as soon as we get seated if you like.”

“Just whenever you feel like the timing is right.” He took a fortifying breath and Hermione watched as he pulled himself together, going from anxious and vulnerable to cool and confident and she realized that his ability to mask his feelings so smoothly was probably the only thing that kept him and his mother alive during the war. And yet, he let her see his anxiety, his worry, fears, and insecurities. She looked up at her husband with a new appreciation, he really did trust her. “You ready to go?”

“yeah.” 

Jean and Charles pulled into Hermione’s driveway a few minutes early and saw Hermione and Draco walking through the front garden. “Jeanie- look.” Charles nodded toward where the two young people were examining a giant sunflower. Hermione bent down and picked a dandelion that had gone to seed, blowing it away for the amusement of the baby on her hip. The tall blond man offered a new Dandelion blossom to her with a smile. The baby grabbed at the flower and stuffed it in his mouth to the consternation of the man. Hermione laughed as the baby spit the flower out, yellow petals sticking to his face. Jean laughed as she got out of the car and Charles followed. “Hermione! Draco!” Jean called, waving as the trio turned and walked toward the car, “hey mum!” Hermione hugged her mother and then turned to greet her father as Draco shook Jeans hand. 

“Cor Sunshine.” he exclaimed, taking her outfit in, “should’a brought my stick.”

Hermione laughed, “I doubt anyone will be flirting with me tonight dad.” she leaned over and kissed his cheek, 

“I don’t know, that tall fellow seem’s pretty taken with you.” Charles said with a wink at Draco who blushed slightly. Hermione blushed more.

“Happy birthday daddy.” she said as he hugged her, careful of the baby she still held. Scorpius grabbed a fist full of his beard and Hermione untangled the tiny baby fists while Charles laughed. “Sunshine” she scolded gently, “don’t pull on poppa’s beard.”

Charles raised an eyebrow, “poppa?”

Hermione just shrugged, Charles chuckled and shook his head. “You know, it’s generally frowned upon to just go about ‘adopting’ random people’s kids ‘Mione. This is the third pseudo grandchild you’ve introduced.”

“James and Albus call me Aunt ‘Mione, and you know Harry was my next of kin in the wizarding world for ages."

Jeans eyebrows went up slightly, "was? Did you have a falling out?"

"No. I- it's just-" she stuttered, her face flushed red she looked to Draco for help, but it was her father who rescued her.

“You gonna introduce me to your boyfriend then Mione?”

Hermione breathed again, “Dad, this is Draco and little Scorpius.” Draco offered a handshake to the older man as Hermione finished “Draco, my father, Dr. Charles Granger.”

“It’s an honor, Dr. Granger.” he said as the older man shook his hand cordially.

“Call me Charlie, son. There’s too many Dr. Grangers to keep up with that all night.”

Draco chuckled, “True.”

Hermione glanced at her watch and Jean spotted the silver dragon ring. She shot a look at her husband. This was more than just introducing the boyfriend, especially if she'd made him her emergency contact/next of kin.

“We probably ought to get going,” Hermione said, and the group moved inside.

They got everyone inside and through the floo to a small wizard waiting area of La Serre, and were called just as Hermione finished ridding their clothes of the ash. 

“Granger, party of four.” the hostess called and they were escorted to their table. Hermione and Draco sat on one side with Jean and Charles seated opposite, Scorpius on the end closest to Hermione and Jean. The waiter introduced himself and once their orders were placed and the wine list reviewed they were finally left in peace to talk. 

Hermione took a deep breath and Draco took her hand under the table, resting their clasped hands on his knee he squeezed it supportively. 

"Mum, Dad" Hermione said in that tone that every parent knows, that 'I have something important to tell you and I'm not sure what you're going to think.' tone. There was a long pause as Hermione gathered her courage. Jean reached over and took her other hand, her left hand. 

"Darling, you know you can tell us anything."

"Can't possibly be worse than trying to explain how you took all our memories of you away so we'd leave the country." Charles quipped. Hermione flushed red at that memory.

"We got married Tuesday afternoon." Hermione finally said, “and I adopted Scorpius.”

Charles slapped the table which made Draco jump, but then burst out laughing the next second. 

“Cor Hermione! You don’t waste time do ya, dove? And adopted the baby to boot. Who hacked you off?” Hermione bit her lip to hold back the smile that was creeping onto her face. This was her father, the man who taught her how to throw a punch, and where to hide a body. The one who’s silent backing gave her the strength to keep going forward when everything around her was falling apart. 

“Adorabella Greengrass– Scorpius’ maternal grandmother.”

“So the family emergency?” Jean asked, turning to Draco,

“She bribed the council to try and have Scorpius removed from my care. It fell apart when Harry Potter showed up to the council, and they gave me the option to get married.”

"So you took your chance and asked my daughter to marry you?" Charles tossed a dry half smile at the young man,

"So your daughter, the stubborn reckless amazing witch that she is, insisted that we get married.” Draco met Charles’ eyes firmly, 

“Really?” Charles didn’t look away from the aristocratic blond that sat across from him, 

“Credit where credit is due.”

Charles looked at Hermione "so all this was your idea eh?"

"It's not all that different from grandpa and grandma Granger- only Draco and I have known each other for years." Hermione shrugged, now that she’d said it and no one had run screaming she was much more relaxed. Why on earth had she been so wound up over this again?

Charles sighed and looked at his wife, "well I guess compared to my parents marrying after a week of knowing each other, this really isn't that crazy."

Hermione looked at Jean as well, the older woman sat with her elbows  on the table, face half hidden behind her clasped hands, her eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth. 

“Mum?” 

“Hmm?” Hermione just watched her mother until she caved, “if ‘I told you so’ is the only thing you can say it’s better to keep silent isn’t it?” she blinked and grinned at her daughter, who blushed. “I told your father Friday night that this day would come. To be fair, I was expecting it perhaps a year from now, but your father and I both trust your judgement.” she took Hermione's hand again, “If you’re happy, then we’re happy for you darling.” Hermione got up, rounded the table and hugged her mother tightly about the shoulders. 

“A son-in-law is one of those things I never expected to get for my birthday.” Charles commented, Hermione laughed as she sat back down.

“We have a lovely bottle of wine for you at the house as well.” 

Their food arrived and Jean looked over at Hermione, 

"Will you be selling the cottage then?"

"No, we're thinking of spending the weekends there at least." Hermione said

"Probably a decent chunk of the holidays too." Draco added "Things can get overwhelming and unnecessarily political at the manor over the holidays. I will take any chance I can to escape that rigmarole." Draco stabbed his salad as Hermione's parents continued to ask how her life was going to change. 

"What about your work?" Jean asked Hermione, 

"Draco, what do your parents think of all this?" Charles asked, and the conversations split.

"My mother, Narcissa, is quite pleased, she came to visit yesterday, and just went home this afternoon." 

"And your dad?"

"My father passed away a couple of years ago." 

"I'm sorry."

Draco took a drink from his glass before answering, "as like him as it makes me sound– I'm not. Maybe one day I'll grieve for him. But at the moment, I'm still having to grow out of his shadow."

"No love lost there then?" Charles asked with a raised eyebrow,

"When I say he would have murdered me if I had brought your daughter home as my wife, I mean it quite literally."

Hermione reached over and took Draco's hand even as she and her mother continued to talk about her work between bites. Draco squeezed her fingers gently, he was alright, but he appreciated the silent support.

Conversations continued and after the entrees were brought out to the table Draco felt a hand fall on his shoulder.

"Drake!" He turned to see Harry standing beside him,

"Harry! Imagine meeting you here." He stood up and the two shook hands as Ginny greeted Hermione with a hug about the shoulders and ruffled Scorpius' hair before saying hello to Jean and Charles. 

"Had a work thing." Harry said with a shrug,

"They're making him head of the Aurors!" Ginny said excitedly

"Not until next year, Gin." Ginny shot a look at her husband that said just fight me on this.

Harry just grinned at her as he turned to Charles and Jean, "Charlie, Jean. Lovely to see you, I take it you've heard the news?"

"Heard it was your fault too." Charles leaned back in his chair.

"My fault?" Harry tucked hand in his pocket and leaned against the back of Draco’s unoccupied chair, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Do you really think they would have tacked on that whole half assed 'or get married' if you hadn't been there?" Draco grinned,

"True. That councilman did go a bit pale when I stepped up to the bar."

Ginny snagged a chair from the table behind them and sat down when the men started chatting. Life with Irish twins was exhausting. 

"Have you talked with mum?" She asked,

"Yeah."

Jean noticed the way Hermione's face fell. "What happened 'mione?" She asked.

"Molly was less than excited for me."

Ginny's eyes went hard, "What did she say?"

"She said she wasn't ready for this yet."

"What did she say, Hermione?" Ginny repeated, knowing that her best friend was holding back.

"She told him he didn't deserve this." Hermione said softly. "And Lavender said she was upset when she went home."

"Lavender?" Ginny's eyebrows went up, "oh, that's right, Ron called me this morning, they were out shopping."

Harry called to his wife, "their food is getting cold, Gin. We ought to head out."

Ginny sighed and hugged Hermione again, "I'll talk to her 'Mione."

"Ginny–"

"No. She shouldn't have said that. It's been eight years. She needs to let it go. Are you coming Saturday?" 

"Yes, what time?" 

"You’re welcome over anytime if you want to help set up, but the party starts at 4." She turned to Draco, "don't forget your broom, Drake. We'll have enough players for a real good game. We've extras but they're a bit old and it's like riding an angry hippogriff."

Draco laughed, "I'll come prepared."

Ginny and Harry said goodbye to Jean and Charles and left. Charles looked over at Draco as they got back to their meal.

"Drake?"

"Yeah, it's a family nickname. You’re welcome to use it if you like.”

“Harry and Ginny do.” Hermione leaned against his shoulder, 

“Well your brother and his wife are part of my family now.” he said with a laugh, draping am around her shoulders

"When did that happen?"

"Harry and I decided we were brothers in law when we went to MacReynolds for the pre-nup.”

“What does that make Blaise then?” Hermione asked, leaning her elbow on the table top and resting her chin in her hand. “your brother in law or mine?”

“Yours. I’ve known him longer so he’s my brother.” Hermione grinned at him, and in that moment he was really happy.

He had a wife whose smile reached her eyes when she looked at him, in laws who seemed to like him for himself and not the money in the bank, or the prestige of his name. He was becoming friends with the Potters, his son was happy and growing and everything a small child should be. He had a home that didn’t give him nightmares, and the stress in his life was at an all time low. 

“Draco, what are you thinking about?” Hermione asked softly, and he realized he’d let his mind wander,

“I’m thinking about how happy I am right here and now, with you and our family.” he looked down at her face and the look in his eyes made her blush. 

Dinner progressed, conversation flowed, and by the end of the night Scorpius was asleep on Charles’ chest, little fist tightly twined in the older man’s beard like he usually did with Hermione’s hair. Hermione looked at her father and smiled, “hey dad,”

“Hmm?”

“How’s it feel to be holding your grandson?”

Draco hadn’t really considered the fact that not only was his son gaining a mother, but also grandparents. Charles looked at his daughter, his heart in his eyes.  

“Brilliant, sunshine. Absolutely brilliant. Best birthday gift ever.”

With Scorpius passed out they decided to skip the beach and just go home so they took the floo back to the cottage as soon as they were done eating. As they stood on the porch Charles gave Jean a look that telegraphed his desire to talk with their new son in law privately for a moment. She asked if Hermione had anything new in the garden, and the women went off to inspect that while Charles turned to face Draco. His heart spiked with fear for a brief moment, until the older man clapped him on the shoulder. The action both reassuring him of Charles’ intentions, and sending a jolt of pain through his aching chest.

“Drake. I’m not going to threaten you because I know my daughter, and I won’t have to kill you if you break her heart. She’ll take care of that herself.” He offered Draco a handshake, which he took half surprised. “You take care of her, and she’ll take care of you. She’s got a lot of heart in her, even though sometimes she gets too wrapped up in her books.”

“Thank you Charlie.” Draco looked off to where Hermione was chatting softly with her mother about some plant or another, Scorpius snuggled up in her arms asleep. She was swaying from side to side, rocking him. “I really do love her.” he said, half to himself.

“Oh that much is obvious. Don’t forget to tell her that though, and tell her that often. Women like to hear the words you know.” Draco looked at his father in law who was smiling across the yard at the two women who had started back toward them. “Welcome to the family, son.” Charles said.

Chapter 20. After Dinner Mints.

Draco tossed his jacket over the chair and collapsed onto the couch beside his wife once he got Scorpius put down for the night.

"How do I convince this dragonet that my hair isn’t it’s nest?” she asked as she took the strand of pearls off, her jacket was laying in the same chair as his own and he could see the entirety of the green silk dress for the first time. It had cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline- the typical queen anne style his mother loved but never wore. He reached over and ran a finger down the dragons back, "Nuri, my wife needs her hair back."

Hermione blushed prettily, his wife. The way he said it made her skin tingle. The dragon stretched and took off, letting her hair fall around her face. It landed on Draco's shoulder, raising up on its hind legs to rub it's snout along his jaw. He chuckled and offered a hand to the creature. It hopped onto his palm and wrapped itself around his wrist like a bracelet, snuggling its own tail. 

"You never did tell me how you ended up with a dragonet for a pet."

He leaned back, stretching his arm along the back of the couch before pulling her close beside him. He kicked his shoes off and propped sock clad feet up on the coffee table. She laid her head on his shoulder comfortably. 

"After she terrified me for mucking about in the jewelry box, Father called me a coward and insisted I face my fears. I sat and cried for an hour at the thought of opening mother's jewelry box again. Father made me stay there until I did. I ended up falling asleep sitting at mother's vanity and woke up to Nuri staring at me."

"And you were friends after that?" 

Draco laughed, "Only because mother was there and 'introduced' us, and the fact that Nuri is generally more curious than angry."

Since getting to know Narcissa better, Hermione could almost picture her holding the small dragon in her hands, telling her young son how to be gentle with the creature. 

"She may also have inspired my misuse of the pepper imps." Hermione laughed, and Draco chuckled as well. She snuggled closer to him, it felt nice to be near him. His arm slid from her shoulders to her waist.

“I really enjoyed dinner with your parents. I was a bit surprised they weren’t upset with me to be honest.”

“Dad makes his own judgment calls, but mum has this sixth sense about people, so if she had thought you were a bad egg she would have told me Friday instead of teasing me about how attractive you are."

Draco looked down at her, one eyebrow raised, “so you find me attractive do you?”

She blushed and scoffed, “You know you’re handsome without me inflating your ego.”

“Ah, but a man likes to know when his wife finds him attractive." 

“Well I do.” she said matter of factly. Draco laughed lightly, 

“Well, you're just a minx aren't you, Granger?" His tone was teasing and sarcastic, she snorted,

“You’re the one who said he wanted six months, I’m simply respecting that boundary, Malfoy.” Hermione said archly as she trailed her fingers up his arm, tilting her head back to see his face. They were so close, it would only take an inch and their lips would meet. “Should you recant,” she bargained softly, “I would be amenable to researching the definition of consummation with you.” If he was going to call her a minx, she would happily oblige. Now that all the important people in her life knew that she was married and to whom, she felt a new sense of freedom in their relationship.

He groaned as he buried his face in her curls, “merlin's balls, Hermione. Only you could make the suggestion of sex sound so academic."

She giggled, "So do you recant?"

"Hell yes." He kissed her, and she felt his breath catch as she shifted to lean into the kiss. He pressed her back, breaking off the kiss before it got heated. "Let's save our research for another night though. My chest has been on fire for the last hour and between that and the emotional toll of meeting your parents…" he sighed. "I probably need to go to bed soon or I'll need a pain potion just to get up in the morning." Hermione sat up at the mention of the pain in his chest, 

"I haven't made it worse have I?"

He shook his head, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "No, I've enjoyed sitting here with you, it took my mind off of it for a bit." She could see the pain in the lines of his face now, the way he was breathing more shallowly to avoid working the muscles in his chest. 

“How often does it hurt?” 

“This badly or in general?”

“Both.”

“This badly: occasionally. Less often since Astoria has been gone.”

“And normally?” he watched her shift into Doctor mode. Blaise got the same look in his eye when he started asking about Draco’s health.

“I haven’t woken up without some level of pain since I got the scars in the first place. Pain potions will take the worst of the edge off, but those aren’t for daily use, and nothing I’ve tried will do more than pull it back down to a low ache.” 

“God- how do you function?” she looked shocked, he shrugged,

“You can’t stop living just because it hurts.”

Hermione took that in for a long minute. She'd never thought about it like that, she'd just got to work doing her best to get rid of the pain. But she'd been older, more able to take steps for herself than Draco had been when he'd received his scars.

“Wait here.” she got up and walked into her bedroom, when she came back out she had a small jar in one hand. “I don’t know if this will help or not. It's still in the trial phase- but it works on my mudblood scar.” she handed him the jar,

“What is it?” he opened it and the scent of rosemary and something else... Dittany or sage maybe?

“It's a slow healing salve I've been working on for the past few years. It essentially negates the slow deterioration that is inherent with dark magic injuries. I keep tweaking it to make it work better. Apply it in the morning and before bed. Generously. I have more at the cottage."

He closed his hand around the small jar, at best his chest had been a dull ache in the back of his mind on a daily basis for a decade. He had learned to tune it out and carry on. He never thought he’d actually be free of the pain. Part of him still thought he deserved it. Penance for the person he was before. Blaise said he was full of shit. Carmichael agreed, though he used more professional language for it.

"Thank you." 

Hermione stood up,

"I'm going to get changed for bed and probably bother Maudsley for some tea while you apply that ointment."

He took her hand, "It can wait, 'Mione."

"Take ten minutes, Drake. You'll sleep better I promise. We can talk more over the tea."

he sighed, but stood up as well. “Alright.” 

It took five minutes to get the salve worked into every scar on his torso. The effect was almost immediate though as the burning feeling faded away like a grease fire properly smothered. The underlying constant ache took longer, but by the time he was dressed in his pajamas and heading back to the common room that too had begun to ease and he felt lighter than he had in years.

Hermione was braiding her hair back as he came up behind her. 

"It's a lot more fun when your hair is down." He said as he leaned over the back of the couch. She tilted her head back to look at him, "it's much easier to tame when I lock it up at night though."

Draco chuckled as he joined her on the couch. "Blaise tell you the running theory on your hair during school?"

"Hmmm, he told me that all you slytherin boys were obsessed with it, and that Theodore Nott suggested it was sentient and doing my homework for me." 

"I don't know about Blaise being obsessed with it, but Theo was." Draco poured himself a cup of tea as she finished tying her hair back. 

"And you?"

Draco hummed, "between you and me, I've wanted to bury my face in your hair since sixth year. Figured you'd have hexed my balls off though."

“I absolutely would have hexed you. Probably would have thought you were going to murder me. I thought you hated me back then.”

"I hated pretty much everyone back then.” he breathed in the steam from the cup in his hands, “Thank Merlin for Carmichael. He’s been exceedingly helpful with working through all that mess over the years.” they sat in the quiet for a few minutes as Hermione prepared herself a cup of tea as well.

"How do you feel now?" She asked finally. 

"Like an entirely new person. The worst of the pain was gone by the time I was done applying it. And now…" he took a sip of his tea and took stock of himself.  "Even the constant ache is almost gone."

Hermione smiled over the rim of her cup, "I'm glad it works for you. It takes the pain completely away for me, but my scar is significantly smaller." She leaned forward and set her cup back on the table, stretching her back and shoulders.

"Have you thought about sharing it with the hospital?" Draco sat back on the couch, his cup of tea cradled just under his nose. The bergamot in the earl grey was his favorite.

"The basic recipe is in the final phase of trials now. I’m hoping it’ll be approved for general distribution by the end of next year." She sat back as well and propped her slippered feet on the table, "I keep adjusting my personal batch, my goal is to make it so that with consistent use over a year or so it will actually slowly purify and reverse the effects of the dark magics without affecting the users own magic. Everything I've found about removing the marks of the dark magic warns that the only way is to completely remove all magic, which just isn't a viable option for most. There's always a few outliers of course, who would rather lose their magic than die or live in constant pain. But those are generally rare and extreme cases…" Hermione kept talking and Draco just sat back and listened to her. She started talking about her research into the healing potions and how she'd begun the design process for the salve.

"I wish I could talk to professor Snape about this. I'm sure with his background in the dark arts he would have had plenty to add." She sighed.

"Have you spoken to his portrait?" Draco asked,

"Yes. McGonagall suggested it when I started my work on it. That's where I got the idea for the rosemary dittany hybrid. He had started working on something similar in our sixth year, but of course everything fell apart the next year and I've reached the limits of the portraits' knowledge.”

"Does McGonagall have a copy of his potions journals?"

"No, all of that went missing in the chaos of the war." 

Draco hummed thoughtfully, "Ask Binxley in the morning. It's possible they were brought here for safekeeping when he became headmaster." He yawned. 

"I'm sorry I've been rambling." Hermione said, Draco chuckled,

"Not at all. I'm very interested, and would like to help in any way I can. It's just that it's nearly 1am and Scorpius will have me up at 3 for a bottle."

"I should let you get to bed then." She stood up and began tidying the tea tray. 

"Just leave it there" he said when she picked it up, "maudsley will take care of it in the morning." He stood as well, 

"Alright. Well, goodnight Draco." She said awkwardly, she turned toward her room but he grabbed her hand, 

"Sleep with me tonight, Hermione."

"What?" She turned back to him, "Draco, you're exhausted." 

"Not like that. I just… I feel like if I don't keep you near me that I'll wake up and all this will have been a dream." He looked down at their joined hands, Hermione wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"It does feel like a dream doesn't it?"

Draco just held her for a long moment, “the best kind of dream.” he said softly. Scorpius started crying then and Draco sighed into her hair. "Reality calls. At least he woke up before I fell asleep." 

“Mmm.” she hummed in agreement, nodding into his chest. He leaned down and kissed her sweetly, and started to release her then, but she kissed him back with a fire that would have been hard to put out had there not been a baby prying at his mind and crying loudly in the next room. 

He pulled away from her, setting his hands on her shoulders to put some distance between them.

“Goodnight love.” and he left her standing there to go feed the hungry baby.

When he closed the nursery door half an hour later he saw the bedside lamp he never used was lit and it took him an embarrassingly long moment to figure out why. 

Hermione had brought her pillow and book and fallen asleep reading in his bed. Even as he stood there watching she rolled to her side, the book she'd been reading falling into the space she'd left for him. He walked to his bed and looked down at the witch asleep there. Since her parents had accepted the two of them she had been more relaxed, happier, almost playful in a way he hadn’t seen in her before and he liked it. He picked up the book and laid it on his night stand, noticing the pearls she had been wearing were coiled there neatly waiting for the tiny dragon that still slept soundly on his wrist. He decided to leave the little dragonet where she was. If she woke and wanted the pearls again she’d find them easily enough. With a bit of wandless magic he put the light out before pulling his shirt off and climbing into bed himself. 

"Huh?" She said half asleep as the mattress shifted under his weight.

"Just go back to sleep love." He whispered back, pulling the quilt up to his neck as she shifted towards him. Her warm hand slipped over his waist as she snuggled close to his back and he melted, life was almost perfect like this. 

Chapter 21. Research of a different sort.

She was healing every one who came in as quickly as she could, but the wounded kept coming. Where the hell was Blaise? She needed his help. The next cot she came to stopped her in her tracks. She recognized the blonde woman sitting still as a statue beside the bed. Luna. Her face was empty- she still breathed but she was dead inside. Blaise lay unmoving, he could be asleep but for the lifeless eyes staring up at the clouded sky that filled the great hall. Hermione spun- the Weasleys crowded around not one but two bodies. Ginny and Fred both. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Then suddenly Lucius Malfoy was standing before her- “Dr. Granger.” he snapped, “pull yourself together woman. You have work to do.”

Then Narcissa was there holding Scorpius- the blood dripping painfully slow from his limp body. She was too late. 

“Your son needed you." Narcissa held the baby out to her but she kept drifting away. "My son needed you.” Hermione turned again and saw Draco as he had been at the hospital that day- broken, bloodied. She stumbled to her knees at his side. 

“No! Drake! Please. " She felt the crushing pain of panic in her chest and she struggled to breathe. "Please" she gasped, his body was cold. Pulse gone. The puddle of blood surrounding him seeped into her clothes as she choked on the scream that tore itself from her throat. 

"Hermione!" She lay there, frozen. The tight feeling of panic still making it hard to breathe. She gasped for air, heart pounding. The room was dark and the sharp scent of citrus was unfamiliar and made her struggle to remember where she was. The large warm hand on her shoulder was calming though.

"Hermione." She rolled over, Draco sat beside her, whole and alive. The nightmare. Just a nightmare. Lucius was dead and gone. Blaise, Ginny, and Scorpius were all fine. Draco was fine.

She finally realized Draco was beside her because she was in his bed, and her brain finished bringing reality back into focus. 

"I dreamed you were dead. And Scorpius, and Blaise and– and–" she started sobbing, he pulled her into his arms.

"Hey, it's all right, love. It was just a nightmare." He said softly, his hands moving on her back calming her. But her mind took her back to when she had first met Scorpius. The way he had looked at her, the fear fading from his eyes as if he could die happy, safe in her arms.

"There was so much blood. If it hadn't been me- no one knew what was wrong- they kept trying to heal him and he just kept bleeding. If they hadn't called me when they did– he almost died in my arms."

Draco realized she was processing the day he'd brought Scorpius to the hospital- the day they started down the path that led them to where they were now. "Shhhh. It's alright. You saved him. He's fine." He stroked her back as she cried into his bare chest, the edge of his quilt clutched at her face. After a long time she calmed down.

"What time is it?" She asked through shuddering hiccups. Draco glanced at the wall clock, 

"5:30"

She groaned. 

"You can go back to sleep, love." He ran his hand over her hair. The braid was still intact, though some shorter strands had come loose during the night. 

"Will you stay with me?" She sounded so vulnerable in that moment, he couldn't have denied her anything. 

"Always." 

She fell asleep with her head on his shoulder within a few minutes and he wasn't far behind her. 

Draco woke up two hours later- not to a screaming woman this time, but to a giggling baby. 

“Dadadadadadada!”

“Daddy’s sleeping sunshine.” Hermione stood beside the bed looking down at him and smiling, Scorpius in her arms still in his sleeper. 

He stretched, “I have a feeling you meant to wake me up.” 

“That would be highly probable.” she laughed, “Scorpius says he wants to go to the park after breakfast. He keeps showing me a green space with trees and other people walking, so I know it’s not the garden.”

“Mm, we usually go for a walk after breakfast, so that’s no surprise.”

Draco got up and Hermione watched appreciatively as he crossed the room to his closet. 

“Like what you see, Granger?”

“Mmm. yes, but I’m thinking about books- beautiful leather bound books.” Draco chuckled, Scorpius was probably entrenched in her mind.

“We need to get you started on those occlumency lessons.” he called from the long cedar lined room.

He came back a minute later in jeans but with his shirt in his hand rather than on his body.

“Shall I call Pipsy to distract Scorpius for a bit so you can get back to ogling me?” he wrapped an arm about her waist, pulling her and Scorpius close to him. Scorpius grabbed at him, “Dadadadadada!” he squealed happily, sending excited thoughts of Hermione being there when he woke up.

Hermione grinned up at him, Merlin, she was soft. Astoria had always been thin and hard and cold. “Any particular reason you haven’t got your clothes on properly yet, Mr. Malfoy?” she asked, 

“Mmmm” he pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot under her ear, making her gasp. “Was wondering if my wife would like to assist me with the salve this morning. It's amazing to wake up and not be in pain. What do you call the stuff anyway? Surely there’s a catchy name for it.”

“God- you need to call Pipsy before my poor excuse at blocking our son out of my head fails.” she breathed, her face and neck flushed red. 

Draco laughed and caught Scorpius up out of her arms. He knocked on the wall closest to him and Gadsby popped into the room,

“Yes, Master Draco?”

“Can you please have Pipsy get Scorpius ready for the day? I have other matters that need my attention at the moment.” Hermione blushed as Gadsby glanced at her before taking the baby from Draco. 

“Of course sir.” Gadsby was about the size of a human five year old- and the infant seemed like he’d make the elf fall over, but Gadsby handled him easily. Then the two of them were gone and Draco turned back to her, “now, where was I?”

“The salve?” 

“Yes, and the ogling.” he summoned the ointment from his nightstand with a bit of nonverbal wandless magic and unnecessary flexing. Hermione scoffed, “show off.” 

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” he stepped closer to her and felt rather smug as her eyes traveled his body,
“Oh I can see plenty.” there was a fire in her eyes that made his blood run hot.

“We could get started on that research you were recommending last night instead if you’d rather.”

“I would very much rather. You know I hate to put off my homework.” 

He had her in his arms then, every blessed curve seeming to beg for his touch. She was on her toes, stretching to catch his lips in a kiss that expressed all she wanted. 

An hour later Hermione’s stomach growled, and she groaned.

“Hungry, love?” Draco asked, his hand stretching to cover her stomach, his touch warm and gentle on her bare skin.

“Mmm, I don’t want to get up though.”

“Well, we can’t stay here forever. I’m sure Scorpius still wants to go to the park.”

Hermione sighed dramatically, “Fine. I’ll get up.” She rolled out of bed and put her pajamas back on. Inspecting the collar of her favorite worn in tshirt before she tugged it on. It hung off of one shoulder now.

“I think you ruined it.” she said as Draco too got up.

“Eh, I like it better that way.” he pressed a kiss to the exposed shoulder, 

“Get dressed, you menace.” she pushed him away gently and he chuckled as he pulled his clothes on. 

Within thirty minutes the three of them were walking through a little green park on the wizarding side of Bath. Hermione had asked Gadsby to see if there was a pram anywhere in storage so they wouldn’t have to carry Scorpius in arms during their walk. The one he found had to have been Draco’s when he was a baby. It was still in quite serviceable condition though so Hermione managed to convince Draco not to try and replace it at such short notice. 

Their first stop was a little coffee shop. It was mostly empty, the initial morning rush was over and gone. Hermione didn’t realize that it was a common stop for Draco until they got to the counter. 

“Drake, my man. You’ve been all over the papers lately.” the barista flicked his wand and the coffee machines started whirring and humming behind him. 

“Hey Mickey. Yeah. Probably all codswallop as per the usual. What’s the latest mess they’re printing?”

“Just some shite about your divorce." He shrugged as he worked alongside the magic to assemble what was obviously Draco's usual order.

“Oh so that’s out now is it?”

“Yeah, weekly is on the counter if you want to have a go” Hermione stood back watching the two men gossip like a couple of old women, then ‘Mickey’ turned to her as Draco picked up the morning edition of Witch Weekly,

“Dr. Granger, what can I get for you?” Hermione was taken aback at the familiarity of the young man. She knew she was almost as recognizable as Draco, but it still made her feel odd to have complete strangers address her by name.

“Um- Mocha breve please.”

“Shit” She turned sharply as Draco pulled his phone out of his pocket and hit a speed dial, pinning it between his shoulder and ear while he flipped through the paper again- scanning columns of text. Hermione moved to join him and he handed her the periodical, stabbing a finger at the article as he snagged the phone again “MacReynolds? Yeah, have you seen Witch Weekly this morning?”

The headline read in huge red letters- “Golden Girl Hermione Granger turned Homewrecker” the photo of her on the front cover appeared to be her dancing at a club, but she knew better. She’d never be caught dead in the sort of bodycon dress that left nothing to the imagination. The shoes were familiar though- and the long tan legs. Draco came back then, “Thank you MacReynolds. I’ll get that back to you ASAP.” he flipped his phone shut then back open again typing away at the keys.

“They pasted my head on Pansy’s body!”
“I know, I’m texting her now." 

“I haven’t even gotten to the article yet.”

“It’s a doozie.” Mickey said, setting two espresso cups on the counter beside her. "Anything to eat this morning?” There was a plate with a croissant beside the one cup which she assumed was Draco’s usual. She looked through the case of baked goods, 

“The cinnamon rolls are excellent for breakfast.” Draco offered with a glance at the case. 

“Does that mean you’re going to eat half of it?” she asked, he just grinned at her as he tucked his phone in his pocket. She turned back to the Barista, “Make it two cinnamon rolls Mickey, I don’t trust this husband of mine not to steal my breakfast.” Draco looked like he might comment on that but she stopped him in his tracks, “I already had my workout this morning.” she said coyly. Draco's eyes lit up as he remembered their 'morning workout' and paid for their breakfast. They sat at a small table out front enjoying their cinnamon rolls and coffee. 

"Do you want to know what the article said?" Draco asked as Hermione unrolled her cinnamon roll. She shrugged

"I'm sure knowing would prepare me for the public outrage at my 'ruining' your marriage, but I honestly can't bring myself to care what anyone else thinks of us right now. Our friends and family are all fine with it and know the truth. The rest of the world can live with the lies if they want."

Draco took her hand, 

"I am doing my best to limit the spread of the lies. MacReynolds is drawing up an official letter about what happened to be released to the daily prophet and witch weekly, we'll probably want to send a photo of the three of us along with it or I'm sure someone will get the bright idea of slapping your head on Astoria's portrait this time."

"So we need to get a photo taken today?"

"Yeah." He sighed, "which means finding a photographer and picking out outfits and all that mess." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is going to be an absolute headache."

"Doing it like that does sound like a headache." She took a sip of her coffee, the mocha was rich and delicious. "It doesn't have to be anything super formal does it?"

Draco hesitated. 

"No, a simple family portrait would suffice I think."

"I have a camera and tripod at the cottage. We could lay out a quilt in the garden, take the picture in five minutes or less." Scorpius was smashing the abandoned croissant with glee and Draco raised an eyebrow, "I think your idea of a simple family portrait and my idea of a simple family portrait are two very different things."

Hermione also raised an eyebrow. 

"I think my idea would be adorable and more personal. I'm sure your fan club would love it, and I know my parents would enjoy having a copy for the office." He couldn't really argue with that.

"Well, I'm all for anything that chips away at the chances of 'ex death eater' being tacked on to my name in the media." Draco moved his coffee cup out of the way of the grabby baby hands and started pulling his own cinnamon roll apart. "And I don't have a fan club." 

Hermione snorted a laugh.

"You totally have a fan club. At least two of the nurses I work with regularly would KILL to be sitting here having coffee with you right now." 

"You can't be serious." he pulled the center of his cinnamon roll out and ate it slowly, savoring the best part first.

"I've had to tell one girl to keep her opinions of you to herself twice since you and Scorpius first showed up at the hospital." Hermione sipped at her coffee, also making sure to keep the hot cup well out of Scorpius' reach- which seemed to be growing by the hour.

"So showing up and interrupting your work when you go back would be a bad idea?" 

"Are you already planning on doing that?" He grinned mischievously at her,

"Maybe…" he sipped his coffee, "out of curiosity what were her opinions of me."

"That you were the stuff of daydreams."

"Oh?" he lifted an eyebrow,

"Pornographic ones."

"Oh." Draco shuddered "eeeh, that's skeevy."

"Yeah. Like I said, I've had to talk to her."

They finished their coffee and rolls, and took a leisurely walk about the park. They were about halfway around the green when Draco’s phone went off. It was MacReynolds asking if they could come by the office and sign off on the piece for the media release. Draco arranged to go by in an hour so they’d have the chance to get the photo done.

They split up from there, Hermione heading back to her place to pick up the camera and tripod before going back to the manor. Draco took Scorpius home and got him changed. 

Hermione was back to the manor before Draco had decided what to wear himself, she left the camera in the common room and knocked on his door.

“Drake?”

“In here.” he stood in his closet half dressed in crisp black slacks and an undershirt. 

"Merlin, love. Informal, relatable. Put your blue jeans back on." She flipped through the shirts and pulled a long sleeve blue Henley shirt down.

"Here. Jeans and this." He raised an eyebrow, but took the shirt. 

"I don't think I've ever been photographed in anything this informal in my life."

"Well today will be a first then."

"What are you going to wear?" He asked as she turned to go back to her room,

"You'll see." She called back.

In her room she traded the soft brown skirt she'd been wearing that morning for a pair of blue jeans herself, she had a green top that would complement the blue she'd pulled for Draco. She dug through the massive mostly empty closet and realized she'd left it behind at the cottage and disapparated to her bedroom in the other house.

It took her a minute to find the shirt she was looking for in a pile of clean laundry that had been abandoned mid folding thanks to the chaos of the week.

She banished the wrinkles with a quick ironing charm and then tugged it on and apparated back to the manor. 

She popped back into her room and Draco jumped, 

"Merlin's sweaty ball sack Granger! Where'd you go?"

"Had to dash back to the cottage, half my clothes are still out there you know." He sighed, 

"Sorry. I forgot. We can have Gadsby and Binx move the rest of your things this afternoon if you want."

Hermione shrugged, "I'll figure out what I need here vs there eventually." She walked past him to her bathroom to fix her makeup. She probably shouldn't go barefaced for the daily prophet and witch weekly.

"We could move some of your stuff out there if you want." She called back to him, "I've got space in my closet for you now." Draco followed her through the closet.

"Are you sure we should do it like this?"

"Absolutely." She popped her compact open and deftly applied the minimal makeup she preferred to wear. "We can do the official formal portrait later of course, you'll need something to replace the ghastly thing you have hanging in the dining room. I swear Astoria had to have sucked a lemon just before that was made." Draco leaned against the counter next to her, 

"she hated me so much she couldn't even pretend to be happy for a few minutes." 

Hermione put her makeup brush down and turned to wrap her arms around her husband.

"Your mother quoted Shakespeare at me the other day- all the world's a stage and all that. She talked about considering what image I'm putting out there for society to see, and the image I want to show the wider wizarding world is that I'm happy here with you and our son." Draco looked down at her, his arms wrapping tightly about her. "I'm happy with you as well." He said. She rose up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. 

"Are you ready for this?"

He pushed his sleeves up to his elbows, "ready as I'll ever be."

"Oh! Where's your wand?"

"Pocket. I figured the holster would be pretty obnoxious for the picture."

"I'm wearing mine." She shook her wand into her hand and summoned Draco's holster. 

"We're not hiding who we are, or trying to be what people want us to be, Draco. We're giving the nosy people a glimpse into who we are now." He took the holster from her and cast the wand charms before putting it on framing his mark just as hers did then took a deep breath.

"Alright. Let's do this."

They collected Scorpius from Pipsy, who had been given care of him again while Draco had changed. Hermione sent Draco to collect the quilt off her bed while she changed Scorpius out of the fancy little designer outfit his father had dressed him in. When he got back with the quilt neatly folded in his arms he found Hermione playing with Scorpius. “Oh no!” she gasped, “where’s your arm?” one arm through the hole of the bodysuit, “There it is!” Scorpius giggled and wiggled wildly. “And your other arm?” she asked, “oh! There it is!” she tickled his tummy as he kicked and laughed. She snapped up the bodysuit and repeated the game with his feet into the little dungarees she’d pulled from his drawers.  “There’s my little sunshine!” she picked him up and set him on his feet, holding him upright as he bounced. Draco leaned against the door frame, “now, let's find daddy shall we?” she propped the baby on her hip and turned, jumping slightly when she saw Draco standing in the doorway.

“Oh! Drake! You startled me.”

“Dadadada!” Scorpius giggled.

“I got the quilt. Are you ready to go down?”

“Yeah, just need to grab the camera and tripod. They’re on the couch.”

They split the load, Draco took the tripod while Hermione slung the camera strap across her shoulder. 

“Is that a muggle camera or wizarding one?” It was old enough that Draco had a hard time telling the difference.

“It’s wizard made, but it’s got settings for still photos as well. It wouldn’t quite do to have a moving one at my parents' muggle dentistry office.” 

They laid the quilt out under the same tree she and Scorpius had been sitting under the day before and then Hermione set up the camera while Draco sat down with Scorpius.

She snapped a handful of candids of the two of them before setting the camera to just keep taking photos every couple of seconds until she turned it off, then joined them on the quilt. 

“What now?” Draco asked as she sat down beside him. 

“Mmm, now I’m going to take Scorpius, you’re going to kiss me, and then we’ll see what happens next.” Draco laughed,

“Have you got the camera set to take moving pictures then?”

“It’s taking ALL the pictures. I’m sure we’ll have something usable.” She pulled Scorpius into her lap and Draco brushed a curl out of her face, his hand resting lightly under her chin.

“So you want me to kiss you?” he asked as she looked up at him,

“Every day for the rest of my life if you please.” he leaned in and kissed her gently. 

“Not sure I want a picture of the two of us kissing on the front page tomorrow.” he said softly as they separated.

“Oh, that’s for my book of memories.”

“Well, see you should have told me that before. I could have done a better job.” the mischievous look on his face was delightful. 

“Mmm, give that grin to the camera first, then you can amend your previous kiss if you wish.” They both turned to look at the camera for a second, and Draco looked back down at his wife before she stopped smiling at the camera. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he was so glad they were together now. 

The article for the daily prophet and witch weekly was finished and submitted along with a photo of the three of them being the picture of a content little family, Draco looking down at her lovingly while Scorpius clapped happily in her lap. Hermione set a still version aside to frame for her parents. The rest of the day consisted of the mundane tasks of moving in for Hermione. By the end of the day her room at the manor was a disaster, and all she wanted was a cup of tea and a book to lose herself in. She finally asked Binxley about the potions journals and soon found herself ensconced in a corner of the library she hadn’t explored yet- Snape’s private library had indeed been brought to the Manor at some point, though whether preceding his death or after it she didn’t know. 

“Ah, you found Snape’s journals. Have they been helpful?” Hermione was so wrapped up in her work that she hadn’t heard Draco come in looking for her.

“Oh! Drake! Did you know Snape started work on that slow healing potion because of you?”

“He never said anything about it, but knowing him I’m not surprised.” he leaned against the back of her chair, “listen, I know I should have probably asked you this before you got all your things put away- but, um, would you like to, maybe, share a room?” Hermione looked up at him, and he realized Crookshanks was curled up in her lap under the desk. 

“I’d like that very much.”

That night they fell asleep talking about their hopes and dreams and plans for the future.

Chapter 22. Bludgers and Birthday Parties.

"Draco!" Hermione shouted from the center of the massive foyer, she was hoping that with the twenty foot tall ceiling and tile floors turning the mostly empty room into an echo chamber there would be a chance that he'd hear her wherever he'd wandered off too. This house was way too big for just the three of them, and she knew if she went looking for him the chances of her finding him before he arrived at the foyer looking for HER were slim. So she stayed put. “Where on earth is your father, Sunshine?” Hermione sighed as she swayed side to side, rocking the baby on her hip. She had no idea where her husband had disappeared to and it was time to go. She had her swimsuit on under her tank top and shorts and the diaper bag sat waiting by her sandaled feet. The bottle of Dragon Barrel Brandy Draco had pulled out of his collection as a gift to Harry was wrapped prettily and tucked into the bag as well as the book on broomstick design she had picked out for him. She only lacked Draco. She looked down at her watch and was just about to send for Gadsby to locate him when he came striding into the foyer with his broom and quidditch bag slung across his shoulder. 

“My lady called?” he said as he swung the broom to the floor.
“Where were you?” she tried not to snap at him, technically he wasn’t late- they still had 5 minutes before they HAD to leave. 

“Outside getting my broom. Scorpius actually called me.” he leaned in and blew a raspberry kiss on Scorpius’ cheek, making the baby shriek with giggles. Hermione couldn’t help but smile at the interaction between father and son. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yep.” he shifted his stance slightly and kissed her before snagging the diaper bag and settling it on the same shoulder with his quidditch bag as he stood up straight.

“After you, Love.”

Hermione stepped into the floo and tossed the handful of powder to the ground “Potter Cottage.”

She stepped smoothly out into Harry and Ginny’s main living area, the room pausing in the buzzing conversation to see who had arrived.

“Hermione!” Blaise called with a wave as Scorpius started bouncing and kicking, reaching for his godfather. He was by her side taking the excited baby from her arms as Draco came through the floo.  The conversations that had resumed in that brief moment froze as Draco set his broom to the side and brushed the ash out of his hair. Hermione caught the sudden movement of someone turning and leaving the room, Hannah Abbott Longbottom turned to follow her husband, "Neville?" She called after him. A few moments later Hermione heard the front door slam and then the pop of someone disapparating from the yard. Hannah came back in almost in tears, Alice on her hip as she collected the diaper bag and said goodbye to Ginny who had appeared at her elbow to make sure she was alright. She left as quietly as possible, obviously embarrassed at her husband's behavior. The rest of the room stood frozen until Andromeda Tonks and nearly 9 year old Teddy Lupin came through the floo before anyone else could decide to take active offense at Draco's presence. 

Draco had been in contact with his aunt regularly if infrequently the past three years and she greeted him warmly. 

"Draco! Lovely to see you dear! And I hear congratulations are in order. You could have owled me you know." Teddy bounced away as only a hyper 9 year old could with a "Hi Draco, Bye Draco!"

Draco leaned down and kissed Andromeda on the cheek, "my apologies aunt. It's been a chaotic week."

"Mmmm." She lifted a censuring eyebrow at her nephew before turning to his wife and embracing her affectionately. "Hermione, welcome to the family darling. Cissa was so pleased when she heard the news." Hermione responded warmly as Harry and Ginny made their way over to greet the new arrivals. 

"You're just in time! we're fixing to settle the teams for a quick round of quidditch before we eat. You still play seeker?"

"Eh, started playing chaser a couple years ago." Draco shrugged, handing Hermione the diaper bag.

"He's got one hell of an arm," Blaise said, knocking his shoulder against Draco's as he still held Scorpius. "nearly took the keeper through the rings with the quaffle one round during med school. You'd make a great keeper too Drake. between your seeker skills and the way you throw the quaffle." 

"You know that's the least fun to play." Draco said 

"Doesn't change the fact that you'd be good at it."

"I'd be bored out of my skull."

" How come you never played chaser in school then?" Ginny asked as she snugged down one of her bracers. She was dressed and ready to play. 

"Because Flint was an idiot." Blaise said flippantly as Draco shrugged,

"I don't think Flint ever thought about me playing a different position really. He wasn't much for using his brain honestly. Kinda baffling how he even ended up being quidditch captain."

"Well I can't argue with you there." She turned to her husband, "I'm taking Charlie for seeker then." 

"Fine with me, but I get Draco and Blaise."

Apparently Ginny and Harry were playing opposite teams. 

"Hey, I wanted Blaise."

"No bickering till we get everyone lined up, Ginevra." Blaise quipped and Ginny shot a glare at him "I let it fly the last time you called me that because we were in public, Zabini. Be glad you've got the baby this time or Harry'd be down a chaser while you iced your balls." Harry snickered as Blaise stepped back, paling slightly  

"Yes ma'am. Won't happen again."

The quidditch discussion moved outdoors, leaving Hermione with Scorpius once more. She made the rounds greeting her friends. Most had polite congratulations for her after having read the article in that morning's copy of the Daily Prophet. She moved out to the back yard where the quidditch game was just getting started, Luna had settled in a low chair under a shade tent that had been erected. 

"Hey Luna."

"Hello Hermione."

"How did the teams turn out?"

"Oh Ginny's team is red and Harry's is yellow."

Hermione looked out across the field that the potter's had set up as a short quidditch pitch. The rings were only 15 feet tall and the overall pitch size was about half. She could easily recognize each of the players even as they mounted their brooms and took off. Blaise had ended up on Ginny's team after all. 

Hermione watched with interest for the first ten or fifteen minutes, it didn't take long for Draco to score a couple of times for his team and Blaise and Ginny to bring the teams even again. The keepers were struggling to keep up. Hermione had just stood up to sooth a fussy Scorpius when Molly Weasley came out and stood at the edge of the shade, 

"Hermione?"

She turned, Scorpius was humming in her head, happy and content now that she had started moving. "Molly! Come sit, there's a good view of the game from here." She said pleasantly, she'd had time to think about what Molly had said and done since Wednesday and had decided that she wouldn't approach Molly, but if Molly came to her she'd not hold anything against her, whether she apologized or not.

"I wanted to apologize for the other day, I shouldn't have said what I said, to either of you. Ginny told me what Malf– what your husband has gone through. I didn't realize– I was so wrapped up in my own pain…" she squeezed her hands together, "I'm sorry." Hermione gave Molly a one armed hug which the older woman returned careful not to squish the baby who wriggled and giggled in Hermione's arms. 

"Thank you." She said into Molly’s shoulder. When the two women separated Hermione shifted Scorpius higher up on her hip. "Would you like to meet my son?"

Molly sniffed and wiped a stray tear away, giving Hermione a watery smile. "I'd love too." Hermione shifted Scorpius around to face molly. "This is Scorpius. Blaise and draco call him scorp, I call him my sunshine." Molly held a hand out to the baby and he turned his face away, hiding in Hermione's shoulder. "He can be a bit shy around strangers."

 Molly rubbed his back gently. "I understand, little one." She took a deep breath and moved on, little Scorpius would get to know her in time. "I read the article in the prophet this morning. The picture is lovely."

"Thanks, I took it yesterday in–"

"Merlin's balls, that's gotta hurt." Luna exclaimed. Hermione turned to the pitch to see who had been injured and saw Draco headed for the ground, his arm wrapped around his chest. 

"I'm just gonna go check and make sure he's alright." She handed Scorpius to Luna and started walking briskly toward the pitch. When he hit the ground and didn't stand back up, her walk turned into a dead sprint. Something wasn't right.

Draco was focused on getting the quaffle through the ring, the seeker training he had was doing him the disservice of making him tune out the Beaters that were shouting for his attention, he'd outstripped his own team mates and didn’t see the bludger coming straight at him before it hit him. It was only by pure reflex that he stayed on his broom, it hit him square in the chest and he felt the bones snap at the impact. He landed carefully, the rest of the players filtering down slowly. He went to his knees, unable to stand upright from the pain in his chest. Harry hit the ground running and was next to him in a minute. “Drake, you all right?”

Draco struggled to get a full breath in, it burned like hell. 

“I think I’m out for this round, Potter. Broke at least one rib.” his arm was wrapped around his torso- and he felt himself getting light headed. Hermione was coming across the pitch at a dead sprint. “What happened?” she gasped as she reached them,

“Bludger to the chest.” Harry said

“At full speed” Draco rasped, it was getting harder and harder to breathe. Hermione looked panicked, he was pale and sweating. She flicked her wand into her hand and stopped. She wasn’t this sort of doctor. Her eyes scanned the other players as they landed in a wide circle around them. Where the Hell was Blaise? The similarities to her nightmare from the other night made her blood run cold. Where the hell was her emergency training? Gone. Because this was her husband and she loved him and she couldn't handle the situation by herself. Draco started to waver and Harry propped him up, "should he lay down, Hermione?" Harry asked, “Hermione?” 

"No. Keep him upright until I can see what's wrong." Blaise was beside her now. Thank Merlin. Bless him.

Harry helped Draco sit on the grass, putting a shoulder behind him to give him something to lean on. Draco’s head dropped against Harry’s shoulder and his breathing was more labored by the second.

“Drake, I need you to stay awake- I know it’s hard mate.” Blaise knelt and with a muttered spell cut a slit in the hem of Draco's Tshirt, then with quick movements ripped it from hem to collar. The right side of his chest was grotesquely caved in, thank Merlin the stupid bludger hadn’t deflected to the left or he‘d never have made it to the ground alive. Blaise started casting diagnostic spells, “Mione, I’m going to need my medical bag unless you have yours on hand.” Hermione pulled herself together and with surprisingly steady hands but a shaking voice “Accio Med Bag” she stuttered. 

Blaise watched the diagnostics- shattered sternum, multiple broken ribs, both lungs punctured, massive internal bleeding. His lips were tinged blue and eyes were going unfocused.

 “I can’t lose him like this Blaise.” Hermione choked. Blaise didn’t respond. He knew Hermione had never been all that great with the emergency medicine, she’d struggled all through the clinicals when dealing with her fellow students. For a complete stranger she was the best person to have on your team. But if it was someone she knew she couldn’t take herself out of the equation.

“Lay him down flat Potter. This is a particularly tricky bit of wand work and I need him as still as possible.” Harry eased Draco flat on his back, then moved to kneel next to Hermione. He could see she was not all right- and wouldn’t be alright until Draco was healed. 

“‘Mione” Draco said, feeling cold and faint, more like he was going to die than he’d ever felt in his life- and he’d had more than one brush with death. He tried to lift his hand, but the muscles in his chest screamed at the motion. “Be still Drake” she said softly, taking his hand in hers.

“I love you.” he whispered, there was barely enough air in his lungs for that, but he had to tell her. She looked at him,

“I love you too." She brushed the hair out of his eyes, her hand resting briefly on his cheek. His skin was cold and clammy, and she saw the consciousness start to fade from his eyes. "Drake, stay with me love." she was starting to panic for real now. “Draco!" Harry caught her about the shoulders, pulling her away from her husband so Blaise could work.

Blaise sat still as stone. Collecting himself as Draco gasped out a few words. By Merlin’s beard he wasn’t about to let them be his last.

“This is gonna hurt.” Blaise said, even though Draco was past being able to hear him, and even if he could, Hermione was screaming now.  His hands were steady as he lifted his wand, running through the pattern once before speaking the incantation.

The magic that hit Draco hurt worse than the broken bones and collapsed lung but it pulled him back from the edge of oblivion and he could breathe again. The ribs popped back into place as his lungs filled fully once more and the blinding pain turned into a throbbing ache in his chest. 

Color filled Draco’s cheeks, his chest the appropriate shape again, his breathing ragged but easing with each passing second- his eyes blinked open. “Fuck Zabini.” he croaked. Hermione had stopped screaming but Harry still held her locked in his arms as she just sat there in shock.  

“I told you it’d hurt.” Blaise sat back on his heels, hands in white knuckled fists on his knees- he’d be shaking like a leaf if he relaxed at all. Merlin, if he never had to perform that spell again in his life he’d be happy. “Also pretty sure I said ‘don’t die.’ not even twenty minutes ago.”

“That was a joke! And it was an accident.” he coughed on the words, his lungs still stretching themselves back out. 

"Regardless. You owe me mate."

"I promise next time I won't let the bludger kill me."

"Next time listen to your fucking beaters or play Keeper you asshat." Blaise snapped.

"Blaise." Draco said gently. "Thank you for saving my life, again . "

Blaise huffed and gathered himself as well as he could, tamping down the anger and after effects of the adrenaline rush he’d relied on to save his best friend's life. He turned and dug through the bag he had summoned, pulling a couple potions out “has he had a pain potion in the last 24 hours?" He asked Hermione who still sat clutching Harry’s arms as he held her. She just stared at nothing. He shifted to kneel in front of her and Harry, his hands cupping her face gently. “Hermione.” no response. He patted her cheek gently. “Hermione.” still nothing. “Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy.” he snapped his fingers an inch from her nose and she startled, eyes finally meeting his. “He’s fine. Has he had any pain potions in the last twenty four hours?”

“No. just the slow healing salve this morning.” she said softly, finally sounding more like herself.

"Alright, I need you to help him drink this and then we can go back to the house.” Blaise handed Hermione the first bottle, giving her purpose. "He can have this one when we get to the house. He'll need something to wash it down with anyway."  Blaise tucked the second bottle into his pocket. Harry let Hermione go and she helped Draco to sit up, he was able to stay up under his own strength now, but he felt like he’d been run over by a truck. “I’m right here.” he said, his voice working fully again.

“Yeah, well, you were more than half past dead a second ago." Blaise snapped the medical bag shut “and she needs something to do to keep her on her feet until she can fall apart in your arms inside.” Draco hadn’t thought of that. He shifted his weight and groaned. The bones were fixed, but the muscles still hurt like hell. “Drink that and it won’t hurt so bad.” Blaise waved at the potion Hermione still held, she pulled the cap off and handed it to him. He threw it back like a shot of firewhiskey and hissed. A shot of firewhiskey would have been preferable to the bitter healing potion probably aimed at repairing any lingering damage to his lungs and muscle structure. Harry helped him to his feet and Hermione slipped an arm around his waist, giving him her shoulder to lean on as they made their way back to Potter cottage. She heard Blaise telling the rest of the players that had circled round that everything was alright, but the game was over. 

The potion had come to full strength by the time they hit the house and all the spectators and non-quidditch folk were buzzing with what had happened. Harry took command of answering the many questions while Blaise, Draco, and Hermione made their way inside. Hermione helped Draco settle on the couch and started to turn away to find Scorpius and get a glass of something to help him take the second potion Blaise had recommended when Draco pulled her down nearly on top of him. She braced her hands on the back of the couch, trying not to put her weight on his healing chest. “Draco!” she exclaimed, “be careful!”

“Snap out of Doctor mode for a minute, Love.” 

“I– I can’t.” she looked away from him, and he saw the glint of tears filling her eyes. “Hermione.” he brushed the back of his hand along her cheek, 

“You nearly died, Draco. I froze up and couldn’t do anything about it. All my fucking training and I couldn’t do anything. I knew what was wrong- and I knew what needed to be done, but I couldn’t.” she sniffed and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her fully into his lap.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” she said as she resisted slightly, 

“the pain is tolerable and will be gone shortly knowing Blaise. I love you and I want to hold you.” she melted into his chest at that, her tears turning into deep wracking sobs. 

“You did the best you could, Love.” he stroked her hair, “Blaise was there, and he took care of the rest.” Blaise stood back by the door- keeping the curious at bay while Draco calmed Hermione. It took several minutes before the tears eased enough for her to be coherent, and when she finally collected herself enough to not be overwhelmed by tears again she got up and hugged Blaise hard. "Thank you." She said, Blaise patted her back, "I didn't want to lose him either." He told her softly, 

“since you're up 'Mione, any chance you can track the diaper bag down? I keep an extra shirt in the left side pocket.” Draco asked, picking at the edge of his ruined shirt. The collar was still intact- and it hung funny with the ragged tear up the front. Blaise snickered, slinging his arm across Hermione's shoulders as she turned to look at Draco. 

“I think your wife is enjoying having you half dressed, Malfoy.” Hermione blushed, 

“If you start in on our sex life Zabini…” she warned.

“Oh, do you have one now?” Hermione shook her wand into her hand and Blaise stepped back

“Gonna hex the guy that just saved your husband's life eh?” 

“Accio Diaper bag” she said, and Draco chuckled as Blaise rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna go get something so you can take that second potion Drake." And Blaise turned and was gone.

The bag came flying into the room a moment later and Hermione pulled Draco's spare shirt out of it then helped him get out of the torn one and into the new. Once he was dressed Hermione snuggled close and laid her head on his shoulder, her right hand resting on his chest just over his heart, his arm about her waist holding her close. 

"I love you, Draco." She whispered. He laid his cheek against the top of her head, his left hand covering her right. 

"I love you too, Hermione."

Hermione had been so sick, and then so tired. She chalked it up to stress. She’d been on more emergency days lately, and the research days had been longer and longer. She and Draco had celebrated their first anniversary in style, official wedding style. White dress, black tux and all. McGonagall officiated. Luna and Ginny had been her bridesmaids, Luna had been due with her first child, but Lysander had decided to wait until the next day to make his appearance. Scorpius was nearly two, and while he was still the spitting image of his father, his hair had grown in almost as curly as Hermione’s. Most people would assume he was her’s at first glance. He followed Hermione around on her day’s off with a constant “mumma? Mumma? What’s this?” “mumma read to me.” “mumma, sing to me?” he still loved it when she sang for him. 

One night as she rocked him to sleep he hummed along with the lullaby. 

“Mumma” he said sleepily, his eyes drifting shut

“Yes sunshine?”

“The baby likes it when you sing.” Hermione stopped rocking,

“What baby, darling?”

“The tiny baby.”

“Can you show me the baby?” Scorpius hummed, 

“Can’t see, just feel mumma. She feels happy when you sing.” The tiny baby. Hermione thought back- she had been so preoccupied with being sick and work and everything… Merlin- it’d been three almost four months since she’d… she finished getting Scorpius to bed and found her husband in his office going through business paperwork.

"Draco." He looked up, concern on his face, she almost always called him Drake anymore.

"Hermione?"

"I need you to cast a diagnostic on me."

"Of course." He stood up and joined her in front of his desk. "You feeling sick again?" She shook her head.

He cast the diagnostic spell and watched in shock as Hermione's stomach glowed golden. She sat down heavily. Draco choked on his words, staring as the light faded. 

"Scorpius said the baby likes it when I sing." she said softly

"Baby" his eyes met hers, she smiled at him, her hand dropping to rest on her now obviously not simply 'bloated' belly

"A daughter, Drake."

"A sister for Scorpius!" He dropped to his knees before her chair, leaning in to kiss her before pressing a kiss to her stomach. 

"When is she due?" He asked

"6 more months give or take."

Chapter 24. Epilogue: 10 years later

"Mooommmm!! I can't find my book!" Cassiopeia whined as she flounced into the little kitchen that seemed to grow tinier with each passing year.

"What were you reading last, darling?" Hermione asked, flipping pancakes onto a plate.

"Nancy drew and the secret of red gate farm."

"Mmm, your sister had that last." Nearly 10 year old Cassie sighed and took off shouting for her younger sister. "Lyra!"

The 8 year old peeked over the edge of the couch, "I'm over here." She said airly, "You don't have to shout, people are trying to read." She sounded and looked like Luna, and Hermione sometimes jokingly wondered if Lyra and Carmen hadn't been switched at birth. But Carmen was the spitting image of Blaise, so probably not. 

"Mom." Hermione felt the familiar touch of her son's mind on her own. What once had been chubby baby fingers now the gentle warmth of a growing boy. "Come see what Leo and I found in the garden!" She turned the griddle off, "let me get these last pancakes off the stove and I'll be right there, Sunshine." She sent back. 

"Alright. I'll make sure it doesn't escape before you get here."

"Escape?" She flipped the pancakes onto the plate a touch too early, but if the boys had something alive trapped in the garden…

She wiped her hands off on her apron as she walked to the front door of her little cottage and saw her eldest and youngest sitting on the steps, one head of white blond curls, the other brown and straight like his father's. Their faces were carbon copies of each other. 

"careful Leo, you don't want to hurt it." Scorpius said, in his hands sat a tiny green dragon she hadn't seen in a year or more, the strand of pearls having been tucked away in the most comfortable jewelry box that sat on the mantle in her room and was only opened on very special occasions. "Nuri?" She said as she knelt by her boys, the dragon turned its head toward her and snorted a tiny spurt of fire. Leo jumped back with a squeak, clutching at her arm. 

"Really?" Scorpius said to the dragon, "he says his name is Kai. But he knows Nuri." 

"Can he stay with us, mom?" Leonidas asked, tugging on her apron.

"If he wants to, darling. Dragons, even tiny ones like Kai, are their own creatures." She ruffled his dark hair, "Let me get your father." She went back into the house and found Draco sprawled out on the library couch ostensibly reading, but it looked more like he was napping to her. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "wake up sleeping beauty," 

Draco woke quickly, "mmm? Was I asleep?"

"Yes, and before breakfast was on the table too. I didn't keep you up that late last night."

Draco pulled her down on top of him, nuzzling her neck and pressing kisses to her jaw. 

"You can keep me up late any night, love." She laughed and kissed him back.

"I came to get you because your son's have something they want you to see." She said as she pushed up off his chest. 

He sat up, taking her with him. 

"Really, well I guess I better go see it."

"Mmm, also apparently Scorpius' legilimency works on dragons."

"They found a Dragon?" He was on his feet and out the door in a second. Hermione just sat on the couch and smiled for a minute. She could hear Draco and the boys talking on the front porch, then heard Draco call back into the house for the girls to join them. She loved these weekends in the country just as much as the weekdays at the manor. Scorpius would be off to Hogwarts in a couple of months and life would be quieter without him. Blaise's boy, Lysander would be going the next year, and Scorpius would have James and Albus there too. She got up off the couch and the movement in the family photo on her desk caught her eye. Blaise and Luna with Carmen and Lysander on one side, Harry and Ginny with James, Albus, and Lily on the other. And in the middle, her and Draco with their four. The children all laughing and smiling. 

Life was perfect.

The End.

Heyo everyone! I am absolutely blown away by how much everyone is enjoying this! I have thousands of words of deleted scenes that I want to share as well so I'm posting them in a second work, My Little Sunshine: Deleted Scenes for your enjoyment. I'm doing my best to post them in order. You'll get to read the two previous versions of Chapter 10 that are the reason it took me AGES and AGES to get to the current version of Chapter 10 (finally realized that Hermione had no reason to be at the Zabini's the night after Astoria attacked). As well as Hermione and Draco trying to talk about their relationship WELL before they end up married, and a couple of mildly spicy scenes from after they're married. There's more, but spoilers darlings! I'm not going to get them all posted today, but I'll do my best. (GOT THEM ALL UP!)
Love you all so very much and I hope these brighten your day!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48653338/chapters/122728069

(link to the new work to keep things simple)

^_^

Trillby Skinner

Hello lovelies!
The official Podfic for this story is complete and available for your listening pleasure!

Link to [Podfic] My Little Sunshine

I am having to keep telling myself NO EDITING THE STORY. I spent hours editing the story and podfic for my oneshot work 'Rose in Winter' and it's only an hour long. The podfic for this work will be between 9 and 10 hrs long once it's done, so to keep the updates coming the audio editing will be enough to keep you from being pulled from the story- but not so much as I would do for a paid audiobook (which is my side gig outside of housekeeping/homeschooling and hobby writing).

If you like to read along as you listen- I apologize for any moments that aren't word perfect. I have to keep smacking my inner perfectionist, stuffing her back in her box and reapplying the duct-tape to keep her there. 

Much love! and hope you enjoy the podfic if you're an audiobook person!