I own nothing, it is all JK Rowling. This is my first Draco Hermione story, hope you enjoy.
(November, two months after Hermione's 20th birthday.)
Hermione lay on her cough staring at her white wall above the fireplace. She could not tell what day of the week it was nor what the hour was.
"Ouch!" Hermione suddenly says and looks down and smiles at the baby in her arms, "Oh Alex."
Yes, she thought, this was the reason for her current state of mind. Not that she minded, how could anyone believe that when they look into those silver eyes? Sure, Hermione recently celebrated 20th birthday and yet she felt she was so much older. Winning the war alone aged them all. Then Hermione returned to Hogwarts for a special class offered to those still interested in sitting for their exams. Only a handful of students returned for the couple months of studying. Despite Hermione's amazing scores she had taken a position at a local bookstore near her flat. She loved the job, but most of all she loved the flexibility it gave her in order to be a mom as well.
The bundle in her arms begin to cry bring Hermione out of her thoughts.
"Shh," she cooed and rockets the infant. Standing up Hermione walked from her small living room, that was seated next to the kitchen, into the door just left of the fireplace. Inside, the room had dark brown walls and one wall that had a large white tree painted filling up the space. As Hermione placed the now sleeping baby in the crib opposite the tree she couldn't help but smile at that wall. This was probably her favorite place in the house. Under the tree had a rocking chair that sat next to two bookshelves that were full of stories. She held visions of her and her child reading and playing in that space for years to come.
Hermione walked out of the room and quietly closed the door, reentering the living room, and entering the door on the right side of the fireplace; her room. This room had plum walls and large dark oak furniture. However, Hermione did not take the time to look around, instead she found her large bed and fell on top of it with no intension of moving for a very long time; at least she hoped.
Hours later the sun begins to fill the small space causing Hermione to wake. She stretched and allowed her feet to carry her to the bathroom that was connected to her room. Showering and dressing for the day Hermione picked jeans then paired with light green shirts that tied at the waist and black ballet flats. Hermione walked out of her room, peeked into the babies' room, who was still sound asleep. So, she proceeds to the kitchen for a quick breakfast before heading to work.
Perfect timing as always, Hermione thought as she took her last bit of toast as cries from the other room began to increase. As she enters Alexandra slows her cries and waits to be picked up.
"I can't believe you are 3 months old today Ms. Alex," Hermione says.
Alex just grins up at her mom, indicating her cries was simply her way of getting her mothers attention.
"Thank you for allowing me to eat love. Now shall we get ready for work? I am sure Mrs. Smith has a busy day planned for you," Hermione continue as she changed the little girl.
Once finished carrying for the baby Hermione proceed with a "pop" just behind the back entrance of her work.
"Morning," Hermione called out as she entered.
"Morning Hermione. Oh give me that child, so precious!" Mrs. Smith cried out as she saw her. Mr. and Mrs. Smith owned the muggle bookshop she worked at and fortunately for Hermione they adored her just as much as Alex.
Hermione first met them when she herself was a child long before leaving for Hogwarts. When Hermione found herself in a position of "transition", as she often called it, she came back home hoping for some piece of mind. It was in this very bookstore Hermione had her first melt down. Completely coming clean to the book owners she hadn't seen is years. Confessing her concerns about what to do and where to go and most of all HOW was she to do this without her own mother. Mrs. Smith held Hermione as she cried and once Hermione calmed down they offered her a position at their store. The following day Hermione started working for them and a few weeks after that found her current home in the small town.
Hermione did her best to hide her parents and keep them safe. But, Death Eaters eventually found them and killed them. Hermione found out that it was lower level Death Eaters that took care of them, but that still didn't make the pain any different. There are still moments Hermione wishes she could pick up the phone and ask her mom for advise. Again, Hermione was way older then 20 and she felt it everyday.
"Hermione you look so tried, maybe take more time off." Mr. Smith said as he entered the room and pull Hermione back to where she was.
"Oh, I just need some coffee I will be fine. Thank you. How are you two?" Hermione tried to change the subject.
The workday flew by for Hermione. Hermione's tasks included tending to the front of the store, helping customers, and organizing the store. Mrs. Smith took care of the Alex in the back, only pulling Hermione away from her tasks as needed. As Hermione locked the door she turned to find Mrs. Smith holding Alex out for her.
"Thank you," Hermione reaches out to hold her daughter.
"She is getting so big, holding up her head and cooing all day long," Mrs. Smith comments.
"I know before long she will be running this shop," Hermione laughed.
"Enjoy your weekend, see you again on Monday."
"You as well."
Tomorrow was Sunday, which meant a day off. Hermione's first though, maybe I will get some sleep. Wishing thinking at its finest.
When Hermione got home she placed Alex on the play mat for her to play. As she entered the kitchen she noticed a note on the tablet.
Hermione,
We are going shopping tomorrow, please join us?
~Ginny.
Oh shopping. Ginny and Harry were engaged to be married in one month just before Christmas and that meant last minute details that Hermione was obligated to help with. So without thinking twice she scribbles down
See you tomorrow.
~H
and sent the letter back.
"Alex its going to be an early night I am going to need my energy tomorrow," Hermione says as she walks over to her daughter.
Hermione simply smiled at her now smiling daughter. Oh those eyes, she could looked into those silver eyes all day long. She without a doubt had her fathers' eyes, not that her father knew that but that's beside the point.
Hermione carried on with her evening, having a simple dinner with a cup of tea before her daughter finally decides she was ready for bed.
Hermione woke up before the sun this time. She made her way to the coffee maker without a second thought. As she started to pour her second cup of coffee Alex was finally up. She couldn't be upset this morning because she had slept through the entire night, so she went in picking up her daughter and kissing her on her cheek. Hermione dressed that day again in jeans and this time a white top with flats. She grabbed a jacket, scarf, and gloves she wasn't how often they would be outside today. Alex was bundled up, taking no chances she would catch a cold, and a bright blue hat placed on her head hiding her bouncy blonde curls and brought out her eyes.
"Deep breaths Alex, ready for the Weasleys?"
She answered with a giggle.
"Oh good Hermione is here. Mom lets go!" Ginny yelled as she hugged Hermione and was already running towards the kitchen.
"Oh Hermione just look at her," Molly comes around the corner, "How are you doing?" Molly finishes with a sad look in her eyes.
Hermione hated that look. She hated pity from people just because she is a young single mother. She knew Molly only meant concern for her, after all they were her second family, but still that look always seemed to raise Hermione's blood pressure.
Hermione just took a deep breath said, "We are doing great, thank you Molly."
"Good!" She answers with an up beat tone, "Well today we are going to shopping for the dresses. Alexandra are you excited?"
Both women just grinned at her waited for the giggle that was sure to come, and after a brief moment Alex didn't disappoint.
"We have to go!" Ginny said not hiding her bossy tone as she walked to the fireplace.
"After you Gin," Hermione answered.
Walking around Diagon Alley Hermione followed in the Weasleys wake holding Alex on her hip. They entered a high-end fashion shop Hermione had never been in. As they enter Hermione finds two seats in the back corner near the changing rooms.
"Gin, I will wait back here. Just grab whatever you love and I will try it on."
Ginny just smiled and ran off to shop. Hermione started undoing Alex layers and relaxed in the chair. Hermione pulled out a picture book for her and Alex to look through. Half way through her book Ginny returned her arms filled with dresses. So, Hermione Placed Alex in Molly's arms and entered the dressing room. As Hermione began to change into Ginny's first selection she heard a familiar voice.
"Mother you look beautiful as always, are we finished yet?"
Hermione stopped breathing. It was Draco. It had been almost exactly one year since she had last seen him. The last time was after the exams, all the students who returned for the short review courses were having a double celebration. Celebrating the fact they were finally, officially, finished at Hogwarts and they were all finished before Christmas holiday. Needless to say there was a lot of alcohol involved. Leading up to exams Hermione and Draco found they made good study partners. In between books a kind of friendship developed between the two.
Then the night of the party Hermione did not know if it was the alcohol or something else, but that night after talking for hours Hermione found herself kissing Draco. She can't remember who started it, but what she can remember is the hunger inside her to keep going. The desire of wanting more, and he didn't hesitate. His hands were on her removing her clothes as she did the same to him. She didn't care that they were on the floor in front of the fireplace, all that matter was that he didn't stop. That night was the first time Hermione had ever experienced something that left her speechless. It was a mix of making love and truly having sex. Sure she had sex with Ron, once, but it was never this passionate. Hermione never had felt the hunger of wanting another in them so badly she would do anything for it. Draco had found ways to make her feel more pleasure then ever before. She had hoped she did the same for him, but she would never know because the next morning all that was left was a note.
Hermione,
There are no words to describe last night. I hope you do not regret them because I don't. Like I said last night I leave this morning to travel and finally be free from everything and everyone. Thank you for making my last night memorable.
Draco.
Every time she thought of that letter she found comfort in the fact he didn't regret it.
Then Ginny's voice took over the entire store, "Hermione come on we want to see!"
Hermione loved Ginny like a sister, but sometimes she was just a little too much. Hermione quickly finished dressing into a dark red floor length dress that had a sweetheart neckline showing off her breast nicely yet accented her hips perfectly.
As she stepped out of the dressing room the first pair of eyes she meets belong to him. He just looks at her in silence.
"Malfoy," Hermione finally forces out.
"Oh we are still using last names, huh," he says with a smirk.
Then came Ginny, "Oh Hermione I knew that was the one, now try on the purple but I think we already have our winner. You don't need to bother with the others, they were simply back ups."
"Weasley," Draco says.
"Oh, Malfoy," she sends Hermione a concerned looked, "didn't notice you there. How are you? Finally back in London, are you here to stay or more travel plans in your future?"
Draco steals a glance at Hermione, "Yes and yes."
"Good. Well nice seeing you, Hermione go change we still have tons of shops after this one!" Ginny rushes out.
"I will leave you two then. Good seeing you Weasley," he says then turns to Hermione with that Malfoy smirk, "Granger."
Hermione turns quickly, enters the changing room, and shuts the door. Her heart rate is up: I have missed him. Oh no did he see Alex? Oh god, I just hope he doesn't reject her when she gets older. Hermione thinks.
Hermione had sent a letter and picture to him after Alexandra Ara Granger was born. Granted she didn't know exactly where he was, but she hoped the owl would find him. However, the owl returned empty handed. She wasn't sure if Draco didn't want anything to do with them or if the owl simply couldn't find him. Either way it hurt and from then on she accepted she would be a single mother and that was fine with her because from her point of view she was getting the better end of the deal.
Seeing his again, she can tell he looks better. He was dressed in a tailored gray suit looking impeccable as always and she has an instant flash back of their passionate kissing.
Stop Hermione, its in the past. Stop it!
Then she changes into the purple dress that Ginny hates the second she walks out, "Yes red one was far better and it will look good on Fleur as well. Lets get it and go to the next store."
Hermione does as she is told. Leaving the changing rooms and heads straight for Alex, "Hey Gin, do you need me for the next couple places Alexandra looks tired maybe I should take her home so we don't have a loud three month old on our hands?"
"You sure you don't want to leave because of Malfoy?"
"No, really I have moved on from that. I am simply trying to be a good mom."
"Ok Hermione thanks for coming, owl if you need anything."
"Thanks Gin. Thanks Molly for helping with her." Hermione hugs them both.
I just need some space and time to think. Hermione decides and returns home with a "pop." Instantly Alex starts crying, "Oh Alex so dramatic like your father."
After that their afternoon was quite, they both ate and then took a nap together snuggled on the couch. Around dinnertime Hermione is curled up with a book while Alex plays on the floor, but the distraction doesn't work.
It was a one time fling, that's all it meant to him as well. I need to move on and stop thinking about him!