Chapter 2
"Thank you again for picking up Z for us Hermione" Neville said as Hermione took a seat at their kitchen table.
"It was no problem at all Neville, she really is a joy" She took a sip of tea " And it was on my way home from work" Neville nodded his head
"Zenon told me that she wishes to marry Mr. Malfoy, I almost choked on my tea" Neville laughed as Hermione's reaction was much like his own.
"What?"
"Yes, when I helped her up stairs she told me that he was pretty and had a book that developed candy" Neville shook his head and smiled
"Yes well those are mighty fine characters in a man I would say" Hermione replied with a smile on her face.
"So How is Draco?" Neville was curious to see if Hermione found him to be pretty also, Ron was not going to like this.
"I did not get to have a heart to heart with the man if that is what you are aiming at, but he seems like he is well. He looks much better now, more at peace with himself" Hermione allowed the memory of Draco's smiling face flood back into her mind.
"I hear he is actually quite a good man now"
"I think he always was, just conflicted at the least" Hermione was a little shocked that she finally admitted that she thought he was an innocent victim the whole time. Stupid, and stubborn but innocent.
Neville and Hermione discussed work and Zenon for another half hour before she realized she needed to be at Ginny and Harry's house in five short minutes. She bid Neville fair well and opted to use the Floo in the interest of time.
"Ginny!" Hermione called out when she entered her home.
"Upstairs!" Hermione heard Ginny shout so she climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom.
"Hello Mione! How was your day" Ginny embraced Hermione in a hug
"It was fine, a lot of new items came into the shop today, then I picked up Zenon for Luna and Neville"
"But her school is in the opposite direction of your flat" Ginny was folding clothing and Hermione plopped herself down on the bed ready for some serous girl talk coming her way.
"She was on a fieldtrip today"
"Oh, where at?" Ginny looked up at Hermione and saw that Hermione was holding something back
"Spell Bound headquarters" Hermione watched as Ginny's eyes widened
"You mean Malfoy's company? Did you see him?" Hermione nodded her head
"Yes I did. He seemed to be a big hit with the children, Neville told me that Zenon wishes to marry him" Hermione chuckled
"Well how was he? Did you talk to him, is he still a jerk?" Ginny was sitting in front of Hermione now, laundry was long forgotten.
"He seems well, No not a jerk different, I don't know how but different" Ginny started smirking
"Is he still hot?" Ginny waggled her eyebrows and Hermione joke slapped her arm.
"GINNY! You are married!"
"Yeah so! I am not above admitting that he is hot, a bloody prat but a hot one at that!" Hermione started laughing at Ginny's statement; just then a baby started crying in the background.
"I don't know Blaise she just seemed so…. I'm not sure….just Happy I guess" Draco ran his hand through his hair and slumped back into the plush armchair.
"Well without you insulting her every day she can be" Blaise laughed and Draco rolled his eyes
"I am not a boy anymore; I am different from our Hogwarts years"
"We all are" Blaise agreed. Then turned back to Draco and smirked
"What?" Draco sneered
"You want to see her again don't you?" There was no use lying to Him now, Blaise could tell when Draco was lying
"Of course I want to Bloody see her again!" Draco announced. Now he just had to figure out how.
"I might be able to help you there mate!" Blaise announced, as if he read Draco's mind.
Draco sat on the edge of his chair while Blaise explained his interesting new friendship with Luna, they like the same little café and have ran into each other a couple of times. Luna works in the same building as Potter so she would bring him to lunch sometimes. Blaise made sure to point out that he and Potter were not under any circumstances friends, but they were nice to each other and got along just fine.
"Luna mentioned that the lot of them like to take their children to the park on Sunday afternoons, if Granger is close with them they she would most likely be there." Blaise explained
"Well it's worth a shot" Draco hoped that he would be able to see Hermione again, for some reason she was just stuck on his mind.
Sunday afternoon
Draco sat on a bench by the lake, which was close enough to the park that he would be able to see Hermione but far enough away that he did not seem like a complete stalker. He sat there with a book on his lap, waiting for her familiar face. Soon enough a flash of red hair caught his attention. Standing in a group was Potter and Ginny, Luna with Neville, a young woman he did not recognize, and finally Hermione with the Weasel standing aside her. He should have known. Soon there were three toddlers running around their parents, he remembered the blonde little girl Zamara, Zuzu or some sort of weird name. Also an auburn haired boy and a red head, well there is no doubting what family he belonged too. He watched as the two boys hugged Ginny, Potter, and Ron. He was about to abandon his hope when something caught his eye, a baby. Hermione had a baby no older than one on her hip; he stopped breathing while he watched her bounce up and down making the baby laugh in delight.
"I need to get back home" Ron said as he handed the baby back over to Hermione
"Okay, I will see you later tonight" Hermione said kissing him on the cheek. He said his goodbyes to everyone else while Hermione sat on a bench on the outsides of the playground and laughed to herself while she watched all of the parents chase their children up and down the jungle gyms.
"Why Granger I thought Sundays were dedicated to books" She turned when she heard the silky voice behind her.
"And what would make Sundays different from any other day then Malfoy" She smirked back at him and he chuckled, and then glanced to the baby in her arms. She took this as her queue and stood to face him then took a deep breath.
"Draco, is my daughter, Sophia" Hermione glanced at the little girl in her arms, then back at Draco's face for any clue of emotion. She did not know why she was so worried about his reaction, it's not like they were in love or anything.
"Your daughter" was all that came out of his mouth she swore for a split second she saw a flash of defeat in his eyes.
