Disclaimer; JK Rowling owns everything.
I was determined to make the most of my free weekend before I started my job on Monday. Even though I hadn't had Teddy in my life for long, the idea of leaving him even for a little while gave me anxiety. I wanted to spend my last completely free weekend with him. Teddy was becoming the most important thing in my life and even changing nappies no longer bothered me.
"Do you want to go to Diagon Alley again today Ted?" I asked him as he aggressively kicked over the blocks I had just been stacking for him. I had decided to not let the incident with Ron phase me and we went to Diagon Alley the day after the incident for icecream at Fortescue's. Teddy had his first chocolate icecream, although he got more on his face and his clothes than in his mouth. My desire to go to Diagon Alley again today, had nothing to do with a certain blond man who had been stuck in my mind like a bad song since his chivalrous act on Friday. Or so I told myself anyway. Teddy had gotten extremely excited when we passed Weasley Wizard Wheezes the previous day and I was dead set on taking him, no matter how awkward it would be to bump into Fred or George. I began getting ready to leave, popping Teddy in his highchair with his sippy cup and a bowl of cheerios as I fixed my hair and makeup in the bathroom.
"How do you always make such a mess?" I laughed as I came back into the kitchen to see Teddy with Cheerio bits stuck to his face and his bib covered in juice. "Silly Billy," I crooned at him as I wiped his face and took his bib off.
"Mumma!" Teddy cried clapping his hands together excitedly.
"No no Teddy, Mi own ee. Mione." I said tears flooding my eyes as I thought about his actual mum and how betrayed she'd feel. She wasn't here anymore though, did that make me his Mum? I was the only one he'd ever know. How ridiculous that his first word had caused such a moral dilemma for me.
"Mumma!" Teddy cried again and this time I took a deep breath picked him up and cuddled him tightly.
"That's right baby boy I'm your Mumma," I whispered to him softly.
2 hours later I could be found with Teddy in my arms, walking back and forth in front of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. A few minutes later I plucked up all my Griffindor courage, pushed open the door as Teddy let out a shriek of delight at the sight before him. I had to hand it to the twins, the shop was just as impressive as it had always been. Little figurines were flying about on broomsticks and miniture fireworks were going off above our heads as we entered. Teddy reached out his hand to try and grab at them.
"I wondered how long it would be before you came in here," I slowly turned and faced George Weasley and was completely surprised to see a huge grin on his face.
"Is that Teddy Lupin? I haven't seen him in months, of course, you were his godmother weren't you," said George sadly. He reached out and ruffled Teddy's hair which promptly turned bright red to match George's.
"You're not mad at me?" I asked hesitantly as Teddy squirmed in my arms trying to reach George's bright badges.
"What? Of course not! The rumours about you in your fourth year were rubbish why would now be any different?" He laughed as he took Teddy from my arms and hoisted him up so he could play with his badges.
"Hey there Hermione!" a cheery voice came from behind me and as I turned towards Fred I was met with a fierce hug. "You need to come round more often we've missed you," he sighed as he released me.
"Our brothers a git" laughed Fred.
"A massive git" whispered George as he covered Teddy's ears.
"Our family are a bunch of gits,"
"Who'd be mad enough to let you go?"
"Must have lost his mind,"
"All of them are barmy,"
"Completely barmy,"
"If we had you we'd never let you go," they finished together. I laughed, god I'd missed their antics. George and Fred fussed over Teddy as I walked around the shop looking at their new stock. When I got back to the check out desk it was to find Teddy sitting on the counter waving a fake wand as George served the customers. I laughed at the sight and George and Teddy turned to face me.
"Mumma," Teddy called waving his wand so enthusiastically that he threw it over his shoulder, hitting the Pigmy Puff pen and causing them to scatter angrily. I quickly grabbed Teddy and retrieved his wand before he was attacked by angry Pigmy Puffs.
"We'd love to babysit," cried George.
"He makes a cracking shop assistant," laughed Fred. I went to pay for Teddy's fake wand, which he was refusing to let go of.
"It's on the house," they chuckled as they waved us off. I smiled happily as we left the shop. Teddy was still grinning like mad and waving his wand around, I was a little worried he'd poke my eye out. I was sure the twins were going to be a terrible influence on him but I found I really didn't mind.
I cried when I dropped Teddy off with Hannah the next morning before heading to work. Teddy wasn't at all bothered about being seperated and was perfectly happy to play with 'Moony' in Hannah's living room. I couldn't believe I was so emotional and I mentally scolded myself, I really was pathetic. I arrived at the head office and was told to take a seat as Mrs Grimblehawk was with someone. I could hear a great deal of shouting coming from her office and one particularly loud bang at which point a dishevelled witch stormed out. I practically growled at the sight of her, it was obviously her from her pink shoes and suit to her bright pink cat broach. Dolores Umbridge. How she'd avoided Askaban was completely beyond me and as far as I was concerned she was worse than Voldemort himself. She didn't even notice me as she stormed past muttering about filthy halfbreeds as she went.
"Hermione? I mean Miss Granger do come in." Mrs Grimblehawk called from her desk.
"Hermione's fine," I said smiling pleasantly. Anyone who could force Umbridge to leave their office in that kind of state was definitely a friend of mine.
"Awful woman," she muttered to herself as she straightened her blouse. "She's trying to push through a bill that prevents Werewolves seeking medical treatment, it's disgusting." I couldn't agree more and told her so. "Anyway I digress, I've got you in here to give you these," at which she handed me a large stack of files. "Get through them at your own pace and owl me if there's any issues, you'll need to be in the office Mondays 9-1 and Fridays 1-5 but other than that you have pretty much got free reign." I couldn't help but grin at that. "I'll want updates on Monday's and Friday's and obviously the occasional owl, I hope this job suits you Hermione as I think you'll be a huge asset to the department." she said smiling brightly and standing up. I mirrored her movement and she led me down a line of offices to a tiny little office by the toilets.
"Thank you," I said politely.
"I know it's not very big but I've also registered you with the Ministry's library and you'll have almost full access and can of course work in there if you'd rather. Well I'll be off, let me or my secretary know if you need anything." I grinned again, I was pretty sure it was going to be a permanent fixture on my face from now on. I sat down and opened the top file and read, Werewolf registration act - several complaints have been made, please review and draw up a proposal- MG. If it was possible my grin widened.
The day flew by quickly, I was ecstatic at being able to use the library and so spent most of my day in there. I barely noticed when it turned 12 and would have forgotten lunch entirely if it hadn't been for my stomachs loud complaints. I headed down to the cafe I had met Hannah in two days ago, it was packed. I looked around for an open table and spotted one just by the window. I reached it at the exact same time as someone else, I looked up to see Malfoy smirking at me.
"Oh, sorry," I blushed. What was I apologising for? God I was an idiot.
"Not a problem Granger I'm sure you'll find a seat somewhere," he said as he slid into the nearest seat.
"What? I was here first," I cried and sat down in the seat opposite.
"Oh, is that why you apologised?" he asked smugly.
"No I..." but my voice was cut off by the appearance of a house elf.
"Would Mister and Mrs like to order?" she said cheerily.
"Oh no we're not eating together," I rushed.
"You're not eating?" the house elf looked at me in confusion.
"I'll have sausage casserole and a pumpkin juice please Sessy," Draco drawled. I looked up at him in shock and the house elf, clearly named Sessy looked at me expectantly.
"Umm, chicken sandwich and pumpkin juice please," I said quietly, and with a snap of her fingers she disappeared. I had a mental battle with myself as to what most shocked me about Malfoy's behaviour, settling at the glaringly obvious.
"You like house elves now?" I asked in quite clear astonishment.
"I've never not liked house elves, but in fairness your constant lectures to anyone who'd listen about spew or spit or whatever it was might have hit home." he said with a slight smirk.
"It's S.P.E.W not spew and I'm glad you were listening," I finally replied, my witty retorts were some what slower coming now I was in this weird new friendship type situation with Malfoy. I was both uncomfortable and strangely content at the same time, which made for an unnerving combination.
"Where's Nymphadora's kid today?" he asked.
"Teddy? he's with Hannah Abbott, she was in our year at Hogwarts." Was I actually making small talk with Draco Malfoy?
"Oh the Hufflepuff right?" Draco asked and I nodded in confirmation. Our food arrived then and we ate in comfortable silence, occasionally talking about nothing in particular. At one point his foot hit mine and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me at the touch. I blushed bright red and he looked up at me in what I'm sure was faked surprise. I glared hard at him and he smirked back. When we'd finished and our plates were cleared I stood up to leave pulling some coins out of my bag to leave on the table.
"I've got this," he said and dropped an excessive number of Galleons on the table.
"This wasn't a date Malfoy and even if it was I don't like guys to pay for me anyway," I said crossly as I pushed his Galleons back towards him.
"Well I was bought up better than that and date or not the gentleman should always pay." I bit back a Deatheater upbringing related retort and leaving my coins on the table I left the restaurant without even a wave goodbye.
The half an hour left of my work day was consumed with thoughts of what a sexist prat Malfoy was and by the time I'd finished I was about ready to strangle him. The only thing that kept me sane was getting to see Teddy, something I had also been thinking about all day. I felt like a piece of my heart was missing when I was away from him and I was excited to get back to him and to feel whole again.
A/N So I couldn't kill off Fred, sue me!
Can't believe I have over 100 followers of this story, it's my first ever and I'm a little surprised to say the least! Thanks also to all the repeat reviewers I really appreciate it!