Disclaimer: I only own the plot.

Chapter Five

Falling Into Place

A/N: NO. Draco does not know that Josh is his son, to those of you who keep saying so. And thanks to The Kind Slytherin, I thought I was allowing them, but that's been fixed.

By one month into the project, everything was going smoothly. Draco and I had gotten used to calling each other by first name, which annoyed Harry and Ron the slightest bit.

"Hermione, you know he's been our enemy since first year!" Ron said.

"I know Ronald, but he is my partner for this project, and he's been taking it very seriously. And besides, you know he's not like he used to be."

Ginny couldn't have been happier that we were getting past old barriers.

"This is so good for both of you and Josh."

We were sitting in the Gryffindor common room in the chairs by the fire, talking so only the other could hear.

"It is, but I also feel kind of bad that he doesn't know."

"Then tell him!"

I looked at her through the corner of my eyes. "Ginny" I said in a warning voice.

"I know, I know," she said with a sigh as she turned her head away from me. "It's just not the right time." She looked at me again, with intensity in her eyes. "But what if there is never 'a right time' Hermione? He needs to know before Josh grows up and gets married himself."

I was the one sighing this time. "I know. I worry about that too. But I promise you Ginny, if I don't find a right time before the school year is out, I'll tell him after graduation is over."

She smiled to me. "Is that a promise?"

I smiled back. "You know it."

"And I want you to read pages 115 to 153 by the next class."

Almost the entire potions class groaned as the bell rang and they picked up their things to head out.

As I was walking past the desk, opening my book to start the required reading, I was suddenly stopped when I heard Professor Snape call me.

Turning around, I headed towards his desk. "Yes sir?"

"How has Mister Malfoy been taking his new responsibilities?"

"Very well sir. He took to Josh wonderfully. He's been a good father."

Snape nodded. "Good. You may go now."

Ever since that night I was raped, I believe, even though it didn't show very well just now, that Snape and I have reached common ground, even more when we're not around people. He was the one who made sure Draco didn't remember what happened, even in the process helping me.

When I exited the classroom, I found Draco standing not far away talking to Christina. They were both smiling and laughing a little bit. All of a sudden I got this feeling in my chest. Ignoring it, I walked over to them.

"Hey, we need to go pick up Josh" I said.

"Oh, I'll come with you," said Christina. "I need to pick up Arabella."

That feeling was back again.

So we all started walking to the daycare center, with Draco and Christina keeping up the conversation most of the way. A couple of times they tried to enter me into it, but I just smiled, answered their questions and turned away.

Once Draco and I were back in our own common room with Josh, I set about to get him fed. Josh, that is.

But while I was doing this I started thinking. What was that feeling that I had when I saw Draco and Christina together? And usually when I'm brought into a conversation, I'll add my two cents, and then continue to put in my opinion. Why was today so different?

"Hey Hermione, do you know where my shampoo went?" Draco asked coming from the hallway that led to the bathroom.

"It's in the cabinet, behind the soap."

It seems that we really have been acting like a real family. I had taken over the housewife/mom role where I took care of most things. Draco had been filling out the husbandly role and took care of Josh, along with taking extra classes some evenings to prepare for a job he had been promised in the ministry for when he graduated.

Maybe that's what that feeling was today; regret to leave this position I had grown accustomed to.

But then that made me think of what would happen when Draco found out. Would he continue these roles? Or was he coming to like Christina? Maybe she would get in the way. Who knew.

Josh had a play date with Arabella, Sean and Kelly, so I took him next door where Pansy and Harry were living.

Ginny was in there, sipping butterbeer and talking to Harry. Ron and Lavender were sitting on the floor with their babies talking as well. Everyone looked up when I entered the room.

"Hey Hermione" they said, nearly in unison. "Hey everybody." I sat Josh down next to the other three babies, and then took a seat next to Lavender.

"So where are all of your partners?" I asked them.

"Hanging out with each other" said Harry, going to grab another butterbeer, which he gave to me. "Malfoy will probably join them."

"Yeah, probably" I said absentmindedly.

Later on that evening we all took our babies and went down to dinner. After we were finished and the tables were cleared, Dumbledore stood up.

"I would like to take this time to announce that a new part of the seventh year project will start next Monday. The Professors have all discussed this, and agreed that it would be the best thing. We want to make this project as real as possible, so tomorrow, on all of the bulletin boards in the seventh year dorms, there will be a list of possible job opportunities for you to take part in."

Muttering started throughout the student body.

"These jobs are fist come, first serve, so you will need to act quickly. If you would like to be a stay-at-home parent, then so be it. But it is required that one of your partnership should have a job. The daycare center will now be open until the latest job gets out, so you will not have to worry about that. The ministry has seen to it that you will be paid for real, so if your partner IS one that stays at home, it might be better if you get a higher paying job.

"Now remember that we are trying to make this real, so you will start paying for your meals here as well as your child's meals, and all seventh years will be allowed to go into Hogsmeade at any time for anything you may need, or want, but spend wisely. And remember, you CAN be fired from these jobs, so I suggest you act like an adult. Now, you are free to go."

I stood up and made my way out of the Great Hall, and to my dorm. I had given Josh to Draco when I found him before dinner, since it was his night with him, so I was completely alone. I wondered what kind of jobs there would be. Me being me, I would probably go for one of the toughest jobs on the list.

I had walked back pretty slowly, so I wasn't surprised when I found Draco already in the common room playing with Josh and a toy he had bought at Hogsmeade.

"Pretty interesting isn't it?" he asked me when he noticed that I was back.

"Yeah it is. Are you going to get a job and continue your training?"

He gave the toy to Josh so he could give his full attention to me, and said, "I'm continuing my training. Mr. Livingson, my teacher, had a talk with me and Dumbledore today, and said that I would be paid from now on, so it could be like my actual job. Are you going to get one?"

"Yeah. I just don't know what yet."

"What are you planning to do once you get out of Hogwarts?" he asked, looking interested.

"I haven't decided yet." And it was the honest truth. Ever since I had gotten pregnant with Josh, everything changed. I wasn't as sure of everything anymore. It had been a slap of reality, a reminder that things can change suddenly.

"Well, maybe these jobs will give you a hint" he said with a smile.

The smile was so sweet, and so nice when I was in such a dull mood, that I couldn't help but smile back.

In the morning I went to look at the bulletin board. I wanted to be one of the first people so I wouldn't get a horrible job. I swear I was looking at that thing for twenty minutes when Draco finally found me.

He was holding Josh, who was still half asleep. That little boy had never been a good morning person.

"Found anything that caught your eye?"

"I'm thinking about the job as assistant to Madame Pomfrey. I'm thinking that a Healer would be a good occupation for me. Of course it would be a bit time consuming, but I think I could live with that."

He nodded. "You better write your name on the line quickly, that's one of the high paying jobs, and most people will be after the money more than fun."

I nodded and did as he said. Once I was finished with my signature, the list instantly faded away and writing appeared. It was instructions on what I was supposed to do.

Draco started reading it out loud. "On Monday, exactly fifteen minutes after classes finish, report to the Hospital Wing for further instructions." He nodded. "Well, congratulations, you're now an assistant healer."