Disclaimer; I don't own Harry, Hermione, Ron or sadly Draco. I claim the orphans though.

A/N Sorry everyone for the late update. This week has been crazy. We are going through the adoption process and it puts a lot of pressure on you. Plus I did a mural painting that ate up most of the week. I should have some pics of the mural on my MYSPACE blog soon so feel free to check that out. Well happy reading and don't forget to review!

Life Changes

"And they lived happily ever after." Draco said shutting the large book that contained a collection of fairy tales. The six children clapped and cheered.

Hermione stood off to the side watching.

"Don't forget to thank Mr. Malfoy for his time." she reminded them. Five 'thank yous' came from the group.

"Thank you Draco." Claire said softly kissing him on the cheek. His normally pale complexion took on a slight pink tinge.

"You are welcome Claire." he replied setting her down and letting her get to the table for lunch.

"That was very nice of you." Hermione said looking him up and down.

"Yeah, well don't let it get out." he smiled.

"Never." she said crossing her heart with her index finger.

"How's the potion coming?" he asked.

"Got approved on Saturday. I expect the ministry will be rounding up death eaters left and right now." she said grinning.

"You really are a brilliant witch." he told her causing her to blush.

"Thank you."

"So…" he said.

"So…" she replied. That uncomfortable silence was one of the things that drove Hermione crazy.

"Doing anything for dinner?" he asked out of the blue.

"No." she replied before thinking. "I mean I have things to do that don't include dinner."

"You have to eat." he told her.

"I suppose so." she said.

"Besides, I want to ask you something important. And I don't want to do it here." he grinned.

She shifted uncomfortably.

"It's not what you think." he replied. "How about I pick you up at seven?"

"I don't get off of work until eight. So how about eight thirty?"

"Eight thirty it is." he smiled.

"Well I have to help the kids with lunch. I will see you later then?"

"You certainly will. Goodbye!" he called to the kids.

"Goodbye!" they all shouted back with mouths full.

"Oh and Draco?" she called.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Thank you…you know, for everything."

His smile warmed her.

"You are very welcome." he told her waving her out the doors of the ward.

Luckily healer Maria came early for her shift allowing Hermione to run home and get ready for dinner. She had gushed to Maria about her date telling her how much he had changed since school. Maria could see that Hermione was very excited about her dinner date. By the time Hermione got home it was 7:45.

"Shoot!" she called throwing her bag onto the chair and running into the bathroom. She stripped down and turned on the shower. Quick as a flash she showered and dried off. She dried her hair with a charm, straightening it as she dried. It hung in long silky waves around her shoulders. She curled the ends before running to her bedroom.

"8:15? It's already 8:15?" she said exasperated. Hermione opened her closet and dug through the racks of clothes she never wore. Finally she decided on a short aquamarine sundress. She had matching sandals and turquoise jewelry. It was an unbearably hot summer in London. She sprayed herself with some perfume her mom had gotten her for Christmas from a muggle store called 'Victoria's Secret'. She did her make up quickly noticing that she only had five or so minutes left before he would be there. And she just knew that he would not be late.

Just as she thought at precisely 8:30 her doorbell rang.

"Take a deep breath Hermione. This is just Malfoy." she told herself, but her heart was beating nervously and her stomach was full of knots.

She put her favorite bracelet on before running to the door. She took one more deep breath before turning the knob and opening the door.

Standing in her doorway dressed in a cerulean colored suit and tie was Draco. In his arms were no less than five dozen red and white roses tied with an ivory ribbon. When he saw her his lips turned up into an incredible dazzling smile.

"Hello." he said thrusting the roses forward. She took them into her arms and set them on the kitchen counter.

"Hello to you too. Thank you." she said motioning towards the heap of roses.

"You look beautiful." he told her. Her cheeks turned pink.

"Thank you. You look…"

'Incredible, gorgeous, stunning, wonderful.' she thought, trying hard not to stare.

"Nice." was what she finally decided on.

"Thank you. Shall we go?" he said extending his arm.

"Yes. Where are we going? I didn't know how to dress." she said fumbling with her wand to lock her door.

"I thought we might go back to the Starlight Ballroom. Since our evening got cut short that night."

"Oh…" she replied "I am not dressed for that." Her hands began fidgeting with her short sundress.

"Nonsense. You look perfect." he said guiding her down the hallway.

"Well I just don't want to stand out." she said.

"You would stand out no matter what you were wearing." he said grasping her arm tightly. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"One…two…three." he said apperating the both of them to the side of the Starlight ballroom.

They walked towards the entrance where the doorman greeted the two of them warmly.

"Mr. Malfoy! How nice to see you again."

"Thank you. I have reservations."

The man looked on the list and found his name. A sly smile appeared on the man's face.

"Good, very good. Have a wonderful time." he told them opening the large doors allowing them inside.

The man inside walked the two of them past the hundreds of tables that surrounded the wooden dance floor.

"Are we sitting in the kitchen?" Hermione joked. Draco just grasped her arm tighter as they went through another set of doors that led into a darkened hall. A faint glow was coming from a room on the right hand side of the hallway.

"Here we are Mr. Malfoy. Enjoy your evening." the man said laying menus on the table. Draco pulled out her seat for her before taking a seat across from her.

Hermione could hardly believe her eyes. The room was decorated in a tropical theme. It was bright and cheery with large colorful birds flying overhead into the lush green foliage. Sounds of the rainforest echoed off the walls.

"See?" he said "You fit right in."

Hermione smiled.

"I see that. It's beautiful."

"It sure is." he said looking directly at her.

Hermione was sure her cheeks would now include a permanent blush.

Draco picked up his menu and looked it over.

"What sounds good to you?" he asked.

Hermione looked at her menu. Even the food was a tropical theme.

"I don't know. It all looks so good." she replied.

They both sat there staring at the menu in yet another bout of complete silence. Inside Hermione's mind this was a very strange situation indeed. She was out to dinner, willingly, with Draco Malfoy. And she was having quite a pleasant time.

The silence was finally broken by the waiter who came in with a bottle of white wine.

"Good evening Mr. Malfoy." he set the bottle down. "Compliments of the house."

Draco nodded politely.

"Can I start you out with some appetizers?" the waiter asked.

"Coconut shrimp with the mango salsa. And you Hermione?" Draco asked looking up at her.

"Oh…uh…" she said flustered. "I'll have the same." she smiled.

"Wonderful." the waiter said as he poured wine for the both of them. "And for dinner madam?"

"I'll have the salmon and lemon grilled vegetables." Hermione replied.

"Make that two." Draco said handing the waiter both menus.

"Wonderful. I'll be back with your appetizers soon." he said bowing as he walked out of the room.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" she said taking a sip of her wine.

"Oh…I'll get to that later. After dinner." he said with a small smile playing across his lips.

"You know I'm beginning to think that was just a ploy to get me to come out to dinner with you." she said smiling.

"No, no. I do have something to ask you. I just want to get to that later." he said sipping his wine.

She squinted her eyes at him as if trying to see inside of his soul.

"Let's talk about something else." he said. "How are the other members of the golden trio?"

Hermione was slightly taken aback by the question.

"Oh, uh Harry is just great. You know he married Ginny obviously because you met her at St. Mungo's."

"Did she go to school with us?" he asked.

"Yes…she is Ron's younger sister." Hermione replied. Obviously he didn't pay much attention to anyone other than himself in school. "And well they are about to have their first child so that's exciting. And as for Ron he plays for the Chudley Cannons. I just saw him the other night and he is doing fine as well."

"Weasley plays professional quidditch? Now I've heard it all." Draco laughed taking another large sip of wine.

"He's quite good if you must know. First pick straight out of Hogwarts. You see your little 'Weasley is our King' song only motivated him more." she said defensively.

"I can't believe you remember that silly song." he mused. "Boy was I immature."

"You can finally admit it huh?" Hermione smiled.

Draco rolled his eyes. Just then the waiter came with their appetizers.

"Can I get you another bottle of wine sir?" the waiter asked noticing the near empty bottle.

"Yes please." Draco said digging into his shrimp.

"This looks wonderful." Hermione said.

"Have you ever been to the Caribbean?" he asked.

"No. You?" she asked.

"A few times in the past few years."

"Must be nice to vacation whenever." she said eating her appetizers delicately.

"Business actually. There is a wizard convention down there every year that shows off new potions and products that my company invests in."

"Oh." she said blushing for jumping to conclusions.

Several more moments of silence followed as they ate and drank the second bottle of wine that the waiter had brought. Soon enough their dinner arrived along with a pitcher of Sangria, one of the specialties of the house. It was a mixture of red wine and fruits. Hermione was already feeling the effects of the first two bottles they had gone through.

"Everything looks wonderful." she said. "Thank you Draco."

He nearly blushed at the sound of his name on her lips.

"Anytime." he smiled reaching across the table to touch her hand. She didn't pull away, and against her normal nature, she squeezed his hand back. Their eyes locked across the table and she felt a strange feeling in her stomach. Those mesmerizing blue eyes.

"How did I not notice them before." she mumbled.

"What was that?" he said pulling his hand away so that he could start his dinner.

"Oh…uh, nothing. Just thought of something. It's no big deal." she stuttered.

"Alright." he replied.

"So, let's not keep me in suspense any longer. What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked between bites.

"Already?" he mused. "Can't take the suspense I expect. You always were nosey."

She wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Well yes. I hate waiting…it's my biggest pet peeve."

"Well than I shall have to prolong the torture." he grinned looking at her across the table.

She huffed.

"You are beautiful when you are frustrated." he told her causing her to blush deeply again.

"When did you become such a gentleman?" she asked sipping the Sangria.

"Oh…it's been a while now." he smiled slyly. "You just had your head buried in a book and didn't notice." She shook her head laughing.

"I did not!" she exclaimed. "I had a social life."

"Yeah, one date with Krum and a few snogs with Weasley does not constitute a social life."

Hermione snorted into her glass. She was definitely beginning to feel the effects of the wine.

"That's not all there was!" she said defending herself.

"Oh, I forgot your eternal crush on 'The chosen one'." he laughed.

Hermione blushed a deep crimson.

"I have never had a crush on Harry! He is like a brother to me!" she shouted.

He grinned from ear to ear.

"You just like to annoy me don't you?" she said realizing that he was kidding.

"I live for it."

Hermione was overcome with a fit of the giggles now. Between the wine and the company it was the best time she had ever had out with a man.

They both finished their dinner and ordered dessert. Mango coconut cheesecake. Soft music filled the room and the lights dimmed exposing a small wooden dance floor just to the left of the table.

"Dance with me Hermione?" he asked extending his hand. She nodded taking his hand in hers and following him out onto the floor. He immediately pulled her close against his body. Holding her possessively. Normally Hermione would have considered this too forward. But he felt so good against her. So right. Her head rested on his chest and she heard his rapid heartbeat. She smiled.

'He's nervous.' she thought. Draco rested his chin on the top of her head.

"You know Hermione. For quite some time I have needed a change in my life. A purpose."

"Mmmhmm." she replied slowly moving with him.

"All my life I was born and bred for certain things. Things I wanted no part of. And now when I look back on what my parents, my family stood for I realize that it was all in vain. None of what they had me believe was really important in the grand scheme of things. Coming to St. Mungo's, meeting up with you again has had me thinking. Do you know what I mean?"

She nodded against his chest.

"So I have been thinking a lot about my future. The future of the wizarding world. And I have come to one conclusion. Those who have the means should make a difference."

"Well you already have Draco. Remodeling the children's ward, reading to the kids. It means more to them than you will ever know." she said looking up into his icy eyes.

"But there is more that I should do. More that I can do. And that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Hermione pulled away and looked at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean…well that is to say I have been thinking. And I have come to a decision."

Hermione looked at him expectantly.

"I want to adopt Claire."