Hermione watched as the kids played their game of quidditch, which was really just the two older boys, Joshua and Teddy, playing keep away from the younger kids. Normally Hermione assumed such a game would result in tears, but apparently flying was enough of a thrill that the little kids didn't mind that they never got a chance with the ball.
Ginny was seated next to her. "Do you play?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes," was Ginny's reply, gesturing to her swollen belly, "Obviously not right now, I use to play professionally. Now I work for the Daily Prophet as a quidditch correspondent. I assume you work, what sort of job do you have?"
"I'm a social worker, mainly I help out single mothers with their financial and living situations."
"Do you want to continue to do that, or will you look for something in the wizarding world, or better yet swindle Malfoy out of all his money?" She looked happy at the final prospect.
"I hadn't thought of what I could do, I've been so focused on Joshua and making the best decisions for him, I haven't really thought of myself, and there is really no need to swindle Draco. Unless I'm a complete idiot I am taken care of financially for life and he still plans on giving me more."
"Are you engaged to him already?"
"What? Of course not. Why would we be engaged? He just wants to see that we are provided for, no strings attached."
"But.." Ginny began, but Hermione failed to notice and kept on talking.
"And Joshua, well I still don't know what to think honestly. Draco claimed him as an heir. There was magic involved. I've been putting off asking him about what it all means for now."
Ginny stared back at her wide eyed.
"Is that good thing? Should I be worried. Oh god, He didn't ask me, and there was magic involved, he just did it and I don't know what it means."
"Whoa, don't worry it's a good thing, I'm just shocked is all. Did he give a ring and there was a burst of magic?"
"Exactly"
"Wow, that means he is bound to protect your son with his life. I don't think Draco was claimed as such, he just inherited as the only heir after his father was stripped of his title. It's not common to bind yourself in such a way anymore. Centuries ago it was common, sometime young heirs would be kidnapped, the binding allows the parents to be able to feel their child magic, even threw the strongest of wards. It's the best protection a parent can give a child."
"Huh. That's a comfort but do you think such a measure will be necessary," Hermione questioned.
"He will be as safe as anyone," Ginny said kindly, "and should anything actually happen Draco will be able to take care of it. Now enough of this, I am immensely curious and have held out for long enough, how in the name of merlin did you meet Draco?" The laughed together for a moment.
"I was staying at my aunts house for the summer and would wander the country side and he came upon me one day, carrying a broken broom. Apparently, it was near his family home."
"And did he just woo the knickers of you then." Ginny said with a mocking swoon.
"Hardly," Hermione laughed, "He sneered at me, rudely asked me what I was doing, and then stormed off."
"So, love at first sight?"
"Perhaps disdain and apathy at first site is a more apt description. Oh Geez, should they be doing that?" Teddy and her son had abandoned the ball in favor of diving toward the ground only to pull up at the last moment.
"They're fine, not going fast enough to hurt themselves," Ginny replied with a slight grimace to her voice. Concerned over the tone Hermione turned saw her companion take a deep breath closing her eyes and rubbing her belly. Hermione patiently waited until she opened her eyes again.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"Oh yes, just phantom contractions, been having them for weeks and as soon as I convince myself I should start timing them they go away."
"Well can I get you anything?" Hermione asked.
"Since you so kindly offered I could use my red raspberry leaf tea for the day." Ginny said with an expectant grin.
Hermione, having received instructions on where to find everything stood in front of the stove in frustration. There was no igniter. She thought about looking around for matches but was positive her search would come up empty. There wasn't even a fuel source that she could see, just the grate over a series of indentations really. In her frustration she failed to hear foot steps approach and was startled when a body appeared next to her. Once she recovered from her shock one of the twins smiled and pointedly removed his wand and with a quick flick and spell lit the stove.
"Thanks." She said with an embarrased smile and removed her own wand and lit the next spot. Then palming her wand in her other hand, she silently lit the remaining spots on the stove. With happy grin and a final wave of her hand she extinguished all but the flame beneath the kettle, failing to notice the look of shock and appreciation on the face of the man next to her. "Thanks again, it would have been embarrassing to admit I failed in making a simple pot of tea." Hermione called over her shoulder as she walked to the cupboard she was instructed would contain the tea.
"It's ready" the other twin called running through the kitchen and Hermione found herself alone again. While she waited for the kettle she started to have a look at all the trinkets around the room when she heard voices from the back of the house.
"We never found a body." She heard Harry stress.
"She's dead," Draco replied tersely, "and why the sudden interest? You weren't pounding on my door the day the article came out?"
"We thought you just found a clever way to both piss off your father and get rid of Astoria. We didn't think you actually had a kid." She heard a different voice add, Ron she thought. They were talking about her and she found herself frozen in place.
"Did McGonagall think to ask her permission before she went and gave details of Hermione's person life to the Prophet?" Draco made a good point, she had just been embarrassed about the attention, having spent most of her life trying to avoid it, but it was her life and she began to feel anxious of the intrusion. It was obvious from Draco's reaction that the article was more than just the benign fluff piece she thought it to be.
"Her name was kept anonymous. We are trying to change…" Harry began.
"I'm not arguing the need to change perceptions, but it's still her life. What does she understand about Voldemorts reign? The optimistic tripe you give every muggleborn family?" Draco ground out.
"And for every muggleborn family that has been enough, and we haven't had problems. The first Hogwarts muggleborn graduates in decades have begun entering society in the last few years, it's a critical time, any positive news we have needs to be spread."
"And what about the muggleborns in St. Mungo's? You know what is said about them, that their madness is evidence that muggleborns should not have magic and present a danger to us. Whose to stop some fanatic from targeting her since she is the exemption to their propaganda? And what the hell is wrong with your face Weasley?" Draco said, Hermione could hear the disdain in his voice.
"Sorry," Ron deadpanned, "I'm just having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that you actually care about something. You usually sneer and look down at everyone and everything. Do you honestly care this much about some witch you knock up when you were sixteen?"
The only response she heard was the sound a fist hitting its mark.
The sound of hands hitting the door startled her, turning she saw the door open and in entered her son and Teddy.
"Hi Mum."
"There's cold pumpkin juice in here." Teddy said. They both grabbed a bottle from a cabinet and were gone.
Turning around she saw Draco approach with a stoic face, Harry and Ron stood awkwardly a few paces behind. They stared for a moment until she noticed the kettle was ready and began preparing the cup.
"Do you want to talk now or after we drop him on the Hogwarts Express?" Draco asked.
"Tell me honestly, will he be safe at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. Picking up the cup and saucer.
"Yes, I have no worries about Joshua." Was his reply. There was a look in his eye that she couldn't identify but thinking about what Ginny told her she let it slide for now.
"Ok, I trust you. We can talk later then." She turned to exit but did not get very far.
"Bloody hell, do you honestly trust this git?" Ron groaned.
"Yes." Hermione simply put, leveling him with a glare and walked out.
Let me know what you think. As I said before this is my first attempt at something like this and I'm very much outside of my comfort zone.