A/N: Someone pointed out in a pm that James Sirius Potter wasn't born until 2004. This isn't a cannon story. like, at all. Keep that in mind! I think Harry and Ginny in this fic wanted to start on their family as soon as possible. I'm a young mother and I don't think there is anything wrong with Ginny being one as well. She's a stay at home/ working at home mother. Albus is a baby and James is probably around 3. Anyway. Here's the new chapter! I've been writing chapters all weekend and am just a couple ahead at the moment. OH! My bestie Keren is going to be my new Beta (hopefully). She has to catch up on the story first. I'm feeling reckless this Sunday morning, so I'm posting this anyway.
Disclosure: J.K. Rowling owns the rights to Harry Potter. I don't make money off of writing this!
Kingsely floo'd into the Manor by early afternoon. Hermione was in the library reading enjoying the warm sun coming in through the windows. Malfoy was, well, she didn't know where he was and she decided she didn't care. She saw the Minister enter, looking a guilty expression written all over his face. She narrowed her eyes. Bookmarking her page carefully, she sat it back down on the love seat and stood with her hands on her hip.
"Spit it out Kings." She offered.
"Right, well tomorrow's vote has been rescheduled." Kingsely admitted.
"WHAT! Why?" Hermione burst out.
"Mione. I'm in Order, remember? I know what happened at Malfoy's. I need to ramp up security at the Ministry before we vote on anything. Rita Skeeter advertised to the public that you're going to be at the Ministry tomorrow. We can't have that, I'm sorry. It's just a few days until we figure out Order member's and Auror's schedules."
Hermione felt like screaming. She was tired of having to deal with Death Eaters and people coming after her. Hermione remembered seeing Lavender being mauled by Greyback during the battle. Last night the scene played itself on repeat in her dreams. Only it wasn't Lavender's body. She was watching herself be ripped to shreds. Hermione took some calming, deep breaths.
"Thank you for informing me Minister. Does Malfoy know?" She said professionally.
Kingsely gave her a warm smile. "What happened to Kings? He does, indeed know Miss Granger." He cheekily replied.
Hermione let out a small laugh. Kingsely came over a hugged her tightly. "You're going to be okay.
He whispered reassuringly. She peered at him over her lashes.
"Thanks Kings." She finally spoke.
"That a girl." He lifted her chin and pecked her cheek before walking out of the room.
Hermione felt her cheeks grow hot and fanned herself. "Alright, settle down!" She reprimanded herself out loud.
Monday morning came too quickly for Hermione's taste. She yawned and walked towards the kitchen. She made her coffee sleepily and dragged her feet to the dining hall. She pulled the chair back with a loud scrape and sat on it with a thump. Hermione placed an arm on the table and nestled her head in the crook.
"Not a morning person Granger?" Malfoy's voice rang out through the room. Hermione jumped in surprise and looked at him through bleary eyes. He was sitting directly across from her the whole time and she hadn't noticed.
"No. I'm not." She grumpily laid her head back down.
"Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to have your elbows on the table?" Malfoy facetiously asked.
"Didn't anyone ever tell YOU to it's rude to speak to someone before they've had coffee?" Hermione angrily answered as she glared daggers at him.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "You really haven't changed much Granger. Chugging coffee in the Great Hall, looking like you've never brushed your hair in your life, and barking at people, all before nine A.M. Being a swot sounds tiring." Malfoy insulted.
Hermione stared at him, thinking of a retort.
"Where's your cane Granger?" Malfoy asked, pulling her from her comeback.
Hermione blinked and looked down at her bare legs. She let out a small gasp. She only just remembered that she was wearing the shortest pair of pajama shorts she owned. They were maroon, with gold script on the arse reading "Lion Pride". She made them with Ginny as a joke in sixth year. She tried to subtly pull them down to make them longer. Malfoy didn't miss her sad attempts at modesty and smirked. "I've gained enough strength back that I decided I don't need it." She explained, silently cursing herself.
"Glad you're feeling better." His voice was sincere and his eyes held no sign of sarcasm. She noticed his eyes were their normal grey, only a tiny flicker of yellow could be seen in the right lighting.
"Um...right. Well, I better, um. I have to..."Hermione awkwardly stood from her seat, walking backwards so Malfoy wouldn't see her backside. He looked on with amusement. She misjudged the doorway and backed herself into the wall. Malfoy snorted into his tea and she blushed in embarrassment. She slid across the wall until she reached the opened doorway and slid out of the room. While she succeeded in hiding her arse from him, she had completely forgot that she didn't wear a bra under her tanktop. Malfoy shook the image of her chest out of his head.
He shoved a muffin in his mouth and made his way back to his room, holing himself up for the rest of the day.
Ginny and the children lived on the opposite side of the Manor. The nurseries were gorgeous. Baby Albus' room looked like a forest. The wallpaper was charmed by Hermione. The tree's rustled with a light breeze. Woodland creatures popped in and out of the tree's and bushes. Her favorite creatures being the Stag and Doe. They were often right above Albus' crib, keeping watch over the baby. A blue, sunny sky appeared on the ceiling during the day, and a starry sky appeared at night. It was beautiful magic. She thought the children should each have something special in their room at the safe house. She figured James was missing his room, so she made it an exact replica. The three year old was pleased. All four walls had a replica of a Quidditch field. The tiny Quidditch players zoomed along the walls. James would often be found running along the players side, laughing loudly. His bed was decked out in red, his favorite colour, and a tiny stuffed snowy owl sat up against the gold pillow.
Hermione poked her head into James' room to find him playing with his toy Centaurs and knights that belonged to Harry as a child.
"Good morning Jamie." She said to the toddler.
"Mornin Mimi. Wanna play?" He gestured to the toys scattered on the floor.
"I need to talk to your mummy first. But as soon as I'm done, I promise we will play! Okay?" Hermione said ruffling his black hair.
James giggled and nodded. She bent down and kissed the top of his head before she walked down the hallway.
"I've just sent in the draft. Let me know what you think when you get it okay? Yes, I checked for nargles. Mmhmm. I'll remember. Okay, bye Luna." Hermione could hear Ginny's voice as she talked on the phone. Ginny had improved at using muggle technology over the years, but that wasn't surprising. Ginny was sharp as hell. Hermione entered the office to find Albus asleep in his muggle baby swing. Hermione bought that for Ginny's baby shower and wrote in the card how her mother swore by it. Ginny realized she could have some time to herself with Albus in it. Molly made a rude comment about how her daughter didn't need breaks. Ginny threatened to not allow Molly into the room when she gave birth. That shut Molly up quickly.
"Hullo Mione." Ginny said as she vanished her notes away into a filing cabinet.
"Hi Gin. How goes the writing?" Hermione asked. Ginny had turned down a job at the Prophet and started working for Luna at the Quibbler. Ginny had told the editor of the Prophet to go fuck himself when he tried to bribe her away from Luna. She vowed to never work for the Daily Prophet until they got rid of the corrupt writers. She was happy and successful. She wrote about Quidditch. Hardly anyone read the Prophet anymore, and if they did it was just sort of out of habit. The Weasley men and Harry created a drinking game where every time the Quibbler fact checked the Prophet, they took a shot of firewhiskey. They were all usually smashed fifteen minutes into the game.
"Busy as always, but fantastic. Now, did you come in here to talk about anything specifically?" Ginny turned her knowing eyes on Hermione.
Hermione shrugged. "I think I just want to hang out with you and the kiddos. I guess I'm feeling a little lonely lately." She confided.
Ginny looked at her friend with concerned eyes. "Of course Mione. You can be with us anytime." Ginny kindly replied.