Chapter 9

June 2007

It had been weeks since Hermione had slept and the exhaustion was beginning to get to her. The day was warm and the house too quiet, and it seemed like the perfect time for a stroll through Diagon Alley. It was a mere convenience that Draco's office was located there as well, and she hoped he would be willing to watch Cece for a few hours while she slept. She pushed the pram through the semi-crowded street, hoping to avoid anyone she knew.

She should have known that was unlikely though. As she passed the Quidditch shop, she heard a familiar voice call out her name; a voice she hadn't heard in nearly a decade. Turning her head, she spotted Ron Weasley walking toward her. He hadn't changed much over the years - he wore his red hair the same, retained his stocky build, and his smile still lit up his eyes.

"Wow, you look great," he said when he approached, pulling her into a hug. "I saw the birth announcement in the paper. A girl, eh? She looks like you. Lucky thing."

Hermione scowled. "She looks nothing like me," she replied.

Ron peered down at the sleeping infant. "No, she has your nose," he told her. With a roll of her eyes, she thanked him for the compliment and intended to continue on to her husband's office. But Ron caught her arm as she began to push the pram once more. "Just wait. I wanted to talk to you."

"What could you possibly have to say after all this time?" she wondered. "Because, if I remember correctly, you're the one who decided that our friendship was over eight years ago."

Sighing, he shrugged. "I've missed you," he mumbled and Hermione scoffed. "I have. It was Daphne. She didn't think it was appropriate to be such close friends with a girl. You know those society purebloods are all about propriety."

"Yes, my husband was a society pureblood too," she reminded him. "He had no problem with Harry and me being friends. In fact, the two of them have become quite inseparable over the years. And if you really wanted to remain friends, why not just tell her that?"

Once again he shrugged, unable to find the words to answer her. "Look, things aren't good," he admitted. "Daphne and I aren't happy. I don't think we were ever happy. After Scorpius and Cadence were born, twins ya know, we just sort of stopped speaking. That was five years ago. Anyhow, I guess back then I thought that if I went along with her wishes, it might make things easier. But, Mione, it hasn't, and it's driving me crazy."

Shaking his hand off of her wrist, she busied herself with checking on her sleeping daughter. "Ron, I'm sorry that you're not happy," she finally said.

"Are you?" he wondered. "Happy, I mean."

Looking down at her daughter, Hermione smiled. "Yes, Ron, I am," she replied. "Really happy. Draco's great and he's a wonderful father. I realized very early on that our match really was a perfect one."

"Good, that's good to hear," he said, offering a half smile. "I should get going. Have to pick up the kids from my mum's. Do you think that maybe one of these days we could try talking again?"

Hermione shrugged. "Won't that upset your wife?" she asked.

Ron shook his head. "I don't care," he replied. "I'm not going to let her dictate who I can be friends with anymore. I should have done this years ago, but better late than never, right?"

"Yeah, sure," she said as she pushed the pram away. Minutes later, she entered Malfoy Incorporated, bypassed the front receptionist, and took the lift to the penthouse office. She navigated the stroller down the hallway and knocked on his door, entering only with permission. "Hey, look who wanted to say hi."

Draco looked up from his work and frowned. "Is this a good idea?" he wondered. "Isn't it hot out?"

Shrugging, she sat down on the sofa and closed her eyes. "It wasn't bad out, and I made sure to put a cooling charm on the carriage before we left the house," she told him. "And I'm tired, Draco. I'm so tired. Everything I own is covered in spit up, I've changed six diapers today, and I ran into Ron. May I please just take a break?"

Rounding his desk, he picked up Cece and sat down beside his wife. "I'm sorry," he murmured, kissing the top of her head as she leaned against his arm. "Maybe my mother could watch her a few hours a day so you could shower or take a nap or something. And maybe, just maybe, you should sleep in our bed at night instead of sitting in that chair by the cradle. She'll be okay if you're a few feet away, love."

"But what if she needs me? Or she starts to cry and it wakes you up?" Hermione asked, sitting up. "Or what if something happens and she can't cry to let us know?"

Cece began to cry, causing Hermione to reach for her, but Draco stood up. "She's my daughter too. I can help every once in awhile," he stated as he rubbed the baby's back. "I mean, don't get used to it or anything. Listen, Nott's on holiday, so there's no one in his office. Why don't you go lie down in there? I'll let Anna know not to disturb you and I'll watch Cece will you sleep."

She eyed him hesitantly, but the thought of sleep was too overwhelmingly good to pass up. "You're sure you don't mind?" she asked, getting to her feet.

Draco shook his head. "No, now go rest," he instructed her. "And when you wake up, we'll discuss your conversation with Ron. Expect double standards and misogyny. I might even toss a glass at the wall."

Laughing, she kissed him. "Finally, acting like a real man," she replied. "Okay, bottles, nappies, wipes, all in the bag. She can sleep in the carriage. And if she starts to cry-"

"Merlin, Hermione, I know," he replied exasperatedly. "Just go rest. Cece and I will be okay."

She left the office, glancing back until Draco shut his door. Theodore Nott's office was at the opposite end of the hallway, quiet and undisturbed. Though she told herself she would only close her eyes for a few minutes, when she awoke it was nearly four o'clock. Grabbing her shoes, she left the office for Draco's.

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" she demanded, dropping her shoes on the floor. "You let me sleep for four hours. What if Cece-"

Draco held up a hand to silence her. "Cece is fine," he assured her. "Fed, changed, happy as a clam. I didn't let anyone else hold her, though every woman who came in here offered."

Hermione sat down and placed her hands over her face. "She's really okay?" she asked, choking back a sob.

He sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her as she cried. "She's fine," he said. "Right now, I'm more worried about you. Talk to me, love."

Sighing, she shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted. "I just worry all the time. What if she stops breathing or doesn't wake up? What if she gets hurt? What if she gets sick and we can't do anything to help her? I'm just scared, Draco."

"It scares me too," he told her. "Being parents, being in charge of a life, it's terrifying. And it's okay to be scared. We're in this together though, Hermione. I'm not going anywhere."

"Even though I get a bit annoying and paranoid?" she asked meekly. "You're not tired of me?"

Draco smiled. "Never," he promised. "I love our daughter, and I love you. Just try to relax once in awhile. Think you could do that?"

She nodded. "I'll try, but I make no promises."