Disclaimer: Dum, de, dum, de, dumdedumdum, POP goes JK's world. Guess what?
I OWN EMMY! HA! YOU CAN'T HAVE HER! OR ERIC! OR... aw who cares; take them
if you're that desperate.
B4 on MPES:
"Are you a witch, Emmy?" She grinned proudly and nodded.
"Indeed, sir. Mum says a special one, too... but I'm not old enough to know exactly how special, yet. Is Draco a wizard?"
"Are you going to Hogwarts, Emmy?" She looked up.
"If I get accepted."
"You will," Draco assured.
"We better go back," Emmy said, starting toward the classroom, but Draco stopped her.
"Emmy," he said. "What about your finger?" She looked down, seeing the swirls of blood run down the digit in spirals, like a barber's pole.
"Oh." Emmy started intently at her finger. Magically, the wound and blood disappeared. "All better," she said and Draco smiled.
"You are special, Emmy. Very special."
~*~
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Baking Bread
Hermione happily bounced around the kitchen, a smile never leaving her face. Ginny had called Harry, informing him that she would be spending the day at home, and he sounded concerned, but she insisted she was just tired. In the end, Harry agreed, wished her love and promised to be home right after work.
As Hermione repelled off the walls, Ginny sat slumped in a chair at the kitchen table, a hand rooted on her stomach. She certainly didn't FEEL pregnant... but, then again, she wouldn't know the feeling regardless, having never had it. Each time she sighed, Hermione would tousle her shoulder-length hair, or push gently on her shoulder, always making her smile. Ginny did feel better, but she was certainly not free of stress.
"How can you look so glum? You act like your dog was just hit by a car," Hermione said, her smile still placed, as she slid a plate of fresh baked cookies toward her friend. Ginny looked up and suffered a small smile.
"More like my dog was hit by a car a month ago, and I just found out that a cute mutated hamster is rapidly growing inside my dog's intestines, and will soon be eating it's way out," she said, biting harshly into a cookie. Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Well, that's one way to look at it... your poor dog," she said sarcastically, attempting to cheer Ginny up, but the redhead just stared at the gleaming chrome surface of the table. "Gin! Stop being depressed! I wasn't this depressed when I found out I was pregnant," she grumbled, but still kept that annoyingly cheerful smile. Ginny huffed.
"You didn't have to first watch your best friend agonizingly give birth after three days of unbearable pain." Hermione laughed.
"Gin, Gin, Gin... I knew I shouldn't have let you watch that video. It's honestly not as bad as it looks; just a little tickle, I swear," Hermione said, lips tight and hand on her heart. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Then why did you SCREAM?" she asked sarcastically and Hermione smirked.
"You know how much I hate to be tickled." Together the girls laughed, which made Hermione feel a little better. It wasn't like Ginny not to see the good in every situation.
"Oh, yes Mione, I can see it now; eight months from now, me, lying in immense pain on a hospital bed, with Harry in the one next to me getting his broken-from-my-squeezing fingers fixed, and I say: "Damn, I thought you said it would tickle!" And then you laugh maliciously and say, 'Good lord, Gin, you are incredibly gullible." Again, Hermione laughed.
"Hey, I know what'll make you feel better." Ginny looked up, an expression on her face that suggested she doubted that anything would make her feel better.
"I'm listening."
"What always makes us feel better..." Ginny raised an eyebrow, and Hermione laughed. "Shopping!" she shrieked as if it were obvious. Ginny smiled widely, brightening at the thought, but it darkly dropped soon afterward.
"I don't know, Hermione. If we're having a baby, we're going to need to start watching what we spend a little more," she said, again slumping her shoulders.
"Nonsense, Gin. This trips on me; think of it as congratulation. We don't even have to buy anything if you don't want to... besides, you know I'm always here for you if you need help financially, right?" Hermione asked, placing her hand atop Ginny's, but the girl looked away.
"I know, Mione... but I don't want to have to need your help. Both Harry and I know what it's like to grow up in a family with little spending money; I don't want Eric and... whomever this is to have to live like that," she said sadly, rubbing her hand across her midsection. Hermione smiled sadly.
"It's understandable that you feel that way, Gin, but you and Harry have always been a part of my family, if not by blood; what's mine is yours," she insisted, but Ginny didn't seem to agree.
"You have your own family to worry about; I don't want you to have to worry about mine as well..."
"Ginny! This is ridiculous! We keep having this conversation... I have an insanely large bank account, plus, once Junior goes to Hogwarts, both Draco and I plan on going back to school, which means jobs in the future, which means even more money... I have plenty to share, Gin. And I owe you so much more than you're willing to take," Hermione argued, and Ginny looked up, still sullen.
"You most certainly do not, Hermione. We barged into your home and live off your hospitality. You owe me nothing; it's the other way around."
"You know Gin, if I had my way, you and Harry would quite working at that no-name factory and live the life of luxury here with me, without ever once paying me a knut," Hermione said, lifting her nose and taking a sip of the cooling tea she'd poured. Ginny sighed.
"You can't possibly have enough to support the three... well, four of us Potters plus you lot for six more years without any of us working; that's insane," she insisted, but a small smirk crept onto Hermione face.
"You want to know?" Ginny lifted an eyebrow and Hermione grinned, leaning in to whisper the current balance of her checking account in the ear of her stubborn friend. Ginny's eyes grew wide as the numbers formed in her mind.
"Bloody hell!" Hermione leaned back, grinning, but Ginny looked absolutely shocked. "I've never even SEEN that much money in my life!" Hermione nodded.
"Not only am I engaged to a Dragon, but he comes with enough money to repair the city after he's rampaged," she said, laughing at her own wit, but Ginny simply stared.
"Mione... why did you never tell me it was THAT much? I'd imagined less than half... a quarter, even." Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you really blame me, Gin? After the fuss you put up with me trying to replace Eric's sneakers, or spoiling the lot of you at Christmastime, did you expect me to? I know you already feel down about it, Gin... I didn't want to rub that in your face as well," she explained, and Ginny swallowed, shaking her head.
"But Mione... you must be richer than Dumbledore," she said in awe and Hermione shook her head.
"I don't know about that, but I'm well on my way. Enough about money; what say we disembark on this trip of indulgence I've suggested?" Again, Ginny's face looked sullen. She opened her mouth to once again disagree, but Hermione shushed her. "Don't even start, Gin. We're going, and I'm paying for everything. And if you refuse to tell me what you want; I'll hex you into it, agreed?" Ginny sighed.
"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, does it?" she said, standing and Hermione laughed.
"Damn straight."
"Suppose I should freshen up, then?"
~*~*~*~
"Emmy," Draco whispered to the small girl just before they reentered the classroom. She looked up at him, slightly surprised. "Do you think you could help me with something?" She smiled.
"What's something, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked in a curious voice and Draco grinned, leaning down to whisper in her ear. Emmy practically swooned as he finished. "Oh, of course I will, sir! But aren't you already..." Draco shook his head, and Emmy smiled. "Well, if you don't mind me saying so, that's an ingenious way to go about it. If only more Draco Malfoy's had your romantic creativity," she said, sending a glare of slight annoyance, but mostly pining at the door to Mr. Burns' classroom. Draco lifted an eyebrow, not bothering to be impressed by her articulation and word composition.
"Do elaborate," he suggested, half expecting a confused look from her, but Emmy turned her eyes back to his face and started speaking.
"You know what he gave me for my birthday? A frog. Honestly, a frog. A real one, not even the candy kind..." she cringed. "Yuck." Draco laughed.
"He's five; give him a few years."
"Well, I just TURNED five last Monday and I wouldn't have given him lipstick for HIS birthday," she said, crossing her arms. Draco laughed, but her pursed lips relaxed. "I suppose it's the thought that counts... but honestly, a FROG."
"You know Emmy; his birthday's in a few months... I suggest you do just that," Draco said, and Emmy smiled.
"Actually, Mr. Malfoy... I just might," she said and reached for the door handle, letting the buzzing of Mr. Burn's kindergarten class enter their ears.
~*~*~*~
"Mummy!" Jr. called as he entered the manor, followed by Eric and Draco, who placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him in place. Jr. turned back around.
"Remember, Junior; shh," Draco said, placing a finger to his lips, and Jr.'s smile dropped momentarily.
"Yes Daddy," he said and made a zipping motion over his lips. Draco smiled and let go, allowing Jr. to attempt to locate his mother. "Mum! Mu- Uncle Harry?" he continued, running into the kitchen; the most likely place to find his mother. Harry looked up as Jr. stepped into the room, a tired look on his face, complimented by a wrinkled brow.
"Hey, Junior. Your mum's not home," he said, toying with the rim of his teacup. Upon hearing the unexpected voice, Draco and Eric shared a look, then followed Jr. into the kitchen. Draco said nothing, but Eric, seeing nothing awkward about it, strolled into the kitchen and headed for the fridge.
"Hey Dad, why you home so early?" he asked as he liberated a pitcher of lemonade from the icebox and set it on the table. Harry looked up, smiling slightly.
"Well, I came to meet your mum... but it seems she's not here," he said and Eric looked suspiciously at him. He knew there was a piece missing to that puzzle. Eric wasn't the only one who noticed, however.
"Hey, why don't you boys go change your clothes and we'll see what we can do about snacks, hm?" Draco suggested, his eyes never leaving Harry. The boys looked to each other, then nodded, suspecting something was off.
"Okay, Uncle Draco," Eric said as he set his cup on the table and placed the pitcher back where it came from. "Come on, Junior," he continued, ushering Jr. out of the kitchen. Once the stampede of footsteps up the stairs silenced, Draco chose to speak again.
"You alright, Harry?" he asked, stepping forward, and Harry looked up, sacrificing a small smile.
"Yeah... just a little worried. Probably over nothing." Draco lifted an eyebrow and Harry sighed. "Ginny left early today for some sort of appointment... dentist, I think... then she called me and said she wasn't coming back, but wouldn't tell me why. Claimed she was tired... and now the girls have 'gone out'. It just seems like there's something she's not telling me," he explained, sounding a little down. Draco smirked.
"Harry; are you compulsively paranoid?" Harry looked up for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"You know, Draco, I think you might be on to something there..." Draco smiled.
"Thought so. She probably was tired, but you know as well as I do that Hermione can get anyone to do anything if she tries hard enough," he said in a tone that suggested Harry a fool for not thinking of it first. He sighed.
"Yeah..."
"Where are they, anyway?" Harry shrugged.
"There's a note for you on the fridge," he said, pointing. "Mine didn't say." Draco looked to the identified appliance, shaking his head. As said, there was a note, written in a tight cursive handwriting that could be identified by anyone as Hermione's.
"Mia and her notes; god forbid she do anything without writing it down first," he said, stepping toward the white magnetic surface and plucking his letter from below a Malfoy crest magnet. Harry smiled and sipped his tea.
*Draco,
Ginny and I have gone out; we should definitely be back before dinner. I have something very important to tell you once we do return. See you soon.
I love you,
Hermione.
P.S. Please make sure the boys dump their laundry down the chute. Thank you.*
Draco re-read the short note a few times, smiling at the simplicity. It wasn't until Harry broke into his thoughts that he remembered where he was.
"I'm willing to bet just about anything that they've gone shopping. Those girls and money don't mix," he said, sipping the last of his tea. Draco smiled.
"Ah, let them have their fun. We'll punish them later, hm?" he suggested, lifting an eyebrow and Harry countered it with a smirk.
"I think I could live with that." All was silent for a moment, then Draco sighed.
"Well, the boys suspect something," he said and Harry looked up.
"What?"
"I mentioned food; under normal circumstances, they should have been down here within thirty seconds, and it's been almost five minutes." Harry laughed.
"Right again, Malfoy, damn you to hell," he said, standing and striding out of the kitchen to let the boys know all was well. Draco simply looked after him, smirking. Before Harry even made it to the stairs, the phone rang. Knowing the boys would be reprimanded if they were to answer, Draco stepped quickly to the white plastic device on the wall and pressed the receiver to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Yes, this is Dr. McGregor at the Witch's Health Clinic in London. May I speak to the lady of the house?" asked a voice on the other end.
"I'm sorry, sir; she's not home at the moment," Draco said. "Can I take a message?"
"Ah, yes, that would be right jolly of you, sir. Please inform her that the tests once again came back positive, and that if she wants them done a third time, she needs to make another appointment." Draco was speechless for a moment. Tests? What tests?
"A-Alright; thank you, sir," he agreed, and slowly hung up the receiver. He hadn't even begun to sort out his thoughts when an extremely perky Narcissa burst through the front door and hurried directly for the kitchen. When she saw Draco, she snuck her arms around his waist from behind.
"Hey, baby. How was school?" she asked, laughing slightly at her own wit, but Draco was too busy wracking his brain for proper answers to the many unanswered questions the call had brought him to even notice her tiny joke.
"Fine, Mum," he said, placing a hand over hers on his stomach. Narcissa, too happy to notice anything, squeezed him and turned away, on a course to prepare a snack for the boys. "Mum," Draco said after a moment, turning toward her.
"Hm?" she asked, rushing about in an overly amused fluster.
"Who's Dr. McGregor?" Narcissa looked up, still smiling.
"The Lady Doctor, Draco," she answered softly, but Draco didn't seem to understand, so she tried again. "The gynecologist, dear." His face grew a tad paler, and Narcissa's smile dropped a fraction. "Why?" Draco reached a rigid hand to pull a chair from the table and sat down before speaking.
"He called... for Hermione. Told me to tell her that some tests came back positive..." Narcissa's smile became a mere memory and she stopped her preparation. She hadn't even known Hermione was getting tests done... and evidently, Draco didn't either.
"Oh, honey... that's not necessarily bad," she said softly. "Be optimistic."
"Mother, honestly..." Draco said, placing his head in his hands. "On what sort of medical exam is positive ever good?" Narcissa was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. Draco sighed. "And Harry was worried because Ginny went to the dentist." There was another brief pause before a smile re- grew on Narcissa's face.
"You know Draco, there is one kind..." he looked up, brow already creased. "A pregnancy test." Draco's eyes grew wide. He double-checked quickly in his head; yes... that made perfect sense. The doctor had said the tests came back AGAIN and if she wanted them a THIRD time... that meant she must have had them done twice. She wanted to be sure; that sure sounded like Hermione. If it'd been something bad, no one in their right mind would second guess the first positive. And she had something very important to tell him... that had to be it; he was going to be a father... again.
"Do you think? Did she say anything to you?" Draco asked his mother, a wide smile growing on his lips. Narcissa momentarily reprimanded herself for getting his hopes up, just in case it was untrue, but quickly decided it was better than being miserable and finding out nothing was wrong.
"No, love... but it IS possible, I suppose." Draco stood from his chair, laughing. He stepped toward his mother and lifted her into his arms, twirling around. Narcissa laughed, hugging him tight.
"Dad? What are you doing to Nanna?" Jr. asked from the doorway, followed closely by Eric and Harry, all of which were looking skeptical. Draco laughed and set Narcissa down, but not before she could whisper in his ear.
"Don't tell them yet; just in case." Draco nodded.
"Dancing," he explained to the boys, none of whom looked even remotely convinced. "Er... who wants cookies, hm?" Sure enough, that cleared their minds of confusion.
~*~*~*~
"Ginny, you have to tell him today; I'm not going to let you not and you know it," Hermione said as she and Ginny browsed through baby clothes. "Aw, look at this one!" Ginny smiled at the little pink dress, then sighed.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous; I know it'll make him happy... where's the problem?" Hermione shrugged. "But really... maybe I should wait... I've only had the test done once; it could be a mistake... should I do it again?" Hermione laughed.
"I did it about thirteen times, although I knew that it wasn't wrong. It's a magical test, Gin. Magic doesn't make mistakes," she assured, and Ginny sighed.
"You're right. Of course you're right. I just..."
"Gin, I'll be right outside the door if you need any back-up, okay?" Hermione said and Ginny nodded.
"I guess... should we go home now?" she asked a tad nervously and Hermione smirked.
"Not quite yet; you know what you need? Shoes." Ginny laughed and allowed Hermione drag her toward their favorite department.
~*~*~*~
After the boys had retired to playtime in their rooms and Narcissa had insisted she needed to clean... something... Harry and Draco sat alone in the kitchen. Draco was still a tad wide-eyed and very quiet, his thoughts occupying his attention. Harry watched as Draco's mouth contracted in alternating smiles and frowns, curious as to the reason.
"Draco," he said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He blinked and took a deep breath. "You alright, man?" Draco looked to Harry's face, then back to his teacup, trying to decide what to say.
"Harry," he began, followed by a slight pause. "It's not definite, but I think there's a bun in our oven." Harry looked thoroughly confused for a moment, then his eyes widened.
"No..." Draco smiled slightly. "Hermione's.... already? Hell, you work fast," Harry said and Draco laughed, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, I have been celibate for six years; what do you expect?" Harry laughed.
"Gee, I don't know, a little more precaution?" Draco's smirk was now in full uniform. Harry punched him in the shoulder. "Hey, I'm happy for you. Perhaps someday I'll join that boat." Draco perked an eyebrow at his famous friend.
"Boat?" Harry shrugged.
"We have more in common under this topic than you may realize, Malfoy. I do have a son, but, like you, I missed a good portion of his early life... and I didn't get to see him born, although it would have been quite strange if I did, or see him learn to walk, or talk, or anything. Eric was practically potty trained when I met him. I'd like to have my chance to watch all that happen. I know that my situation isn't as harsh as yours, considering Eric was adopted, but I think I'd feel the same way were he my own." Draco stared at Harry for a moment.
"I never really thought of you and Eric that way, but now that you've said it... I can't believe I missed it." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "You know, Harry... you just put everything I've been trying to articulate for the last few days into three sentences."
"I've been trying for a little bit longer than you have, Draco," Harry said, grinning.
~*~*~*~
"I don't know if I can do this, Hermione..." Hermione groaned.
"Ginny, stop being such a baby! He's your husband, you should be able to tell him anything!"
"I know... I know... usually I can, I don't know what's wrong with me..." Hermione sighed, leaning gently on the steering wheel. They were parked in the driveway, simply waiting for Ginny to gain her courage.
"It's just because you've never had to tell him something this big before; not since... well, ever, really," Hermione said and Ginny sighed.
"I asked him to marry me," she said quietly, and Hermione turned to her, startled.
"What? You did?" Ginny nodded.
"It was rather funny, really. He invited me out to dinner one night, and I made up my mind that I was sick of waiting and that I was going to ask him. So I did. He said yes and pulled out the ring he was just about to give to me." Hermione smiled warmly.
"That's really sweet, Gin. How come you never told me?" She shrugged, smiling.
"Harry didn't want to sound un-masculine because he didn't ask me first, so to make up for it, I said I wouldn't tell anyone... but I'm sure he won't mind that you know," Ginny answered, speaking of Harry as if he were Merlin himself. Hermione smiled.
"Are you ready to do this?" Ginny straightened up.
"No, but I think I'm going to anyway."
~
Hermione and Ginny silently entered the Manor, dropping their two shopping bags to either side of the door. Hermione took Ginny's elbow and was about to go find Harry, but her friend stopped her and pointed toward a chair in the entry room, where Harry lay, asleep, a folded daily prophet on his lap. Smiling, Hermione approached him and tapped his shoulder.
"Harry," she said, and Ginny felt a surge flow through her. She was frozen in her spot. Harry woke instantly, muttering some half-asleep and undistinguishable words. Hermione giggled and pulled him from the chair.
"Hey, girls. What's up?" he asked, moving toward Ginny and kissing her cheek. She still stood rigid. "Gin?" Hermione stepped in, circling Ginny.
"Harry, Ginny has something she wants to talk to you about... isn't that right, Gin?" Ginny gulped, avoiding eye contact, and Harry looked at her skeptically. Hermione gave Ginny a nudge when she didn't speak and she let out the breath she'd been holding. Without a word, Ginny took Harry's hand and pulled him toward the stairway on a course for their room. Giggling, Hermione waited until they were at the top of the stairs before she started up, in search of Draco.
A/N: Whoa ho! I have so many little teaser questions I want to ask, but I don't want to make people think the wrong way, so I'll just keep my mouth shut. But, I can't help but wonder what Emmy was supposed to help with.... hm.... oh, damn, I did it again, didn't I?
PRF:
Chia: I might do like an epilogue in which they're older, but it'll only be like one chapter... if you want to, go ahead and take them to school... but give me a little credit and some point... a recommendation to the original story perhaps? That's all I ask ;oD. I understand your name calling logic... but when someone calls you a skinny little white ass bitch... that's different than people calling Hermione a mudblood... I mean, look at the way these people live... it's enough purity to choke a unicorn... that's the closest thing to a swear word they say, except 'bloody hell'... and she was like twelve... it's understandable that she would be upset.
TriGemini: Well, Jr. and Eric know about Hogwarts too... lol. And I was thinking that too... about Jimmy, Emmy, and Jr. being Ron, Hermione, and Harry... I didn't mean it to be like that, but it did... and it's cute. Nothing extravagant in the Harry's reaction department... just a word of warning.
MoRbiD: Yep, no problem!
Kissing-shadows: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Gina: They WILL get married in this fic, but I don't know yet about Ginny having the baby... nine months... thus far I've gotten through two weeks.
JoeBob1379: Lol, about thanksgiving... I bet you're right... oh well, these people are multicultural, ok? And that 6th year of Emmy and Jr. thing... I signed those rights to Chia, as she asked for them. Talk to her if you have ideas.
Abercrombie-princess: Here's your 'another one'. Calm down deary!
CatalinaRose: Yeah... I assumed it was obvious... however, I liked it too!
Krissy: She is! Lol. See ^^^ ???
Purpleballerynna: No, it's not the same McNair... I just use that last name a lot. I think Emilia is a pretty name... like, pronounced, Em-ih-lye-uh? :oD it's from Shakespeare.
Crystalline Lily: I know poor Jimmy! I thought about that... but I like it this way; it provides conflict... and it's something for Chia (who I have given permission to write about them going to Hogwarts) to deal with ;o)
LegalanGreenleaf: Lol, I do in a way feel bad for her... but she'll live! Lol.
Arime: If you're wanting a sequel, but Chia... I've signed off rights to her ;o)
AngelGurl06: Lol, thanx... I'm planning on continuing. My English professor (Mdawg, to us students) seems to think I have fervor... and that I can publish if I try... so I'm taking his word for it. Oh, and I'm just finishing up my Freshman year... I'm 15. 16 on Dec. 1
Befuzzled: Thanx... that kind of commitment makes me feel all warm and happy inside... :oD
Tracey: I thought about that... but no, because... I don't know, I hate that story... and that way for Draco to change was terrible... it was like it just boom happened overnight... In this one he said earlier that they'd been assigned as a study group. So that's how it happened... :oD
Kylie Flynn: Lol, that's cool! I'm glad you like me so much, lol. I don't particularly like slash... the only time I'll read it is if I didn't know and I'm already half way through the story... then it's like, whatever, I wanna know what happens! Lol.
Chrissy: Sorry if I spelled it wrong; I've got a Krissy too...
Brooklyn Girl119: I will, of course I will! Lol.
Sunkitten: Lol, hilarious? Gen. Moldyshorts? Lol, I'm glad you think so... :oD. No, not the same McNair... and the only people in the class who aren't muggles are Draco (Jr.) and Emmy... everyone else is. Even Jimmy. I do feel sorry for him :o(
Couch-potato01... right
BellethePhilosopher'sCookie: Lol, thanx, Cookie! I'm the best hm? ::stands proudly:: I always knew it! Lol.
Flutegirl: sorry if it's disappointing, but Emmy's parents are just some random magical people.
Ezmerelda: Lol, yes... I know about the foreshadowing. I wrote it remember? Lol. That was on purpose! Go Emmy and Junior! Yippee!
Darkmarkgrl: I know they're too smart... but it's so limiting to write with stupid little kids... lol. So they're genius little kids. Except Jimmy; he's not so bright, I don't' think. But if Emmy and Draco are both smart... that might have been what attracted them to one another, right? Right. That's what happened; I swear. Call yourself a clairvoyant, but... ::waves hand to come close:: Don't tell anyone but... ::whisper:: Eric WILL get a g/f.... :: grins::
B4 on MPES:
"Are you a witch, Emmy?" She grinned proudly and nodded.
"Indeed, sir. Mum says a special one, too... but I'm not old enough to know exactly how special, yet. Is Draco a wizard?"
"Are you going to Hogwarts, Emmy?" She looked up.
"If I get accepted."
"You will," Draco assured.
"We better go back," Emmy said, starting toward the classroom, but Draco stopped her.
"Emmy," he said. "What about your finger?" She looked down, seeing the swirls of blood run down the digit in spirals, like a barber's pole.
"Oh." Emmy started intently at her finger. Magically, the wound and blood disappeared. "All better," she said and Draco smiled.
"You are special, Emmy. Very special."
~*~
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Baking Bread
Hermione happily bounced around the kitchen, a smile never leaving her face. Ginny had called Harry, informing him that she would be spending the day at home, and he sounded concerned, but she insisted she was just tired. In the end, Harry agreed, wished her love and promised to be home right after work.
As Hermione repelled off the walls, Ginny sat slumped in a chair at the kitchen table, a hand rooted on her stomach. She certainly didn't FEEL pregnant... but, then again, she wouldn't know the feeling regardless, having never had it. Each time she sighed, Hermione would tousle her shoulder-length hair, or push gently on her shoulder, always making her smile. Ginny did feel better, but she was certainly not free of stress.
"How can you look so glum? You act like your dog was just hit by a car," Hermione said, her smile still placed, as she slid a plate of fresh baked cookies toward her friend. Ginny looked up and suffered a small smile.
"More like my dog was hit by a car a month ago, and I just found out that a cute mutated hamster is rapidly growing inside my dog's intestines, and will soon be eating it's way out," she said, biting harshly into a cookie. Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Well, that's one way to look at it... your poor dog," she said sarcastically, attempting to cheer Ginny up, but the redhead just stared at the gleaming chrome surface of the table. "Gin! Stop being depressed! I wasn't this depressed when I found out I was pregnant," she grumbled, but still kept that annoyingly cheerful smile. Ginny huffed.
"You didn't have to first watch your best friend agonizingly give birth after three days of unbearable pain." Hermione laughed.
"Gin, Gin, Gin... I knew I shouldn't have let you watch that video. It's honestly not as bad as it looks; just a little tickle, I swear," Hermione said, lips tight and hand on her heart. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Then why did you SCREAM?" she asked sarcastically and Hermione smirked.
"You know how much I hate to be tickled." Together the girls laughed, which made Hermione feel a little better. It wasn't like Ginny not to see the good in every situation.
"Oh, yes Mione, I can see it now; eight months from now, me, lying in immense pain on a hospital bed, with Harry in the one next to me getting his broken-from-my-squeezing fingers fixed, and I say: "Damn, I thought you said it would tickle!" And then you laugh maliciously and say, 'Good lord, Gin, you are incredibly gullible." Again, Hermione laughed.
"Hey, I know what'll make you feel better." Ginny looked up, an expression on her face that suggested she doubted that anything would make her feel better.
"I'm listening."
"What always makes us feel better..." Ginny raised an eyebrow, and Hermione laughed. "Shopping!" she shrieked as if it were obvious. Ginny smiled widely, brightening at the thought, but it darkly dropped soon afterward.
"I don't know, Hermione. If we're having a baby, we're going to need to start watching what we spend a little more," she said, again slumping her shoulders.
"Nonsense, Gin. This trips on me; think of it as congratulation. We don't even have to buy anything if you don't want to... besides, you know I'm always here for you if you need help financially, right?" Hermione asked, placing her hand atop Ginny's, but the girl looked away.
"I know, Mione... but I don't want to have to need your help. Both Harry and I know what it's like to grow up in a family with little spending money; I don't want Eric and... whomever this is to have to live like that," she said sadly, rubbing her hand across her midsection. Hermione smiled sadly.
"It's understandable that you feel that way, Gin, but you and Harry have always been a part of my family, if not by blood; what's mine is yours," she insisted, but Ginny didn't seem to agree.
"You have your own family to worry about; I don't want you to have to worry about mine as well..."
"Ginny! This is ridiculous! We keep having this conversation... I have an insanely large bank account, plus, once Junior goes to Hogwarts, both Draco and I plan on going back to school, which means jobs in the future, which means even more money... I have plenty to share, Gin. And I owe you so much more than you're willing to take," Hermione argued, and Ginny looked up, still sullen.
"You most certainly do not, Hermione. We barged into your home and live off your hospitality. You owe me nothing; it's the other way around."
"You know Gin, if I had my way, you and Harry would quite working at that no-name factory and live the life of luxury here with me, without ever once paying me a knut," Hermione said, lifting her nose and taking a sip of the cooling tea she'd poured. Ginny sighed.
"You can't possibly have enough to support the three... well, four of us Potters plus you lot for six more years without any of us working; that's insane," she insisted, but a small smirk crept onto Hermione face.
"You want to know?" Ginny lifted an eyebrow and Hermione grinned, leaning in to whisper the current balance of her checking account in the ear of her stubborn friend. Ginny's eyes grew wide as the numbers formed in her mind.
"Bloody hell!" Hermione leaned back, grinning, but Ginny looked absolutely shocked. "I've never even SEEN that much money in my life!" Hermione nodded.
"Not only am I engaged to a Dragon, but he comes with enough money to repair the city after he's rampaged," she said, laughing at her own wit, but Ginny simply stared.
"Mione... why did you never tell me it was THAT much? I'd imagined less than half... a quarter, even." Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you really blame me, Gin? After the fuss you put up with me trying to replace Eric's sneakers, or spoiling the lot of you at Christmastime, did you expect me to? I know you already feel down about it, Gin... I didn't want to rub that in your face as well," she explained, and Ginny swallowed, shaking her head.
"But Mione... you must be richer than Dumbledore," she said in awe and Hermione shook her head.
"I don't know about that, but I'm well on my way. Enough about money; what say we disembark on this trip of indulgence I've suggested?" Again, Ginny's face looked sullen. She opened her mouth to once again disagree, but Hermione shushed her. "Don't even start, Gin. We're going, and I'm paying for everything. And if you refuse to tell me what you want; I'll hex you into it, agreed?" Ginny sighed.
"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, does it?" she said, standing and Hermione laughed.
"Damn straight."
"Suppose I should freshen up, then?"
~*~*~*~
"Emmy," Draco whispered to the small girl just before they reentered the classroom. She looked up at him, slightly surprised. "Do you think you could help me with something?" She smiled.
"What's something, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked in a curious voice and Draco grinned, leaning down to whisper in her ear. Emmy practically swooned as he finished. "Oh, of course I will, sir! But aren't you already..." Draco shook his head, and Emmy smiled. "Well, if you don't mind me saying so, that's an ingenious way to go about it. If only more Draco Malfoy's had your romantic creativity," she said, sending a glare of slight annoyance, but mostly pining at the door to Mr. Burns' classroom. Draco lifted an eyebrow, not bothering to be impressed by her articulation and word composition.
"Do elaborate," he suggested, half expecting a confused look from her, but Emmy turned her eyes back to his face and started speaking.
"You know what he gave me for my birthday? A frog. Honestly, a frog. A real one, not even the candy kind..." she cringed. "Yuck." Draco laughed.
"He's five; give him a few years."
"Well, I just TURNED five last Monday and I wouldn't have given him lipstick for HIS birthday," she said, crossing her arms. Draco laughed, but her pursed lips relaxed. "I suppose it's the thought that counts... but honestly, a FROG."
"You know Emmy; his birthday's in a few months... I suggest you do just that," Draco said, and Emmy smiled.
"Actually, Mr. Malfoy... I just might," she said and reached for the door handle, letting the buzzing of Mr. Burn's kindergarten class enter their ears.
~*~*~*~
"Mummy!" Jr. called as he entered the manor, followed by Eric and Draco, who placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him in place. Jr. turned back around.
"Remember, Junior; shh," Draco said, placing a finger to his lips, and Jr.'s smile dropped momentarily.
"Yes Daddy," he said and made a zipping motion over his lips. Draco smiled and let go, allowing Jr. to attempt to locate his mother. "Mum! Mu- Uncle Harry?" he continued, running into the kitchen; the most likely place to find his mother. Harry looked up as Jr. stepped into the room, a tired look on his face, complimented by a wrinkled brow.
"Hey, Junior. Your mum's not home," he said, toying with the rim of his teacup. Upon hearing the unexpected voice, Draco and Eric shared a look, then followed Jr. into the kitchen. Draco said nothing, but Eric, seeing nothing awkward about it, strolled into the kitchen and headed for the fridge.
"Hey Dad, why you home so early?" he asked as he liberated a pitcher of lemonade from the icebox and set it on the table. Harry looked up, smiling slightly.
"Well, I came to meet your mum... but it seems she's not here," he said and Eric looked suspiciously at him. He knew there was a piece missing to that puzzle. Eric wasn't the only one who noticed, however.
"Hey, why don't you boys go change your clothes and we'll see what we can do about snacks, hm?" Draco suggested, his eyes never leaving Harry. The boys looked to each other, then nodded, suspecting something was off.
"Okay, Uncle Draco," Eric said as he set his cup on the table and placed the pitcher back where it came from. "Come on, Junior," he continued, ushering Jr. out of the kitchen. Once the stampede of footsteps up the stairs silenced, Draco chose to speak again.
"You alright, Harry?" he asked, stepping forward, and Harry looked up, sacrificing a small smile.
"Yeah... just a little worried. Probably over nothing." Draco lifted an eyebrow and Harry sighed. "Ginny left early today for some sort of appointment... dentist, I think... then she called me and said she wasn't coming back, but wouldn't tell me why. Claimed she was tired... and now the girls have 'gone out'. It just seems like there's something she's not telling me," he explained, sounding a little down. Draco smirked.
"Harry; are you compulsively paranoid?" Harry looked up for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"You know, Draco, I think you might be on to something there..." Draco smiled.
"Thought so. She probably was tired, but you know as well as I do that Hermione can get anyone to do anything if she tries hard enough," he said in a tone that suggested Harry a fool for not thinking of it first. He sighed.
"Yeah..."
"Where are they, anyway?" Harry shrugged.
"There's a note for you on the fridge," he said, pointing. "Mine didn't say." Draco looked to the identified appliance, shaking his head. As said, there was a note, written in a tight cursive handwriting that could be identified by anyone as Hermione's.
"Mia and her notes; god forbid she do anything without writing it down first," he said, stepping toward the white magnetic surface and plucking his letter from below a Malfoy crest magnet. Harry smiled and sipped his tea.
*Draco,
Ginny and I have gone out; we should definitely be back before dinner. I have something very important to tell you once we do return. See you soon.
I love you,
Hermione.
P.S. Please make sure the boys dump their laundry down the chute. Thank you.*
Draco re-read the short note a few times, smiling at the simplicity. It wasn't until Harry broke into his thoughts that he remembered where he was.
"I'm willing to bet just about anything that they've gone shopping. Those girls and money don't mix," he said, sipping the last of his tea. Draco smiled.
"Ah, let them have their fun. We'll punish them later, hm?" he suggested, lifting an eyebrow and Harry countered it with a smirk.
"I think I could live with that." All was silent for a moment, then Draco sighed.
"Well, the boys suspect something," he said and Harry looked up.
"What?"
"I mentioned food; under normal circumstances, they should have been down here within thirty seconds, and it's been almost five minutes." Harry laughed.
"Right again, Malfoy, damn you to hell," he said, standing and striding out of the kitchen to let the boys know all was well. Draco simply looked after him, smirking. Before Harry even made it to the stairs, the phone rang. Knowing the boys would be reprimanded if they were to answer, Draco stepped quickly to the white plastic device on the wall and pressed the receiver to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Yes, this is Dr. McGregor at the Witch's Health Clinic in London. May I speak to the lady of the house?" asked a voice on the other end.
"I'm sorry, sir; she's not home at the moment," Draco said. "Can I take a message?"
"Ah, yes, that would be right jolly of you, sir. Please inform her that the tests once again came back positive, and that if she wants them done a third time, she needs to make another appointment." Draco was speechless for a moment. Tests? What tests?
"A-Alright; thank you, sir," he agreed, and slowly hung up the receiver. He hadn't even begun to sort out his thoughts when an extremely perky Narcissa burst through the front door and hurried directly for the kitchen. When she saw Draco, she snuck her arms around his waist from behind.
"Hey, baby. How was school?" she asked, laughing slightly at her own wit, but Draco was too busy wracking his brain for proper answers to the many unanswered questions the call had brought him to even notice her tiny joke.
"Fine, Mum," he said, placing a hand over hers on his stomach. Narcissa, too happy to notice anything, squeezed him and turned away, on a course to prepare a snack for the boys. "Mum," Draco said after a moment, turning toward her.
"Hm?" she asked, rushing about in an overly amused fluster.
"Who's Dr. McGregor?" Narcissa looked up, still smiling.
"The Lady Doctor, Draco," she answered softly, but Draco didn't seem to understand, so she tried again. "The gynecologist, dear." His face grew a tad paler, and Narcissa's smile dropped a fraction. "Why?" Draco reached a rigid hand to pull a chair from the table and sat down before speaking.
"He called... for Hermione. Told me to tell her that some tests came back positive..." Narcissa's smile became a mere memory and she stopped her preparation. She hadn't even known Hermione was getting tests done... and evidently, Draco didn't either.
"Oh, honey... that's not necessarily bad," she said softly. "Be optimistic."
"Mother, honestly..." Draco said, placing his head in his hands. "On what sort of medical exam is positive ever good?" Narcissa was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. Draco sighed. "And Harry was worried because Ginny went to the dentist." There was another brief pause before a smile re- grew on Narcissa's face.
"You know Draco, there is one kind..." he looked up, brow already creased. "A pregnancy test." Draco's eyes grew wide. He double-checked quickly in his head; yes... that made perfect sense. The doctor had said the tests came back AGAIN and if she wanted them a THIRD time... that meant she must have had them done twice. She wanted to be sure; that sure sounded like Hermione. If it'd been something bad, no one in their right mind would second guess the first positive. And she had something very important to tell him... that had to be it; he was going to be a father... again.
"Do you think? Did she say anything to you?" Draco asked his mother, a wide smile growing on his lips. Narcissa momentarily reprimanded herself for getting his hopes up, just in case it was untrue, but quickly decided it was better than being miserable and finding out nothing was wrong.
"No, love... but it IS possible, I suppose." Draco stood from his chair, laughing. He stepped toward his mother and lifted her into his arms, twirling around. Narcissa laughed, hugging him tight.
"Dad? What are you doing to Nanna?" Jr. asked from the doorway, followed closely by Eric and Harry, all of which were looking skeptical. Draco laughed and set Narcissa down, but not before she could whisper in his ear.
"Don't tell them yet; just in case." Draco nodded.
"Dancing," he explained to the boys, none of whom looked even remotely convinced. "Er... who wants cookies, hm?" Sure enough, that cleared their minds of confusion.
~*~*~*~
"Ginny, you have to tell him today; I'm not going to let you not and you know it," Hermione said as she and Ginny browsed through baby clothes. "Aw, look at this one!" Ginny smiled at the little pink dress, then sighed.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous; I know it'll make him happy... where's the problem?" Hermione shrugged. "But really... maybe I should wait... I've only had the test done once; it could be a mistake... should I do it again?" Hermione laughed.
"I did it about thirteen times, although I knew that it wasn't wrong. It's a magical test, Gin. Magic doesn't make mistakes," she assured, and Ginny sighed.
"You're right. Of course you're right. I just..."
"Gin, I'll be right outside the door if you need any back-up, okay?" Hermione said and Ginny nodded.
"I guess... should we go home now?" she asked a tad nervously and Hermione smirked.
"Not quite yet; you know what you need? Shoes." Ginny laughed and allowed Hermione drag her toward their favorite department.
~*~*~*~
After the boys had retired to playtime in their rooms and Narcissa had insisted she needed to clean... something... Harry and Draco sat alone in the kitchen. Draco was still a tad wide-eyed and very quiet, his thoughts occupying his attention. Harry watched as Draco's mouth contracted in alternating smiles and frowns, curious as to the reason.
"Draco," he said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He blinked and took a deep breath. "You alright, man?" Draco looked to Harry's face, then back to his teacup, trying to decide what to say.
"Harry," he began, followed by a slight pause. "It's not definite, but I think there's a bun in our oven." Harry looked thoroughly confused for a moment, then his eyes widened.
"No..." Draco smiled slightly. "Hermione's.... already? Hell, you work fast," Harry said and Draco laughed, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, I have been celibate for six years; what do you expect?" Harry laughed.
"Gee, I don't know, a little more precaution?" Draco's smirk was now in full uniform. Harry punched him in the shoulder. "Hey, I'm happy for you. Perhaps someday I'll join that boat." Draco perked an eyebrow at his famous friend.
"Boat?" Harry shrugged.
"We have more in common under this topic than you may realize, Malfoy. I do have a son, but, like you, I missed a good portion of his early life... and I didn't get to see him born, although it would have been quite strange if I did, or see him learn to walk, or talk, or anything. Eric was practically potty trained when I met him. I'd like to have my chance to watch all that happen. I know that my situation isn't as harsh as yours, considering Eric was adopted, but I think I'd feel the same way were he my own." Draco stared at Harry for a moment.
"I never really thought of you and Eric that way, but now that you've said it... I can't believe I missed it." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "You know, Harry... you just put everything I've been trying to articulate for the last few days into three sentences."
"I've been trying for a little bit longer than you have, Draco," Harry said, grinning.
~*~*~*~
"I don't know if I can do this, Hermione..." Hermione groaned.
"Ginny, stop being such a baby! He's your husband, you should be able to tell him anything!"
"I know... I know... usually I can, I don't know what's wrong with me..." Hermione sighed, leaning gently on the steering wheel. They were parked in the driveway, simply waiting for Ginny to gain her courage.
"It's just because you've never had to tell him something this big before; not since... well, ever, really," Hermione said and Ginny sighed.
"I asked him to marry me," she said quietly, and Hermione turned to her, startled.
"What? You did?" Ginny nodded.
"It was rather funny, really. He invited me out to dinner one night, and I made up my mind that I was sick of waiting and that I was going to ask him. So I did. He said yes and pulled out the ring he was just about to give to me." Hermione smiled warmly.
"That's really sweet, Gin. How come you never told me?" She shrugged, smiling.
"Harry didn't want to sound un-masculine because he didn't ask me first, so to make up for it, I said I wouldn't tell anyone... but I'm sure he won't mind that you know," Ginny answered, speaking of Harry as if he were Merlin himself. Hermione smiled.
"Are you ready to do this?" Ginny straightened up.
"No, but I think I'm going to anyway."
~
Hermione and Ginny silently entered the Manor, dropping their two shopping bags to either side of the door. Hermione took Ginny's elbow and was about to go find Harry, but her friend stopped her and pointed toward a chair in the entry room, where Harry lay, asleep, a folded daily prophet on his lap. Smiling, Hermione approached him and tapped his shoulder.
"Harry," she said, and Ginny felt a surge flow through her. She was frozen in her spot. Harry woke instantly, muttering some half-asleep and undistinguishable words. Hermione giggled and pulled him from the chair.
"Hey, girls. What's up?" he asked, moving toward Ginny and kissing her cheek. She still stood rigid. "Gin?" Hermione stepped in, circling Ginny.
"Harry, Ginny has something she wants to talk to you about... isn't that right, Gin?" Ginny gulped, avoiding eye contact, and Harry looked at her skeptically. Hermione gave Ginny a nudge when she didn't speak and she let out the breath she'd been holding. Without a word, Ginny took Harry's hand and pulled him toward the stairway on a course for their room. Giggling, Hermione waited until they were at the top of the stairs before she started up, in search of Draco.
A/N: Whoa ho! I have so many little teaser questions I want to ask, but I don't want to make people think the wrong way, so I'll just keep my mouth shut. But, I can't help but wonder what Emmy was supposed to help with.... hm.... oh, damn, I did it again, didn't I?
PRF:
Chia: I might do like an epilogue in which they're older, but it'll only be like one chapter... if you want to, go ahead and take them to school... but give me a little credit and some point... a recommendation to the original story perhaps? That's all I ask ;oD. I understand your name calling logic... but when someone calls you a skinny little white ass bitch... that's different than people calling Hermione a mudblood... I mean, look at the way these people live... it's enough purity to choke a unicorn... that's the closest thing to a swear word they say, except 'bloody hell'... and she was like twelve... it's understandable that she would be upset.
TriGemini: Well, Jr. and Eric know about Hogwarts too... lol. And I was thinking that too... about Jimmy, Emmy, and Jr. being Ron, Hermione, and Harry... I didn't mean it to be like that, but it did... and it's cute. Nothing extravagant in the Harry's reaction department... just a word of warning.
MoRbiD: Yep, no problem!
Kissing-shadows: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Gina: They WILL get married in this fic, but I don't know yet about Ginny having the baby... nine months... thus far I've gotten through two weeks.
JoeBob1379: Lol, about thanksgiving... I bet you're right... oh well, these people are multicultural, ok? And that 6th year of Emmy and Jr. thing... I signed those rights to Chia, as she asked for them. Talk to her if you have ideas.
Abercrombie-princess: Here's your 'another one'. Calm down deary!
CatalinaRose: Yeah... I assumed it was obvious... however, I liked it too!
Krissy: She is! Lol. See ^^^ ???
Purpleballerynna: No, it's not the same McNair... I just use that last name a lot. I think Emilia is a pretty name... like, pronounced, Em-ih-lye-uh? :oD it's from Shakespeare.
Crystalline Lily: I know poor Jimmy! I thought about that... but I like it this way; it provides conflict... and it's something for Chia (who I have given permission to write about them going to Hogwarts) to deal with ;o)
LegalanGreenleaf: Lol, I do in a way feel bad for her... but she'll live! Lol.
Arime: If you're wanting a sequel, but Chia... I've signed off rights to her ;o)
AngelGurl06: Lol, thanx... I'm planning on continuing. My English professor (Mdawg, to us students) seems to think I have fervor... and that I can publish if I try... so I'm taking his word for it. Oh, and I'm just finishing up my Freshman year... I'm 15. 16 on Dec. 1
Befuzzled: Thanx... that kind of commitment makes me feel all warm and happy inside... :oD
Tracey: I thought about that... but no, because... I don't know, I hate that story... and that way for Draco to change was terrible... it was like it just boom happened overnight... In this one he said earlier that they'd been assigned as a study group. So that's how it happened... :oD
Kylie Flynn: Lol, that's cool! I'm glad you like me so much, lol. I don't particularly like slash... the only time I'll read it is if I didn't know and I'm already half way through the story... then it's like, whatever, I wanna know what happens! Lol.
Chrissy: Sorry if I spelled it wrong; I've got a Krissy too...
Brooklyn Girl119: I will, of course I will! Lol.
Sunkitten: Lol, hilarious? Gen. Moldyshorts? Lol, I'm glad you think so... :oD. No, not the same McNair... and the only people in the class who aren't muggles are Draco (Jr.) and Emmy... everyone else is. Even Jimmy. I do feel sorry for him :o(
Couch-potato01... right
BellethePhilosopher'sCookie: Lol, thanx, Cookie! I'm the best hm? ::stands proudly:: I always knew it! Lol.
Flutegirl: sorry if it's disappointing, but Emmy's parents are just some random magical people.
Ezmerelda: Lol, yes... I know about the foreshadowing. I wrote it remember? Lol. That was on purpose! Go Emmy and Junior! Yippee!
Darkmarkgrl: I know they're too smart... but it's so limiting to write with stupid little kids... lol. So they're genius little kids. Except Jimmy; he's not so bright, I don't' think. But if Emmy and Draco are both smart... that might have been what attracted them to one another, right? Right. That's what happened; I swear. Call yourself a clairvoyant, but... ::waves hand to come close:: Don't tell anyone but... ::whisper:: Eric WILL get a g/f.... :: grins::