I have Harry Potter at home. I'd like to be there now. Even though I sobbed like a little girl through most of it, it's better than being at work.

Chapter 20
"She was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago," Draco stated, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

Narcissa sat on the sofa with Scorpius by her side, a book spread between them. She chuckled softly at her son's impatience, knowing what he had planned for the witch he loved. "Calm down, dear. She has a newborn, after all," she reminded him.

"But what if she doesn't come?" he asked worriedly. Just then the floo roared to life and out stepped Hermione with Joanna pressed close to her chest.

Scorpius abandoned his grandmother's side. "Mimi!" he shouted, wrapping his arms around her right leg. "See, Daddy, Mimi came home."

"Hey," she murmured when Draco stood by her side and kissed her cheek. "I'm really sorry I'm late. Joey wasn't in the mood to get dressed."

"She's beautiful," Narcissa commented as she took her from Hermione's arms. "Oh, I remember holding Draco when he was this small. All he did was cry."

"Joey no cry," Scorpius interjected. "Her's good. Like me, right, Daddy?"

For the first time that evening Draco relaxed. The picture before him, one of a family, told him he was doing the right thing. Tonight he would propose and everything would be as it should. Smiling, he knelt down and kissed his son's cheek. "You are the best son I've ever had," he replied.

"You're my favorite daddy," Scorpius stated, smiling so widely it crinkled his eyes. Before Draco had a chance to stand up, Scorpius beckoned him to stay close. "Are you gonna make Mimi my mummy?"

"I'm gonna try," he whispered. After hugging his son goodbye, he rose and kissed his mother's cheek. He handed her a small coin with instructions to contact him if anything went wrong.

Narcissa smiled. "Everything will be fine," she assured him, tucking the coin into her pocket. "You two have a nice evening and try not to worry about us. Though I know you will."

He kissed Joanna's forehead before stepping back to allow Hermione to do the same. She seemed unwilling to leave, but one pointed look for Narcissa made her more receptive to going. "The floo is connected to my flat if you need anything," she said hurriedly as Draco led her out the front door. "Also, she'll only fall asleep in the baby carrier, but then you can move her to the bassinet. Oh, and-"

"Hermione, relax," Draco said, closing the front door so she could no longer be heard by the house's occupants. "Mum's watched Scor enough to know what to do. Plus, you left a list longer than the Goblin Rights Doctrine in the diaper bag. She can get in touch with us; I gave her the coin and I know you have yours. Now, can we just take a deep a breath, calm down, and enjoy an evening together?"

Complying with his wishes, Hermione breathed in deeply before allowing him to Apparate them to their destination. They stood outside a small Italian restaurant tucked away in a corner of Diagon Alley. As they took their seats, he explained that two of his old school friends bought the place after they married.

"Blaise Zabini married?" she asked, looking over the top of her menu.

Her guess hadn't come as a surprise. "He and Daphne married a year after the war," he informed her. "Seems to have been a lot of that going around. They're still happy and in love though. Their marriage wasn't arranged. In fact, Daphne was supposed to marry Theo Nott, but he had his sights set on Alicia Spinnet. I think his father was rolling in his grave when his son married a muggleborn."

"What do you think your father would say if you did something like that?" Hermione wondered, lowering her gaze to peruse the entree selections.

"He can bugger off for all I care," he returned. "I did it his way the first time around and was miserable. I'll do it my way from here on out. Blood status doesn't matter to me. All I care about is that I love the other person and she loves me in return, and that includes Scorpius."

She flashed him a timid smile as she lowered her menu and set it aside. Perhaps this was it; he would propose now and she would say yes. "I'd want to be with someone who loves my daughter as much as he loves me," she stated, hoping it would encourage him to ask.

Instead, he grinned and ordered a bottle of sparkling cider before returning to his menu. Blaise personally took their orders, flashing a knowing smile to the couple before leaving. Draco steered the conversation as they ate, telling her about the goings on at work and Scorpius's latest pearls of wisdom. He listened as she spoke of Joanna and smiled at the sight of the happy blush that filled her cheeks when she discussed her newborn.

"There's um, I talked to Ron today," she finally said as the dinner plates were cleared.

"Yeah, I know that. Remember you called me, and I dropped everything I was doing to be by your side?" he reminded her, a small smile tilting the corners of his lips.

She shook her head. "No, after that," she replied, averting her gaze. "He came by about an hour before we left for your house. He asked if he could start coming over on the weekends to spend some time with Joanna. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I think he really wants to try."

"Good for him," Draco said sincerely. Placing his napkin on the table, he pulled a coin purse from his side pocket. "Let's go somewhere else for dessert," he suggested. After hailing Blaise, he paid the check and led her outside. They walked through the alley until Hermione began to shiver from the cold night air.

"Where are we going?" she wondered, moving closer to him for warmth.

"You'll see," he replied slyly before Apparating them back to his home. Hermione looked from the house to him, furrowing her brows in confusion. Silently, he led her inside and closed the door behind them. He took his time setting a fire in the living room hearth before adjourning to the kitchen for dessert.

Hermione took a seat on the sofa and looked around the room. The orange glow of the fire was the only light to illuminate silver picture frames. Most were photos of Draco and Scorpius together, but there was a new addition to the wall. She had taken it the day Joanna came home from the hospital. Carefully, the baby rested in Scorpius's arms with a little assistance from Draco. The Malfoy men smiled for her camera before glancing down lovingly at her little girl as Scorpius kissed the top of her head.

"Dessert's ready," Draco announced, carrying a tray. He set it down on the coffee table, removed two slices of carrot cake, and handed her an overturned teacup and saucer. She made a move to right the cup, but he stopped her. "Wait, just, um...I love you. I've thought of nothing but you these past ten months, and I can honestly say there have been few times I've been happier than when I'm with you. I want us - you, me, Scor, and Joey - to be a family. It feels right, we feel right. So, what I'm asking, Hermione Granger, is will you marry me? Can we make us a true family?"

Then he allowed her to turn over the teacup. With shaking fingers, she set the cup aside and glanced down at the platinum and diamond engagement ring in the center of the saucer. "Yes," she murmured as happy tears filled her eyes. Draco slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her.

"Her said yes, Gram-Gram," Scorpius exclaimed as he ran up the stairs from his hiding place in the shadows. "I have a mummy!"