May

Hermione and Draco were honest people –or at least they tried to be. When it concerned their children they wanted them to be in the loop about everything but at a level appropriate for a child. And so, they both had broached the topic of their father moving back home as part of preparation for the baby. It wasn't a total lie either. Lyra's things still had to get put into Cassie's room, the nursery still had to be set up (which included assembling a crib), and a whole horde of other things. Whether or not Draco would be staying after the baby was born or for how long wasn't discussed. It didn't matter to the children, really. They were just happy that their daddy would be around even more than he usually was. And, of course, Hermione was happy too.

She was especially happy today –or at least she was until she spotted the Daily Prophet. A loud tut escaped her lips as she looked at it.

"And it begins." Hermione said as she held the Daily Prophet in her hands. There was a photo of her walking about wizarding London, clearly pregnant. The headline read: Hermione Malfoy: Pregnant! Who's the Father? "Couldn't they have made this sound less scandalous?"

"Wait until they find out I'm the father." Draco piled on as he slipped the newspaper from her hands and checked out the front. "I can just imagine it now."

"I doubt they even have to wait until then. They've already been speculating about you and Astoria. Now with this they'll put two and two together, how friendly we've been in the past, the fact that your relationship with Astoria failed, and boom! A news story for the ages."

"True…" He was frowning now, but then a wicked smirk appeared as he leaned over the kitchen table towards her. "This is big news, Hermione. Bigger even once they start throwing my name as well as Astoria's in there. Are you sure you don't want me to throw a little money their way to take care of this?"

Hermione put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. She had really wanted to stand and do this to give the whole effect, but she was five months pregnant now and rising up from chairs was becoming a little less graceful as of late.

"Draco, we do not bribe people!"

Draco rolled his eyes and let the Daily Prophet fall to the table top. "Okay, fine. I suppose it won't be all that bad. You're used to having your name in the media anyway –although not usually associated with bad press. As for me, I've been slandered more times than I can count what with my past as a Deatheater and for people thinking that I had somehow brainwashed you into dating, then subsequently marrying me. And then there's Astoria –sweet woman, never did any harm in her life. She and her broken heart will be dragged through the mess right along with us all because we still loved each other and couldn't keep our hands to ourselves."

Hermione could murder him. Draco, his ever smug self, sat across from her looking positively triumphant. She had been fine with what he'd said about her, a little less so when talking about himself, but then damn it –he had to go and give her a guilt trip with the Astoria card.

"I despise you." She grumbled in frustration. "Go and…put that Malfoy charm to work."

"Excellent," Draco smiled as he stood. He was on his way out the door when he stopped by her side and kissed her on the forehead. "I always knew there was a little Slytherin in you."

Hermione rolled her eyes and watched him leave the kitchen, whistling a tune. She took one last look at the Daily Prophet before shaking her head.

"That's it. I'm going to hell."

"What are you going to that muggle place for, dear?"

Hermione turned slightly in her chair as Narcissa entered the kitchen. She was going to be taking the children to school today in hers and Draco's stead seeing as they had an appointment to go to this morning. It was always a treat when Narcissa was going anywhere near her grandchildren's muggle school. Muggle places meant muggle attire, which meant the elder Mrs. Malfoy wasn't wearing a set of robes. Instead she wore a snug, yet completely appropriate shin-length black skirt, a white high-necked blouse neatly tucked, and a black jacket to match. Outfits such as this weren't few in the woman's wardrobe either. Her daughter-in-law was a muggleborn after all, and that had forced the woman to adopt a few things. Luckily fashion wasn't very hard to fall into.

"I caved into Malfoy tendencies." Hermione admitted as she gestured to the Daily Prophet. "Draco's going to wave a sack full of galleons their way to shut their gossipy mouths."

"Oh," Narcissa smiled. "He doesn't have to do that. I already took care of it."

Hermione sat back in surprise. "Really?"

Narcissa smiled even more and went to sit down beside the brunette. "I saw the utterly ghastly article before coming –if not I would have been here earlier. It painted you in a horrible light and no one gets away with such a thing while I'm alive." She patted Hermione's hand gently. "I'm sure the Daily Prophet will spend its time writing about more acceptable things now."

War days over or not, Narcissa was ever a Malfoy through and through. Hermione didn't even argue (how could she when the deed was already done?). Instead she just thanked her and pushed the Daily Prophet and its article far out of her mind.

"Are you excited for today?"

Hermione nodded enthusiastically. "I'm always excited for this time in my pregnancy. I was trying to convince Draco to let us be surprised this time, but he wouldn't hear of it."

"And you thought he would?" Narcissa scoffed. "Draco is much too impatient to wait for information like this."

"I know. Just thought I'd give it shot." She shrugged, then she closed her eyes when she felt movement going on in her stomach. Narcissa immediately looked alarmed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

Hermione opened her eyes. "What? Oh! Yes, I'm fine. Sorry. He or she is just having a little fun in there."

Narcissa's eyes softened as she looked down at Hermione's stomach. "How lovely." She then paused for a moment and cleared her throat. "Would you mind it terribly if I…?"

Hermione's face lit up as she pushed back her chair some to give Narcissa full access. "You ask me that every time, Narcissa. You know I always say yes."

But of course, the prim and proper matriarch and her need to be polite trumped it every time. However, now that permission had been granted Narcissa leaned forward and put a hand on Hermione's stomach. Yes, indeed, there was movement. She smiled broadly and daresay she may have even sprouted a non-fallen tear or two.

"Well," Narcissa said with a slight crack to her voice. "My newest grandchild will be just as rambunctious as my other three it seems."

Hermione laughed. "I think you're right."

The two women sat in silence for a while, oblivious to the fact that Draco was standing in the doorway watching the scene. And damn it, he felt emotional as hell. There was a big difference between being happy, or sad, or embarrassed. But being emotional meant that he felt choked up and that he wanted to cry. Well, he knew a good way to kill that.

"Are you going to stop fondling my wife anytime soon?" Draco said in an amused drawl. Narcissa cut her eyes dangerously at her son as she retracted her hand and sat up straight.

"Draco, must you be so rude?" Narcissa asked her son. Draco shrugged, feeling his previous emotions roll away as his mother stared at him sternly and Hermione gave him a sly smirk and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sometimes," he answered her rhetorical question before turning to Hermione. "We should get going. Your appointment is in less than an hour."

Hermione nodded and wiggled her way up out of her seat. She didn't need outside help for that just yet, but she probably would a month from now.

"Thanks again for taking the kids to school, Narcissa." Hermione said as she was ushered out of the kitchen.

Draco helped Hermione into her light jacket and once her shoes were on they were out the door. If there was one thing that Draco hated, it was the fact that being pregnant and a witch did not mix. That said, magical modes of transportation during pregnancy was, although not prohibited, extremely ill-advised. Of course he took the "ill-advised" part to mean that they could still do it, but not the witch on his arm. No. Plus, the muggleborn that she was, muggle transportation didn't bother her one bit. As for the blond, it drove him mad.

A taxi was already waiting for them outside and while Hermione walked up to it comfortably, Draco was cringing. He absolutely detested these things. They were much too small, drove much too fast, and way too close to other cars. Hermione didn't understand why they made him so uneasy when he rode comfortably in a car whenever she or one of her parents were driving. His answer was simple: "I trust you and your folks. I don't know this guy. He could kill us!"

Regardless, Draco sucked up his moping and his fear of death for the fifteen minute ride down to Stevenage train station. They took the train (a mode of transportation he was far more comfortable with) straight to London, and from there it was only a ten minute walk to the well-concealed magical hospital that revealed itself to witches and wizards only. To the muggles, St. Mungo's took its cue from Hogwarts and looked like a rundown, should-be-condemned building. Once past the gate it was a lively place. A sick, magical-mishaps infected place. Draco felt the huge urge to keep Hermione by his side at all times after spotting someone with a nose that was oozing neon-green slime. It almost made him retch.

"Remind me to Scorgify you when we get home." Draco whispered. Hermione rolled her eyes before reaching the main desk.

"Emergency or Examination?" The receptionist asked.

"Examination," Hermione said. "We're here to see Healer Tarpley."

At that the receptionist's eyes widened. It wasn't much, but noticeable enough. Hermione was, of course, still the famous witch. Add a nice front page image of her in her pregnant state this morning and she was even more easily picked out than usual. Now, include the fact that Draco was by her side and the fact that she had said "we" and the known occupation of Healer Tarpley as the wizard version of an OBGYN, the receptionist was trying to keep her professionalism intact.

Hermione cleared her throat. The receptionist snapped out of her trance then, swallowed, and then presented a register to sign and a self-inking quill. Were it not for the pesky regulation of having to record who was coming into the hospital, to see which Healer, and the reason why, the famous pair could've just gone straight to Healer Tarpley's office. Sadly, that wasn't the case.

As Hermione finished signing both hers and her husband's names, Draco handed the register and the quill back to the receptionist and whispered, "I would hope that we don't have to ask to keep this to yourself?"

"Oh, no, no, of course not!" The receptionist said dutifully. "I'll be as quiet as the dead."

She pulled an imaginary zip across her lip as well and the expecting parents walked off. Hermione leaned in close to Draco and asked, "Do you really think she will?"

Draco snorted. "Are you honestly asking me that? The girl looked like she was ready to implode. Luckily my mother handled one aspect of the media already."

Hermione nodded, suddenly even more thankful to Narcissa than she had been before as they made it to the elevator and took it up one floor. St. Mungo's was divided into a plethora of departments (much too much to mention) but one of the many floors housed Healers' personal examination rooms much like muggle doctors having their own office.

Healer Angela Tarpley had been the one to oversee all three of Hermione's previous pregnancies and had witnessed, first hand, the witch's oath to not have any more children. How funny then it was for the Healer to find her favorite mommy with child yet again. The two women bonded easily (since day one) and so they were able to laugh about it.

"Ah, right on time." Healer Tarpley said. "But of course I wouldn't expect anything different. Draco! Good to see you. How's the fourth-time daddy feeling?"

"Like tubes need to be tied." Draco chuckled. Healer Tarpley smiled as Hermione lightly smacked him on the arm and she went to sit down.

"Or you can take a Sperm Suppressing Potion." Healer Tarpley suggested, smirked then added, "Or go the permanent route and do a Vasectomy. One little magical snip and you're good to go."

Draco instinctively crossed his legs while both women laughed hysterically. "Yes, yes, poke fun at the man who you want to get snipped."

Healer Tarpley laughed some more as she shook her head. "Hermione, you lucky woman. You get to mess with him all day. You must laugh for hours."

Hermione giggled. "Sometimes days. It's wonderful."

"So!" Draco said loudly with a hand clap and rubbing them together. "About our baby's gender…?"

The women smiled at each other before Healer Tarpley got Hermione's file and a quill. Draco took a seat next to his wife and waited for the boring (albeit important) part of the visit.

"Are you still nauseous?"

"No, thank Merlin."

"Good. Any contractions at all?"

"None."

"Good, good. And just how are you feeling in general? No discomfort? Pain? Leakage?"

Draco cringed at the last term, but alas, there were no negatives to speak of and Hermione gave an overall good report.

"Great! Now, up on your feet. We have to weigh you."

Hermione groaned. "Do we honestly have to?"

Healer Tarpley chuckled as she stood. "You whine at every visit. The answer is still yes."

Hermione grumbled as she attempted to get out of her seat. Draco did eventually help her and she rounded on him quickly once she was on her feet. "Do not look at this scale."

Draco laughed. "Oh come on, it's baby weight, Hermione. It's not like you've been eating a lifetime supply of cake over the past few months."

"Would my weight be a problem then?"

"Uh… Well..."

"Oh, Draco dear," Healer Tarpley interrupted. "Take it from a woman: that was a trap. Let's go, Hermione. Up on the scale."

Draco was more than happy for the save and watched as Hermione stood on the scale. He didn't, however, for the sake of her sanity look at it. He didn't even listen to what was being said. He just regarded the Healer's content face and concluded that whatever weight his wife was at was perfectly fine. Not that Hermione had seemed happy about being heavier.

"Alright, there's a slew of tests I want you to do but that'll take place down the hall. For right now, let's get on with the fun part, yes?"

"About bloody time…"

"Language!" Hermione hissed at her husband.

Draco teasingly said, "Yes, mum," before growing quiet when Healer Tarpley dimmed the lights with her wand. It was pointed then at Hermione's stomach, her shirt having been pulled up to reveal it.

"What are you guys thinking it'll be?" Healer Tarpley asked before muttering a spell.

"We've learned to stop guessing." Both Hermione and Draco said.

The Healer nodded in comprehension knowing from experience that they were horrible at guessing if their baby was going to be a girl or a boy. And so, she wasted no time in letting them see a moving image of their future child.

That whole emotional thing was back for Draco and it was attacking him like a wild stampede of hippogriffs. But how it could not? He wasn't made of stone and for Merlin's sake, look at what he was seeing! His kid. His ten-fingered, ten-toed baby that liked to move enough to disturb Hermione in her sleep. So what if he had seen images of his other children before? Each one was different. Each one was a new experience that made him want to break down and cry because this was something that he contributed to. Hell, he was a mess.

"So?" Hermione asked expectantly.

"Well," Healer Tarpley began. "I can't tell you about hair or eyes, but in one particular aspect, your baby takes after daddy."

Draco was immediately on high alert as he sat up straighter in his seat. "A boy? The baby's a boy?"

"That's right. So much for having an uneven number in your house. Breaking ties are going to a right killer."

Draco laughed. He laughed and then he cried. Then he laughed and cried a little more. He felt Hermione's hand reach up and wipe away the barely visible tears. When he looked down at her she smiled lovingly at him.

"I promise I won't tell." She said in response to the tears. That gave him the freedom to let a little more fall down before he reached over and kissed her on the cheek. Healer Tarpley stayed quiet, and let them look at the image for as long as they liked.

Author's note: Pansy was right! Ah, I just love myself a sensitive Draco. Well, I love him all ways to be honest lol.

Now, in past reviews I've had a few saying that while reading funny parts they've either nearly or actually choked on something they were eating or drinking, SO lol…. Take this as a fair warning not to do either for the first 65% of the next chapter. Okay? Good. No mishaps people. I like you all a lot haha.

Replies to Guests

Guest1: "I'm starting to get…" I totally get it. Draco's really stepped up to the plate and, let's face it, he's every woman's dream husband right now. Things with Hermione will change in the upcoming chapters :)

Guest2: "Loving the…" Thank you! Mrs. Granger was my favorite lol

Guest3: "Mrs. Granger and Poppy…" Hahaha, elf tooth cleaning spell. That would certainly make Mrs. Granger feel better! The fact that Draco has the Grangers' support is so wonderful. It really shows his relationship with them when they can speak so candidly. Hermione's finally letting her guard down a bit, and it can only get better from there :)

AB: Yey for the feels! All of the talks in that chapter needed to happen and you really see Draco's relationship with Hermione's parents. It's so great. Hermione definitely got that push! They're moving along and soon everything will be right as rain. Glad that you like the progression and you're very welcome!

And thank YOU for always leaving a review. They really do mean a lot to me because it's not only helpful as a writer to see how you're doing, but I'm just thankful at all that people are reading lol. It astounds me honestly, and I'm just really happy because I LOVE to write. Should've gone to school for screenwriting or something, but alas, I didn't. :)

Jamie: Thank you so much! I certainly do love to write. Happy to get it out somewhere.

Karlie: Yey! Happiness is good!

Hpfan: Oh, that's a lot to read in one siting! Thanks! I'm thinking no more than 30-35 chapters total :)

Cheeseinator: Haha thanks! Draco and Mrs. Granger stole the show. I loved them so. And then this chapter was just feels everywhere. Yey!

Cascol3: That house elf bit made my day. Just Mrs. Granger as a whole :). And yes, Hermione still has her self-doubts, but that'll change soon ;)

sun junkie: Hermione's parents certainly have a more direct way of handling the situation than Narcissa lol. And look! Ask and you shall receive! Blaise will reappear in the next chapter, hence my "don't choke while reading" warning haha