Lines of Communication
Chapter 25
As a lot of new parents are, Draco and Hermione were overly attentive to the new baby. The first week, they slept in the nursery. They woke up when the baby did for feedings, nappy changes and sometimes just to lay a hand on the baby to check his breathing. When Narcissa was able to convince them to sleep in their own room, Chris came too, in his bassinet. When Chris was a month old, Hermione realized that she had no desire to return to work. She wanted to be at home with the handsome baby she now adored, with the Malfoy facial features and hair and brown eyes of his mother. If anyone loved the baby as much as his parents did, it was Narcissa. According to Narcissa, he was a perfect, precious mix of his parents and told anyone who would listen.
"And bless Merlin, he's going to set Hogwarts on its ear when he arrives there, I assure you," she would say.
October 25th
I just can't do it. I can't stand the idea of not being with Chris!
It was three days before she was scheduled to return to work. She sat at her desk, parchment before her and quill in hand, thinking of what to put in a letter of resignation. She could always use the Ministry's standard fill-in-the-blank resignation form, but that seemed so impersonal. She was fond of her boss and her co-workers, Erica especially, and had to give some meaning to her leaving. She owed them that much. She cleared her throat, gripped the quill and started writing.
Dear Mr. Cotesworth:
It is with regret that I inform you of my intent to resign from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, effective two weeks from the date of this letter. I am proud of the department and the work I've done, but in my heart, I want to be a full-time mother more than a Ministry employee.
Sincerely,
Hermione Malfoy
She heard Chris crying and left the room. Draco arrived home from work and went to the den to leave some papers on the desk to look over after dinner. He saw several crumpled letters and a parchemnt with fresh ink. He read the letter, sighed and went to find his wife.
She was in the nursery, changing the baby's nappy and singing a silly song to him. He leaned on the door and smiled at the sight.
"How was work?" she asked, picking the baby up and cuddling with him, treasuring the sweet baby powder scent. She walked across the nursery and gave the baby to him.
"Hey squirt," Draco said and kissed his forehead. "As for my day, an interrogation here, a duel there, the usual. Potty says hi by the way."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "When are you going to stop calling him that?" she asked.
"When hell freezes over," he said and kissed her, "or when he stops calling me ferret." The baby blew a strawberry when he kissed her again.
"Hey, she was mine first," Draco teased and chucked him under his chubby chin.
"Dinner is almost ready, roast beef," she said and left the nursery.
"We need to talk," he said and followed her to the kitchen.
She checked the roast, nodded and took plates from the cupboard.
"I saw the letter."
She stopped what she was doing for a few seconds then continued.
"Are you sure it's what you want?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. "I can't bear the thought of being away from him," she said softly.
He put Chris in the kitchen bassinet. There was one in every room.
He pulled her close and whispered, "You're wonderful, you know that?"
"Am I some sort of quitter?" she asked.
Draco chuckled. "Funny thing to hear, coming from you."
"I don't mean to be funny," she said.
"Love, you're the most determined person I know, you don't know the meaning of the word quit. Even before I fell madly in love with you, I knew you weren't a quitter. You have to have a certain amount of 'stick-to-it-ness' to still be with me, don't you?" he asked.
"Well, staying with you is easy. Just keep you fed and sexed with a occasional scratch behind the ears is all I need to do," she quipped.
"Woof," he said.
"I do wonder what people will say about the work-a-holic Hermione," she said.
"Screw what they say! No matter what anyone says, being a mother is the most important job in the world," Draco said. "It's not a step down, more like...the best step period."
"You've felt this way all along?" Hermione asked.
"Admittedly, yes I have, but I know how hard you've worked and how bloody brilliant you are at your job," he said, "if I were your boss, I argue with you to stay."
"My mind is made up, I'm resigning," she said.
"I'm happy to hear it. I admit I love the thought of you safely here, with our son, keeping Mother company whilst doing happy, girly things, not cleaning up after other wizard's messes," he said.
The next day, Mr. Cotesworth welcomed Hermione to his office.
"I was surprised to receive your letter. You are determined to resign?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"I hate to see you go, I really do. I know you well enough to know that once you've made your mind up, nothing will change it," he said and gave her the standard resignation form. "You still must submit this form, although I do appreciate the letter. Now, do you have anyone in mind to replace you? We have two weeks to decide. "
"Yes, my assistant. I realize he's young, but he's learned so much
in such a short period of time, he absorbs information like a sponge," Hermione said.
"People used to say that about you," he said and sighed. "The Ministry loses more good witches and wizards to parenthood than accidents and death."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Hermione said.
Over dinner, Hermione told them that her boss took the news of her resignation well.
"It's not like I'll be sitting around here doing nothing. As Chris grows, the busier I'll be with him. I can see about getting some writing published, do research, and work on my cooking."
The wards on the front doors signaled a visitor. Draco rose to answer it. He returned a minute later with yet another congratulatory gift basket for Hermione.
"Oh, it's from the McGinnis family, they're my parent's neighbors," Hermione said.
"There's over a dozen in the den," Narcissa said. "Please explain this gift basket concept."
"Sure. Among Muggles, baskets, either handcrafted or store bought, are arranged with flowers, treats and gifts to celebrate important occasions. Some people make good money doing it."
"I see," Narcissa said. As fond as she was of Hermione, she was sure that she would never be able to comprehend the purpose behind a lot of Muggle customs, however well-meaning they were.
Chris slept a lot, only waking for feedings and nappy changes, so it left Hermione time to catch up on the latest Arithmancy research. It was always a hobby of hers, and when she took the DMAC job, she didn't keep up with it as much as she would have liked. She contacted Magic Monthly about contributing more articles and they were happy to expand the Arithmancy articles and columns, and would she be interested in Charms and Muggle Studies writing as well?
When Henry was six months old, she recieved a floo call from Harry.
"You need to get to St. Mungo's, Draco's hurt," he said, regretting that he had put the anguished look on her face.
Draco always told me it wasn't a matter of if, but when.
She rushed to Narcissa's study, told her what was happening and apparated from the room. At St. Mungo's, Harry and Team Number 12 were pacing outside the casualty ward. Harry gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"How is he? Can I see him?" she asked frantically and looked him over. He looked as if he'd been run over by a herd of hippogrifs. "Are you alright?"
"We don't know, they haven't told us anything yet," he said.
"What happened?" she asked.
"A false lead and ambush, he warned us," Harry said, "but we didn't take him as seriously as we should have."
A healer walked from the ward and spotted Hermione. "Lady Malfoy?" Hermione nodded.
"Please call me Hermione."
The healer nodded. "I won't deny that his injuries are serious, but he's stable for now."
"Can I see him?"
The healer opened the door for her to walk through. She gasped at the sight of Draco. He looked dead.
"I realize that how appalling he must look, but he's stable."
"What happened to him? Will someone please tell me?"
"Multiple cruciatus curses, three bone breaking curses and a nasty blood burning curse," the healer said.
All Hermione could think of was snapping her fingers and causing wizards in Death Eater robes to burst into flame. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione? Are you quite alright? Do you require medical attention?" She was flushed, shaking, sweaty and breathing heavily.
"I'm fine."
An orderly and a nurse came through the doors. "Ah, they're here to take him to the ward where Aurors convalese," the healer said.
Hermione followed the rolling bed from the room, holding Draco's hand as they wheeled through the hospital corridors. At a ward where wounded Aurors rested, the door opened automatically. Hermione was surprised at what she saw. This wasn't a drab, cold recovery ward that didn't smell of antiseptic. Comfortable, plush chairs sat around each bed. The room was decorated in rich shades of brown, beige and rose. A large fireplace crackled from one side of the ward and a nurse smiled warmly at the new arrivals. Four other Aurors were asleep in their beds, wives or girlfirends sitting by their beds. They greeted Hermione with warm smiles. The nurse rose from her desk and greeted them.
"I understand this is Mr. Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded.
"And would you be Mrs. Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded again. The nurse understood. It took a while to get over the shock of seeing spouses and loved ones injured.
"I'll just leave you to it then," the healer said and left. The orderly gently levitated Draco to one of the beds in the ward and left. The nurse watched as Hermione arranged the bedcovers around Draco and brushed the fringe from his forehead. She looked at her watch.
"Don't be worrying about the time, visting hours don't exist in this ward," the nurse said. "Nurses stay full-time in this ward as well. As you can tell, the comfort of the aurors and their families is important here. We believe it aids in the recovery of our heroes."
"I need to send a message to his mother."
"This ward has several owls available."
She sank into a plush chair beside his bed and took his hand. He was pale and breathing heavily, shuddering occasionally.
She woke with a start, blushing guiltily at having fallen asleep in the chair. Draco was still deep in sleep. She looked at her watch and cleared her throat. 2:33 a.m.
"We have refrehsments," the nurse said from her desk and gestured to a cooler on the cooler.
Hermione rose and went to the desk. "Where's the previous nurse?"
"Her shift ended. We rotate eight hour shifts."
"How come the other wards aren't like this one?"
"Most Aurors designate a portion of their pay for additional funds for this ward, because of the nature of their work and the often grievous injuries they suffer. Now, what would you have to drink? Pumpkin juice?"
"God no, I hate the stuff."
"Well, there's the cooler, have what you will."
Hermione took her grape juice and resumed her place at Draco's bedside. She fluffed the pillow and adjusted the bedcovers again.
"Would you like a song?" she asked quietly. "You like it when I sing to you late at night when we're in bed."
She softly started one of his favorite muggle songs.
"When you light those candles Up there on that mantle, setting the mood, well, I just lie there staring Silently preparing to love on you Well, I can feel the heat from across the room Ain't it wild what a little flame can make you wanna do
I melt every time you look at me that way It never fails, anytime, any place This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt I melt
Don't know how you do it, I love the way I lose it, every time What's even better Is knowing that forever you're all mine The closer you get, the more my body aches One little stare from you is all it takes
I melt every time you look at me that way It never fails, anytime, any place This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt I melt, I melt
When she finished, the others in the room clapped softly. She blushed self-consciously and smiled shyly at them.
"Sing the worm song," a weak voice said from the bed.