If Hermione and Draco thought that parenthood would get easier at their children's next birthday, they were sadly mistaken. With the beginning of April came Aurora and Curtis' twelfth birthday. The children had asked for a big party to celebrate their birthday with all their friends and the parents were loathed to refuse them. The children had been a handful over the last month, constantly being grounded for staying out to late but Hermione couldn't help but concede. She was beginning to become more anxious about the day when she would have to say goodbye to her darling children. That day seemed to be approaching quicker than ever. Hermione sighed as she read the pamphlet about raising a twelve year old; it wasn't that long ago that she was twelve herself. Draco looked up from the book he was reading at the sound of her sigh, "alright love?" He asked as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her towards him.
"It all just seems a little crazy," Hermione told him. "They're twelve! TWELVE! Bloody hell."
Draco chuckled. It wasn't often that Hermione swore, "don't worry love. Don't mothers always say that? They grow up a little too fast."
"But Draco soon they will be gone all together."
"They'll never be gone, not so long as we love them."
Hermione giggled slightly, "you sound slightly sappy."
"It's your fault!" Draco grinned.
"I love you, Draco."
"I love you too, Hermione." Draco lent in and kissed her on the forehead just as there was a knock at the portrait hole. Draco sighed, "no rest for the wicked."
Hermione smiled, "do you think Curtis forgot the password again?"
"Possibly," Draco grinned. They were pleasantly surprised to find two sets of parents on their doorstep. Narcissa was carrying a rather large cake. Mrs Granger came baring decorations and balloons and Mr Granger and Lucius both carried excessively large bags of presents. "Goodness me," Draco grinned.
Hermione grinned at them all, "we weren't expecting you all until tomorrow."
"Yes dear," Mrs Granger smiled, "but we know just how hard it is to organise such a special birthday party."
"And we thought we'd come and give you both a hand," Narcissa finished. Ever since Hermione had told the Grangers about her engagement about a week ago, the mothers had been inseparable. Hermione suspected they were trying to plan her wedding without her.
"I see," Draco laughed, "you do realise we only have two children, not twenty?"
"Very funny Draco," Narcissa frowned. "You never complained as a child about how many presents you got."
"And look how I turned out… spoilt brat until Hermione here sorted me out," Draco teased his mother. He wrapped an arm around his fiancé and grinned.
"Do you fancy a cup of tea or anything?" Hermione asked kindly.
"Oh yes dear. That would be lovely," Narcissa smiled at her soon to be daughter in law. "So… have you thought about setting a date yet?"
Draco and Hermione exchanged glances, "er… after Hogwarts."
"Well obviously…" Mrs Granger replied. "Could you narrow it down for us please dears? We really need to know what sort of time frame we're working with here."
"What do you mean, "we're working with"?" Hermione asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Well, we thought you'd be too busy to plan a wedding what with the children and your studies," Narcissa told Hermione gently.
"I see…" Hermione replied.
"I told you she wouldn't like it," Lucius and Mr Granger commented from their respective armchairs.
"You are not planning my wedding without me," Hermione told them firmly. "I welcome your help but it is mine and Draco's wedding, therefore it will be us making the decisions."
The two women looked incredibly disappointed and slightly ashamed. Draco smirked as he watched his fiancé tell his mother off.
"Well Mione do you have any idea when you'd like to get married?" Mrs Granger asked softly.
"Yes. I was thinking August; a nice summer wedding. Draco and I discussed it and we have decided upon the 14th."
"That sounds splendid," Narcissa smiled. "Have you thought about a colour scheme?"
"Don't push it," Lucius growled.
"We haven't thought about it," Hermione replied, "except we did say that we were going to avoid our house colours of course."
Narcissa nodded, "have you considered purple? Draco always looks smashing in purple."
Hermione laughed, "unfortunately my maid of honour would look dreadful. I'm leaning more towards a greyish blue."
"Oh that would be lovely," Mrs Granger replied as Mrs Malfoy smiled, "yes it would match Draco's eye colour."
Hermione quickly looked at her watch. It was half seven. "I'm getting fed up of them arriving home late every night. If we have to ground them one more time, there will be hell to pay." Draco grinned at Hermione as she grumbled away.
At that moment the portrait hole flung open and in walked Curtis and Aurora. The two children automatically ran over to Narcissa and Lucius and hugged them closely. Hermione stepped forward when the children were finished hugging their grandparents and introduced them to her parents. They were soon hugging Mr and Mrs Granger as well. The family sat together in the common room listening to Aurora and Curtis' stories about school and how excited they were about their party. After about half an hour, Hermione told the children it was time for them to go to bed.
"But mum…" Aurora complained.
"You've already stayed up later than normal," Hermione replied.
"When does our curfew change?" Curtis complained.
"Who said it would?" Draco enquired. "You heard your mother – get to bed the both of you."
"Kiss your grandparents goodnight and don't forget to brush your teeth," Hermione reminded them.
After the children had said their goodnights, Mrs Granger turned to her daughter and soon to be son in law and smiled, "well they really are very charming. They do you both credit."
Hermione blushed at her mother's compliment, "you don't think we spoil them too much?"
"Not at all," Mr Granger laughed, "you are both very good with them. Strong and firm yet kind."
There was a murmur of agreement from the other couple. Draco and Hermione just smiled at each other. Their parents stayed a little while longer before heading off to the Three Broomsticks where they were all staying the night. When they finally had the place to themselves again, Hermione and Draco almost fell back onto the sofa. "I'm exhausted," Draco yarned.
"Me too," Hermione cuddled into his side. "Can we go to bed?"
"Sure," Draco grinned. He took her by the arm and led her up the stairs and into their room. They quickly changed and got into bed. Draco pulled Hermione towards him, engulfing her in his arms. He kissed her on the forehead before switching the light off with his wand and closing his eyes.
"Night princess, I love you," he told her.
"Love you too," Hermione whispered against his chest.