Chapter twenty eight

Saying goodbye

True to her word Hermione hadn't spoken to Draco in a month. She locked the bedroom door and never met his gaze when he tried to explain his reasoning, even Harry and Professor McGonagall could not get through to the stubborn bushy haired witch that what Draco did was the right course of action.

Pansy had been expelled from the school and had been placed into St Mungo's for evaluation. Not that anyone cared.

Draco was at the end of his wits, he still lived with Hermione although on the couch. He still saw the babies every day but he missed the feeling of family that they had shared before. Time was running out. The final day of the project was near at midnight tomorrow the babies would disappear and all hope Draco held for a family with Hermione would disappear with them.

It was with these thoughts that Draco opened his eyes.

'Good morning.' Draco thought he must be dreaming, Hermione was sat in the armchair and had spoken to him. Actual words.

He sat up slowly not believing that Hermione had thawed towards him finally.

'This does not in any way mean you are forgiven.' Draco looked down. 'But this is the last weekend we have with the babies and I know you won't want to be apart from them and I am not willing to be either, so I propose a compromise. Today we go into the village and spend the day with the children and the other couples saying goodbye to their babies, and tomorrow we don't leave this room and say goodbye together.' Hermione said very fast like it wouldn't hurt so much if she got it done. When Draco nodded his agreement she continued. 'The kids are ready be in the entrance hall in twenty minutes.' With this Hermione went into her bedroom and shut the door.

As Draco was rushing to get ready he couldn't have known that Hermione had slid down behind the door as soon as she'd closed it trying to keep the tears in as she thought Goodbye to us as well.

They met in the entrance hall at the specified time and Draco took control of the buggy, they walked to the village in silence although Draco opened his mouth the speak half a dozen times. It was a relief when they entered the Three Broomsticks and found it full of their friends. They sat together although only to keep the children close.

For a hour they reminisced as a group over the fun times they all had with their respective children. When Neville's child summoned a plant pot which caught Neville on the back of his head and knocked him out cold. Or when Harry's baby was caught floating things onto his head when Harry had fell asleep. The subject or Hermione and Draco were banned, as was the Pansy debacle.

'I'm going to miss being a parent.' Luna said when there was a lull in the convocation. 'It was nice being a mum.' This set the females of the group off crying each leaning into their male partner except Hermione; she was sat with her head down crying silent tears. Draco pulled her close and ignored her feeble protest. He sat her on his knee and wrapped his arms around her tightly and whispered 'Do you remember when the kids were playing and Sam stole Lucy's toy? She stole it right back and bopped him on the nose with it. She reminded me so much of you.' Hermione laughed despite herself and nodded. 'Do you remember when you tried to bath both of them alone and they covered you in bubbles?' She giggled. 'You looked like a snowman.' Before long they were swapping amusing stories of the babies with the rest of the group carefully watching and not interfering.

'Luna's right I'm always going to miss being a mum.' Hermione admitted.

'You have been and will be an amazing mum to any children you have Hermione. I just don't think we have had enough time. I wanted to see the children in the sea, or at their first fair, I wanted to take them to school on their first day and clean up any scrapes they had.' By this time Draco had tears running down his face and tucked his head into her neck so the others couldn't see.

Hermione let him cry and then wiped his tears. She gathered up the children and said her goodbyes to the rest of the group giving kisses to the babies she was going to miss. Draco sat with his head down until Hermione extended her hand to him and said lets go home. No one commented on the tear tracks that marked his face.

Once back in their rooms they got the babies changed and fed before spending the afternoon playing with their children. No words were spoken. None were needed.

The next day was much the same. House elves brought food up and Hermione and Draco just enjoyed being with their children, savouring every second they could have.

At ten o'clock they did a final bath time for the babies and put them into cosy pyjamas and took them into the main bedroom where they all got into bed. Draco and Hermione curled around one baby facing the other. They watched them sleep, their tiny chests rising and falling. Hermione didn't even see Draco her eyes were all for her babies, Draco was the same. They were trying to memorise each baby, the way there long eyelashes brushed their cheeks, the way they curled their hands around each other and the way they smelt.

Hermione jumped when she heard the clock chime twelve. She looked at Draco with fear in her eyes and when she looked down all that was left were two perfect pairs of pyjamas.

They both burst into hysterical tears.


I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Two chapters left.

I am planning on doing a set of one shots featuring things I would like expanding on from the books, such as Lily falling out with Petunia. Where Harry was for the one night between Godrics hollow and Hagrid dropping him off. Any suggestions are welcome!

xxxcrazyxladyxxx