A/N: Miss you all. Sorry for the long wait, RL has hit like a ton of bricks.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'm really digging the comments, especially the comments and suggestions about story progression and relationship dynamics. I'm trying to make this fairly realistic, which means lots of bumbling between the characters. They're still teenagers (well, Sirius is a teenager at heart, right?) so I imagine it takes time to sort all this out. I appreciate your patience with them, as well as me, as we troop through this little group's wacky situation!

As always, thank you for reading (and reviewing!) xx


August 30th, 1999
The Daily Prophet

NEWEST MALFOY BORN EARLY
Whose baby will Hermione Granger have next?

by Andy Smudgley

In what looks to be the first of the Procreation Act births, Hermione Granger gave birth to Scorpius Draco Malfoy, son of Draco Lucius Malfoy, yesterday at St. Mungo's. The child arrived approximately two weeks before his expected due date.

"They're over the moon," gushed Daphne Greengrass, a close friend of the family. "Both Draco and Hermione and just thrilled."

Aside from the early arrival, Scorpius's birth had no complications and both he and Miss Granger are expected to be released from St. Mungo's tomorrow.

"Early births could be a side effect of the inoculations or fertility treatments, or Ms. Granger could have simply delivered early," said Healer Frank MacMillan, who has been supervising plague inoculations for pregnant women. "We simply won't know until more witches begin giving birth. However, even with the slightly early delivery, Scorpius is completely healthy."

Scorpius will join the Malfoy family, consisting of Draco and Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, both former Death Eaters under Voldemort. Both wizards escaped Azkaban due to their cooperation with the Ministry of Magic in the aftermath of the Second Wizarding War.

Scorpius's birth was attended by almost all of Granger's Procreation Group, including the Malfoy Patriarch, Sirius Black, Neville Longbottom, and Harry Potter. The only missing member was Frank Longbottom, who's tenure in St. Mungo's Janus Thickey ward has allowed for a stay of involvement in the Act.

When asked about the arrival of Scorpius, Scion Longbottom had this to say: "We are all thrilled for Draco and Hermione. They—really, all of us—have been working hard to develop relationships that will enable the best possible experience for all our future children."

He did not comment as to who the father of Granger's next child would be.

"We decided Draco would be first as a group. I imagine that we'll decide who goes next as a group, but we have not had the opportunity to discuss that yet."

And when we know, dear readers, so too will you.


September 17th, 1999
Malfoy Townhouse

"You need a break," Becca told her after a brief visit earlier in the week.

Becca had never been more right. Between nappies and feedings and managing Draco, who was stressing her out at least as much as Scorpius was, Hermione was beyond exhausted. She was grateful for all the helpful hands, she really was-though she never got a moment of Circe-forsaken privacy anymore—but somehow, despite the help, she was still bone-tired.

Perhaps it was all the feeding, as Scorpius had turned out to be insatiable. When he wasn't feeding, she found herself leaking everywhere, so much was the supply she had to create to keep him sated. She'd long ago given up any concerns about breastfeeding in mixed company; the only person who seemed moderately uncomfortable with it was Theo, who, upon realizing what was happening, had turned away from her and engaged Draco in a conversation about the Quidditch for the entire length of the feed. Becca had rolled her eyes at his discomfort.

"Pure-bloods," she muttered under her breath, though she smiled at Theo's distance.

Hermione shrugged. "He's just uncomfortable, which is fine. I think it's less a pure-blood thing and more a wizard thing—he's trying to respect you, me, and Draco by not looking. None of my wizards seem to have a problem with it, after all."

In fact, Draco, Neville, and Sirius all found it hard to not watch her during the feeds. When she approached them all about it, they'd all given different responses. Draco had blushed and said it was something primal in watching her feed his son. Neville and Sirius had both intimated they were imagining their own children at her breast, although Sirius had taken it even further.

"You must know how hot you look to all of us right now," Sirius said, finishing the last of the wine he had from their dinner in her suite. It had been three weeks since Scorpius's birth, only a few days since Becca and Theo's visit, and this had been their first opportunity to have an evening together without anyone else around.

She just blinked in response.

She didn't feel hot. She felt the opposite of hot. She felt gross, despite the magical healing that had her completely physically healed.

"Hermione, you are dating three pure-blood wizards. Your fertility has been proven, and your maternal instinct is obvious; those are qualities we are trained to look for in a partner. You have always been gorgeous, but your breasts have grown and… well, you simply look good enough to eat. Even Scorpius knows it." He laughed.

She frowned. "Did you just mix a metaphor about my sexual appeal with a reference to my son."

Sirius looked up, thinking, and then flushed. "Yeah. Woops. That's not what I meant. It's hard to explain."

She nodded. "I get it, I think. Draco sounded like a bit of a caveman when I asked him about it, so I imagine its similar for you and Neville."

Sirius nodded. "Yup." He pulled the small witch near him and kissed her lightly on the mouth. "I've missed you, Hermione."

She smiled at the animagus and nuzzled into his shoulder. "I've missed you too, Sirius. I'm glad you were able to come by tonight. I'm sorry I look a fright."

"Like I said, you always look good kitten." His eyes raked over her black leggings and long, royal blue tunic. The buttons on the tunic, which went from her clavicle to her sternum, where half unbuttoned from Scorpius's earlier feed. Her hair was thrown in a messy bun on her head, her wand nestled in it for easy access; it wouldn't do to keep it anywhere in Scorpius's reach, especially not when his little fingers were grasping anything they could catch.

"I'm afraid I won't be very good company this evening," she said as Sirius led her to a nearby sofa. "Lucius is watching Scorpius so Draco and I can have some time to ourselves, but I'm just utterly knackered."

Sirius nodded and pulled her into his chest. "That's understandable. How are things going with Draco?"

She closed her eyes. "They're going well. Should I… do you really want to hear about the other men I'm dating?"

Sirius shrugged. "No, but they're not going anywhere, are they?"

Hermione blushed and shook her head. "No, Sirius, not anytime soon at least."

He paused his hand. "And me?"

She squeezed her arm around his midsection. "Not unless you want to. I'm quite fond of you."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Good. I have no intentions of going anywhere."


"Holy Merlin!" cried Draco, spilling into Neville's mouth.

The Gryffindor sucked away the last of Draco's cum, looked up at the blond, and swallowed.

"Fuck," muttered Draco, falling back on his bed. "That was…"

"Much deserved," finished Neville, crawling up lay next to his lover. He ran his fingers through Draco's hair. "And that's all we'll do tonight."

Draco closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Thank Merlin. I love you, Neville, but I'm much too exhausted shag."

Neville's hands froze, and he stared down at the content Slytherin.

"What?" Neville's voice was quiet and confused.

Draco opened his eyes and glared at Neville. "Seriously? I've got a newborn, Longbottom, and this is my first night of freedom in two weeks. As much as I'd like to fuck you through this very comfortable bed, the likelihood of me moving from this spot anytime soon is nil." The blond curled into Neville's chest and threw his arm around the Gryffindor's waist. "Do you mind that much?"

He hadn't even realized he'd said it, Neville thought. He must be so tired he doesn't even know what he's saying.

"No, not at all. Where's Hermione tonight?" asked Neville, moving his hand from Draco's head to trace small circles on the wizard's back. He wouldn't focus on Draco's admission, wouldn't think about the fact that he'd said 'I love you Neville.' He'd said 'I love you.' He'd used Neville's first name.

Draco sighed again, and Neville could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "With Black. Potter and Daphne are watching Teddy, so Hermione could have some time with him. They haven't had time just the two of them since before Scorpius was born."

Neville could hear the frustration in Draco's voice. "And how do you feel about that?"

"Do we have to talk about this now? I'm so tired I can barely think, and you just sucked out the last of my energy through my cock."

Neville chuckled. "No, we don't. It's just… I should probably be jealous of Hermione's time with Sirius—even of her time with you—but I'm not. Is that weird?"

"Yes." Draco kicked his trousers and pants from his ankles and crawled to the top of the bed. He shimmied under the covers while Neville threw off his shirt and trousers before joining him. "It's weird. Because I want to punch him in his stupid face every time he looks at her. How can you not?"

Neville turned to put his hand on Draco's hip, dangerously near the wizard's cock, and the blond's eye glanced down as though he could see it under the covers.

"I know, I know, too tired," said Neville. "What is it about Sirius that bothers you?"

Draco frowned tiredly. "She's mine."

Neville's eyes widened. "Oh."

Draco slid his arm around Neville's waist. "You're mine too."

"Greedy," the Gryffindor laughed, leaning in to kiss Draco. "What about when Hermione and I spend time together?"

"That's different." Draco's eyes were closed, and Neville could tell he was minutes from sleep.

"How?"

"You're both mine," he whispered, and a moment later he was asleep.

Neville stared at the exhausted wizard. Even the dark circles under his eyes from sleepless nights didn't take away from his appeal. Neville squeezed Draco's hip and drew his hand up along his torso and onto his chest. He traced the small, pale nipples and caressed the fine blond hair that covered Draco's chest.

Merlin, but was this man beautiful.

And surprisingly caring. When they'd started this, it had been for release. They were two sexually-frustrated teenage wizards with a penchant for blow jobs and easy access to one another. Somehow, slowly, that had morphed into a tentative friendship, coupled with fantastic sex. Neville had been glad when the childhood animosity between them had disappeared. Occasionally Neville would bring up a past slight that had Draco frowning, ashamed of his past behavior, but Neville was always quick to forgive.

After all, their world had changed drastically, and Neville would take what love he could get where he could get it. The fact that it was apparently at the side and in the bed of Draco bloody Malfoy continued to surprise him, but the ongoing shock was always a positive thing.

And now Neville was the godfather to Draco's child, and Neville was desperately hoping that Draco's earlier slip of the tongue was more than just a placating phrase.

Neville settled into the bed and leaned in to kiss Draco's jaw, his lips slowly making their way to the blond's ear. He whispered so quietly that, had he been awake, even Draco might have missed it: "I love you, too."


Hours later, Hermione left a sleeping Sirius to nurse her infant son. She sat in the nursery rocker, rested by a short but fulfilling sleep, and opened her robe to the hungry infant. She had cast a soft Lumos, and the light was enough that she could see but not so much as completely wake her son and prevent him from going back down after the feed. She rocked gently, humming the same song her mother had sung to her when she was a child. Hermione knew she was no songbird, but the sound of her voice kept Scorpius calm, and before long he was sated and asleep in her arms.

She waited a moment, trying to relish the feeling of the small child. She knew, someday, she'd probably become inured to this experience. She didn't imagine she would still be as amazed at the fragility and sweetness of her children after the fourth or fifth pregnancy. So, despite her exhaustion and frustration, she was trying to relish each moment of Scorpius's infancy—from the pain of breastfeeding to the adorable way his mouth hung just barely open as he breathed.

Finally, she laid him in the cot, kissed his soft blond hair and whispered her goodnights to him. When she turned, she found a smirking Draco leaning against the nursery door. He put a finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow him. They walked in silence to the kitchens, where Lutine had made two cups of tea.

"What are you doing up?" Hermione admonished quietly. "One of us should get some sleep!"

"I just came in to check on him. I woke up and realized it'd been too long since I'd seen him. Plus, I feel surprisingly rested."

She nodded. "Me too, although we shouldn't stay up too late. He'll wake in another three hours or so, and he may be up for the morning at that point, and you're on morning duty today."

Draco sipped his tea and nodded. "I know. But once I saw you in there, I couldn't leave. It was picture perfect—everything I'd imagined about having a son, all wrapped up in one moment."

She blushed at the awe in his voice and changed the topic. "Was Neville able to get away for a bit?" she asked in a soft voice. Neville didn't have the benefit of leave at Scorpius's birth, and so he had no reprieve from his obligations at Hogwarts.

Draco nodded. "He left after dinner. He'll have to go back midday tomorrow to supervise some detentions, and he's devoted Sunday to his orchids, but we had some time together this evening. Perhaps you'd be able to see him in the morning?"

She nodded. "I'd like that."

Draco looked at his teacup. "Will that interfere with Black's visit?"

Hermione shook her head. "Sirius has to watch Teddy in the morning. Harry has the weekend shift, and Daphne is doing home visits—almost all of the witches she supervises are slated to give birth in the next three months."

Draco pursed his lips and nodded. Hermione could see that he wanted to say something but was holding himself back.

"We made a spectacular baby," Hermione finally said, smiling.

Draco huffed. "Of course we did. Scorpius is perfect, just like his father." He slid his hand onto hers. "Just like his mother."

Hermione chuckled. "It only took you eight years to realize it."

He looked down avoiding eye contact and desperately trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Perhaps if I'd recognized it ten months ago you would've been in my bed tonight."

There it was. The jealousy Hermione knew was festering between Draco and Sirius, the jealousy she felt knowing that tall, handsome Neville was currently asleep in Draco's bed. Probably naked.

"Draco…"

"I'm sorry, Hermione. But I can't help feeling like it's wrong for you to be with Black. You just gave birth to my child. Mine. You should be with me."

"And where would that put Neville?"

"I don't know!" Draco slammed down his teacup and the china rattled almost as loudly as his hushed exclamation. "I don't know," he said, much softer. "Neville called me greedy earlier. I guess I am. I want you both. I want you both. It's selfish, I know, but I want you both."

She smiled. "It is selfish. But you can't help to feel what you feel. And if you're selfish, what does that make me? I'm not ready to give any of you up yet, Draco. Not Sirius, but not you either. And certainly not Neville. I mean, who would've thought our first year that he would end up looking like that?"

Draco smirked. "Well, we can't all be dashingly good looking from the cradle. Of course, Malfoys always have been, but that's just our burden to bear."

Hermione smacked him playfully. "Prat."

"Shrew." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, and she sighed.

"This shrew should get back to bed while she can." She groaned as she hoisted herself out of the chair. Draco quickly rose and took her hand in his, walking her down the hall to her suite.

"I love you, Hermione," he said, hugging her at the door and kissing her softly.

She returned the embrace. "I know, Draco. I love you too. But we're still figuring out what kind of love that is, aren't we?"

He nodded. "You're the mother of my son. And, greedy as it is, I want you to be more."

She put her hand on his cheek. "We'll figure it out, Draco. Let's not rush just because Scorpius is here. I think we should see how we all do with another pregnancy before we make any major decisions."

He nodded and bid her goodnight. When he crawled back into his bed, he stared down at the tall, gangly Gryffindor in his bed. It felt right for Neville to be there, but an ache in Draco's chest reminded him that it felt wrong without Hermione. He imagined himself in a Gryffindor sandwich, Neville at his back holding him, his own arms around Hermione, likely being choked by her hair.

He sighed as he thought about Hermione's words. What kind of love did he feel for her. He loved her for the son she had given him, but did he feel the same way about her that he felt about…

And his eyes popped open, as Draco Malfoy realized he had fallen in love with Neville bloody Longbottom.