Narcissa insisted on making Hermione some lounging wear that was loose and comfortable. There was no subduing her need and the younger witch accepted as they were in the bedroom. Alone. Hermione knew that she had known this was Draco's child for some time, but now it was out in the open… a scary aspect for her.
"Hermione," Narcissa started as she flicked her wand at a grey fabric on the bed.
She gazed up from her relaxing position and arched an eyebrow. "Yes, Narcissa?"
"I am sorry for my husband's trespasses. I hope you know, we never felt the same way. I know that if anyone could mother my grandchildren with grace and love, it is you. I care not your blood status. I only want my son's happiness and my grandchildren to be loved."
"I know," Hermione sighed and reached over to touch the older witch. "Draco got his kindness from somewhere."
Narcissa smirked and rolled her eyes. "I am not positive where. He has evolved much farther than I ever could. He has a tenderness about him. Something my husband tried to ruin many years ago."
"I understand that life was different for you. I know obligations were of a more potent degree and the word love was cast aside like a children's fairytale. I don't hate you for the life you led. I can only thank you for the kindness and care you show me now."
Narcissa took the young woman's chin between her fingers. "You listen to me, Hermione. There will be days that you question your abilities as a mother. You will wonder if you should've done this or that or another. However, you are a genuine creature of kindness and if my grandchildren receive even half of the care you have shown those around you… they will know that you are the greatest witch in this world."
Hermione's eyes welled up, and she struggled against emotion. "Thank you," she murmured.
"My dear, you don't need to thank me. I should be thanking you. You freed my son from his torment. You brought love back into our lives. I should be the one falling to the ground in gratitude. As much as you may think he didn't need you; he required you to live the life I always wished for him."
Narcissa released her face and embraced the emotional witch. "I am happy we are family," Hermione choked with a laugh.
"Never did you think those words would leave your mouth about my family, did you?" Narcissa giggled.
Hermione sincerely laughed and pulled away, shaking her head. "No, but you know something. I think I needed this as much as him. He did free me."
"And that, my dear girl, is why you both will enjoy a happy life together."
000
Draco was pacing outside of the room. His hand was running through his hair in nervousness. Kingsley and his rather interesting ideas. Taking a deep breath, he placed on his hat and entered the large court room. The other wizards and witches eyed him as he moved to his assigned seat and waited.
"Court session 0754, Ministry vs Malfoy." Kingsley announced as he sat down. "The court is addressing the appeal Mr. Malfoy is to make before sentencing occurs. Physical evidence had proven action of intent, but Mr. Malfoy would like to address the court before verdict is announced."
Draco watched the shell of a man that was his father being brought into the courtroom. Lucius looked gaunt, and a bit gnarled as he was sat in the chair at the center. Shackles snapped around the man's wrists on the arms of the chair as the people sat down and settled.
"Lucius Malfoy, you are brought before the Wizengamot on charges of three counts. Assault and battery, assault with a magical object and attempt of murder, how do you plea knowing that physical evidence is already before the court?" Kingsley inquired.
"Innocent, Minister," Lucius hissed, and the room went wild with whispers.
"Order," Kingsley warned the room. "Care to elaborate your innocence to the court?"
"Minister Shacklebolt, you can't let him do this," An older witch snapped from behind Draco.
"Order," Kingsley repeated.
"Minister, I am claiming innocence due to a simple fact. Miss Granger had illicitly molested my son while she broke the law which led to her pregnancy. She was to do her duty as instructed by your bylaw to be completely unbiased, detached and neutral; none of which she was. I was driven insane by her claims and by her plot to make my son, Draco Lucius Malfoy, the seat holder so she could have more leverage on her laws to get passed. It is criminal." He finished and Draco was clenching his hands in fury.
The room was loud with chatter after his claim. "She did that? Who would have thought she would have." Someone hissed.
"Hermione Granger would never do that to get ahead," another voice whispered.
"We have all read Miss Granger's reports and accounts. We have also read the report Mr. Harry James Potter, and other Aurors processed after said night. We are going to continue with witness evidence to provide Mr. Malfoy with a rebuttal." Kingsley murmured as he shuffled pages on his podium. "Draco Malfoy, do you agree with your father's claim that you entered into your union without choice?" Kingsley asked.
Draco hemmed and shook his head. "No, Minister. Our union had nothing to do with what Miss Granger was doing with work, nor was I coerced into it. Said incident happened beyond our professional relationship." He said, avoiding the scathing looks from his peers.
"Do you feel that it helped lead to her reporting that you should have a Wizengamot seat and not your father?" Kingsley questioned further.
"No, Minster. Katie Bell, a respectable witch in her field, took said reports the last month we were under observation. If it was biased, I am positive she would have noted such."
"Court calls Katie Bell to the witness bench," Kingsley announced and the young witch entered the room.
"Minister," Katie declared, straightening her suit as she sat down.
"Miss Bell, I have to ask what you observed of Lucius Malfoy the last month you were there." Kingsley declared.
"I noted a sharp division between Lucius Malfoy and his wife, Narcissa nee Black Malfoy, and his son. He was very abrupt. Held little sway in his beliefs and even tried to convince his grandson that Miss Granger was trying to manipulate them which is why he fed wild claims of her resignation. It also is important to note that during this time he was flagrantly pushing his son into arrangements while knowingly separating him from his future child." Katie finished with a nod.
"And how do you know that last observation is factual?" Kingsley inquired.
"Mrs. Malfoy had been speaking to her sister, and I had come across them in the middle of their conversation. He had threatened Miss Granger with his son's denouncement and assaulted her."
Lucius sneered. "Here say, Minister," he interrupted.
Kingsley hemmed and held up a paper. "Let the court be aware, a one letter of resignation in my hands by Miss Hermione Jean Granger. The passage I read is at the middle of such. 'I know this burden is not yours to behold, but I can't work around Lucius any longer. He had made ill attempts to compel me to be intimate with him. Mr. Malfoy had also threatened his own son and grandson's wellbeing when he found out about my child and attacked me. I fear for my life and my child's.'" Kingsley finished and Draco bit the inside of his lip so hard he tasted blood.
"Manipulation. None of this proves against my case," Lucius hissed with a glare.
"Tell the truth," Draco snapped.
"Order," Kingsley said with a warning tone.
Lucius sneered at him and arched an eyebrow. "Did she lose the baby?"
"Tell the truth!" Draco shouted.
"Order!" Kingsley hollered and hit his gavel down.
"The truth is that little muggleborn tricked you," Lucius retorted. "She didn't care for you one bit."
Draco's cheeks turned scarlet. "I hope you rot, father," he spat.
The muttering in the room was loud as Kingsley tapped his gavel a few more times. "Lucius Malfoy, the court will deliberate your sentencing and bring you back for your final verdict on Monday. Court dismissed for the weekend," Kingsley declared with a nod.
The Aurors that brought in Lucius walked up to him. "Remember, son. She can never love someone who let her almost die twice," He shouted at Draco.
One of the Aurors jerked him to walk. "Let's go, Malfoy." The wizard spat.
Draco was rubbing a hand over his face and exhaled. That was far rougher than he ever wanted it to be. He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw the Minister standing next to him. "Draco Malfoy, know that it took strength and courage to be here today. I know you will reserve your distaste during other matters of law, correct?"
"Of course, Minister. I just was overwhelmed with how he spoke about Hermione," he sighed.
Kingsley bobbed his head and glanced around. "It is to be expected. I don't doubt that as far as a fair trial, your father served himself no better by his wild claims."
"She quit her job because of my family," Draco mumbled.
"No, she quit her job for your family, Draco. This would have been quite a bit worse if Miss Granger still worked at the Ministry. We would have had to drag her into the courts and made your relationship on trial just as much as your father. It worked out well that she had resigned when she did."
Draco exhaled and bobbed his head. "I will see you Monday?"
Kingsley motioned agreement. "I thank you for coming in today. It was important that you were present so that his wild claims were met with rebuke."
"Why a seat and not as a witness?" Draco questioned as the room emptied aside from them.
Kingsley smirked and arched an eyebrow. "So, I did not have to ask you about the true detailing on your coupling. There are perks to being on the Wizengamot, Draco. The last thing I wanted on trial was your relationship with Miss Granger."
Draco tilted his head; his brow was furrowed. "Minister, did you happen to…" he trailed off and lost words.
"Knowing that Miss Granger would seek out your companionship? No, surely I would never engineer that, Mr. Malfoy," he said and patted Draco's back. "I believe you need to get home. It has been a long day."
"Of course. See you Monday," Draco smirked and left the minister in the empty court room.
The man was sighing to himself as he walked through the hallway toward the fireplaces. It was a stressful day of paperwork shuffling and his father's appeal. He was still distant from his fellow seat holders. The pale wizard wasn't sure how they received him for this being his first motion as seat holder.
"Malfoy," Harry's voice called out in the hallway.
The pale wizard took in the image of the other as Harry approached. Draco waited patiently, and Harry patted his shoulder as they walked the hallway. "I know today was a bit stressful, but it will be well worth it." Harry declared with a nod.
Draco huffed and rolled his eyes. "Not many can say they are sending their father off to Azkaban," He grumbled with a wave of his hand.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Well, he had a choice, you had to make yours as well. Life is full of them."
Draco thinned his lips as he bobbed his head. "It's true."
The wizards reached the fireplace, and Harry turned to Draco. "Tell her we will come to have dinner with her tomorrow, alright? I'm positive my wife will head home after she knows you are with her."
Draco just motioned agreement and stepped through the fireplace. The robes felt heavy as he entered Andromeda's house and listened for the children or his aunt and mother. He was walking through the house and heard murmuring from Hermione's room, so he pursued it.
"How do you feel about these?" Ginny's voice sounded through the crack.
"Gin, I'm going to get too fat for those soon. They're going in the pack away pile." Hermione responded.
Draco opened the door a tiny bit to see the witches sorting through Hermione's drawers. On her bed were tons of clothes he suspected his mother made for her; Likely with a fitting charm on them because no one could cast a better charm on clothing than Narcissa.
"These are nice, look you can even wear them for at least the next two months," Ginny declared holding up a pair of sweats.
Hermione shifted and exhaled. "I know."
The redhead was scowling and padded over to the distance witch. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"He's going to leave me. I just know it. He had to deal with all the stuff with Lucius today, and he will see his father is right. I'm lying to myself," Hermione murmured, wiping her eye.
"Firstly, you're insane if you think that. Second, Draco absolutely adores you. Lastly, I'm quite sure his son would throw a fit if his father thought for one second you weren't the best thing in their life."
Hermione started to sob genuinely, and Draco decided it was a better time than any to join them. "Hermione," He said, causing her to look at him with watery eyes.
"She's having a moment," Ginny huffed with a pout.
Draco nodded and moved toward the curly-haired witch. "Ginny, you mind giving us the room? I need to comfort my witch." She left with a quick flash of red hair, and Hermione clung to Draco as he embraced her. "I promise you; I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, Granger."
"Alright," she sniffled, and Draco chuckled.
"Why are you crying? Did you not get enough chocolate?" He teased, causing her to choke on a laugh.
"I'm just tired of everyone. Can we just lay together for a bit?" Hermione asked with a pout.
He kissed her forehead and sighed. "I would like that. I had a long day."
No sooner did Draco clear the bed that small pattering of feet came down the hall and into the bedroom. "Dad! Dad!" Scorpius shouted.
Teddy was grinning behind him and waved. "We made a fort in my bedroom, want to see?"
Hermione giggled and gave them a nod. "Yes, of course, we do. Don't we, Draco?"
The blond wizard motioned agreement and took Hermione's hand as they followed the boys. It was odd how their family was put together, but somehow it would all work… at least he was holding onto optimism as he saw the pregnant witch climb into the fort with the children and let them hug on her. It was picturesque and what framed it perfectly was that she was holding his second child.