A/N :: Lil bit o' fluff ahead (:
Chapter Thirty Seven || Meeting baby.
Draco's POV ::
"Gentlemen?" Madame Pomfrey's voice sounded.
I opened my eyes slowly. I rubbed at my eyes, yawning loudly. Then I felt a body shift. Who was that? I sat up and looked around.
After our snack adventure the other lads and I came back to the smaller room to crash. Because there were only two couches, Blaise and I had to share one. At night we went to sleep both sleeping at separate sides of the sofa, using the arm rest for a pillow. But in the morning I realized I had stretched out, taking up most of the couch. Blaise was still sleeping against the arm of the sofa. My feet were pressing into him.
Blaise woke up and noticed the change. "Wow Malfoy," He yawned. "Take up a lot of room, huh? You never struck me as the person who could share something fifty-fifty."
I laughed sleepily. "Sorry, mate."
"Everyone awake?" Madame Pomfrey came inside the room. Seamus was yawning. Neville was sitting up straight. Ron and Harry looked half awake.
"Seamus, did you sleep well?" Pomfrey asked him.
"Uh, yea I suppose?" Seamus was obviously confused why the witch had only questioned him.
"I asked because you better be prepared for a surprise." Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. Seamus paled. "Lads, could you follow me?
We pursued Madame as she led us into a separate room. There were six beds; one for each of our partners. I found Hermione. She looked fresh and clean, not like she just woke up three minutes ago. I stood by her bed as the other guys found their girls.
"Hey," I said softly, approaching her. "You okay?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm okay. How was your sleep?"
"Not too comfortable." I sat down in a chair next to her bed. "I shared a couch with Blaise."
"Sounds lovely," she replied sarcastically. "I don't remember anything from last night. But I do remember you wheeling me to the Wing; I don't think I ever will forget that." Hermione grinned. "And then I woke up here."
Pomfrey started to speak, ending our conversation. "Students, your attention please! With the help of my six apprentices, it will be a great joy to introduce you twelve to the children I delivered sometime between yesterday afternoon and early this morning."
McGonagall stood with a clipboard. "There was a seventh year assistant assigned to each couple. I will call the couples' names, and she will bring out your child. Using the names you all last chose for the kids, they have been named."
Suddenly I felt weak. I was about to meet my kid. Hermione saw me tense and she lowered her hand to me. I looked up at her as we twined fingers.
"First! I am overjoyed to announce the first delivery of twins at the Hogwarts School. I'd like to welcome the son and daughter of Parvati Patil and Seamus Finnegan to the world:: Aileen {i-leen} and Anil {uh-nil} Patil-Finnegan!" Our professor smiled.
A tall seventh year I recognized from Slytherin with shiny blonde hair held two babies in her arms. One of them, presumably Aileen, was bundled in pink. Her little fraternal brother Anil was swaddled in blue. Their skin color was beautiful; an astounding coffee-and-cream shade.
The apprentice settled Aileen in her father Seamus's arms. She lowered Anil into Parvati's arms. I saw tears in the parents. Then, they took the room by surprise. Seamus leaned down into Parvati's bed and kissed her.
Hermione's POV ::
I felt a pang in my heart when Seamus and Parvati kissed.
"Next," McGonagall said loudly. "I'd like to welcome to the world the son of Hannah Abbott and Neville Longbottom :: Kenneth Abbott-Longbottom!"
A seventh year from Gryffindor carried in a boy from the other room. The child had a messy mop of dirty blonde hair. The assistant put Kenneth into Hannah's arms as Neville sat on her bed, wrapping one arm around her to hold Hannah as he cradled their son. They both beamed at their infant son.
"Thirdly," McGonagall continued, "I'd like to announce the newborn daughter of Luna Lovegood and Blaise Zabini:: Celeste Lovegood-Zabini!"
A girl with long copper hair walked over to Luna's bed with a bundle of pink in her arms. Celeste had spellbinding blue eyes and caramel skin. A tear fell from Luna's eyes as she held her daughter. Blaise wiped at his eyes, trying to make it not obvious he was also crying. He leaned forward and kissed his daughter's forehead.
"The fourth child," professor McGonagall said, "will be the daughter of Astoria Greengrass and Ron Weasley:: welcome to the world, Raegan Greengrass-Weasley!"
An apprentice with curly brown hair came into the room with a baby girl wrapped in pink. Astoria held her arms out, holding Raegan against her chest. Ron put a hand on her shoulder, looking down on his daughter proudly. Astoria kissed her partner's cheek.
"The fifth baby," the witch read from her clipboard. "Is the son of Pansy Parkinson and Harry Potter:: welcome to the world, James Parkinson-Potter!"
The newborn boy was carried by a tall girl with freckles. She placed James carefully into Pansy's arms. I was shocked to see Pansy's eyes tear. I wasn't used to Pansy showing emotions. I felt like crying when I saw Harry and her exchange wide smiles.
"The last child," professor began, "is the …"
I felt my heart beat quickly.
"Daughter of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy :: Evelyn Granger-Malfoy!"
Jocelyn entered the room, grinning. I watched the girl walk towards me. Everything was moving in slow motion. Draco squeezed my hand.
Jocelyn was beside me. She lowered Evelyn into my arms. The girl felt warm against my chest. She had tiny wisps of brown hair. Evelyn opened her eyes.
"Draco," I said, my voice threaded with tears. "She has your eyes."
Draco blinked back his emotion, wrapping his arm around me and looking down at our daughter. Evelyn stared back, captivating grey eyes looking up at me.
"Hi baby girl," Draco murmured. "It's daddy." His finger traced her cheek. Evelyn's mouth turned to something resembling a smile.
I felt a tear slip down my cheek. "And I'm your mommy," I whispered down to her.
At this moment, everything seemed right in the world. I felt instantaneous love for Evelyn. To see her in my arms, what I've been waiting for for nine weeks… it was overwhelming. She fit so perfect in my arms.
Even though I couldn't stop smiling, I began to cry. Draco noticed and rubbed my shoulder.
"Hermione, are you alright?" He asked. I looked at him. Draco's eyes were wet.
"She's so perfect." I told him. "Would you like to hold her?"