The next afternoon Hermione began to wake up. "What time is it?"
Healer Eric was at her side in a moment, waving his wand over her. "It's right around one o'clock."
"Am I ok to get out of here? We need to finish the AI procedure today. I promise I will let Draco and Weasley do the work I will sit and narrate." she said raising her hands in the sign of surrender.
"If you promise to just sit and let them do the work, I'm ok with you going. Only because I know how important this is to you." he said with a smile.
Draco was sitting in the office with Erik and Lisa discussing the events for the coming weekend. "I know mother is excited about this and has worked hard to get everything set up. She was able to get a Black heirloom wedding set from the vault for Hermione. I hope it is still a secret from Hermione. I have spoken to Kingsley Shacklebolt and all of the proper paperwork is finished on his part. Just our three signatures to finish it."
"I have spoken with Madam Hostoff and she will have everything at the ball ready to go." Lisa said. "Hermione is going to be so speechless when this is revealed."
Erik just sat shaking his head. "How long have you two been planning for this surprise?"
"Since she came back to me." Draco said. "I have loved her for years and now is my time."
"OK, now I have one requirement when you go back to London this weekend. I have contacted Dr. Barton and his team of healer specialists at St. Mungos and I want you to go in for some test on Monday at ten o'clock. I am concerned about the changes in your system and I am wondering if it is not from your exposure to the dragon hormones." Healer Eric said as he completed the paperwork he was sending with her to the healers in London.
"Will I be growing wings and breathing fire soon? She asked.
"No I don't think so but I want some test run to see if there are other changes besides your increase breast and hip size." he finished.
"I promise she will be there if I have to carry her." Draco said as he walked into the room. "Are you ready for the training to begin? Weasley and I have the male Short Snout in the holding pen and he is asleep and breathing in the pheromones. The female is in the other pen and has been stupefied. We are just waiting on you."
"Well it doesn't sound like I am needed." Hermione replied. Healer Eric laughed.
"I will always need you wifey." Draco said leaning over to kiss her.
Hermione and Draco left the infirmary for the holding pens. All of the other dragon trainers and staff were waiting for them. Hermione tapped her wand to her throat and said, "Sonorous" Her voice became loud and clear for the crowd.
"I want to thank all of you for being patient during my short confinement." she began. "Now down to business. Since both of our Dragon Masters have claimed the title and bear the Celtic Bull on their arm bracers they will demonstrate the procedures."
" Charlie your call, heads or tails?" Hermione asked as she pulled a galleon out from her jeans pocket.
"Heads!" he shouted. Hermione flipped the galleon into the air and it landed on heads.
"Do any of you know the meaning of the Celtic Bull?" she asked the crowd.
"Strength, wealth, prosperity." was shouted from the crowd.
"But that is not all." she said. "The Celtic Bull also is the symbol for virility and fertility." So Weasley, since you choose heads you get to work with the male and Draco by default you get to work with the female." she finished with a smile.
"Mr. Weasley, I know that you have done this procedure before so would you like to explain it to our students? She said giving the attention over to him.
"Thanks, Ms. Ganger. Basically this procedure is wanking off the male dragon and collecting his deposit." he said with disgust.
"What Mr. Weasley is leaving out is that the male has been inhaling female dragon pheromones to stimulate him. By doing this we will be able to collect a larger . Weasley had attached a dragon condom with a large reservoir to the male to secure the deposit once he stimulates the male enough." she added trying not to laugh at the look on Charlie Weasley's face.
"The deposit is highly alkaline and will be diluted with a base liquid before introducing it into the female."
Draco was laughing so hard he was lying on the ground holding his stomach. The rest of the team members were also having a go at Weasley while he was finishing his part of the procedure.
Soon he had finished and diluted the deposit and handed it off to Hermione. In the meantime Hermione had directed a group of trainers to elevate the females hips.
"All right now Mr. Malfoy, it is your turn." she said as she walked over to him with a large plunger syringe filled with the deposit. "Are there any questions before we go any further?"
A hand shot up from the crowd."Why is it diluted? You don't do that when making a baby, or at least practicing to make one." The question was finished with a general laugh from the crowd.
"Well fertility specialists will use the same procedure when using artificial insemination on human women. LIke I stated before the sperm fluid is highly alkaline. The vigina is highly acidic. Using a base solution will help neutralize the acidity of the vagina so the sperm have a better chance of survival." Hermione said in full teaching mode. .
'Draco please put this plastic glove on. It will come up to your shoulder." she said handing it to Draco..
"Why?" he asked.
"We don't want the specimen compromised or the vaginal canal contaminated." she replied. "OK now take the syringe and insert it into the vigina all the way until you are up to your shoulder and push the plunger in until it's empty."
Draco did what he was instructed to do with a very disgusted look on his face. In the same respect, Charlie Weasley was laughing so hard he had tears running down his face.
"We keep her hips elevated to keep as much of the deposit in side of her as possible, Now we wait. She finished. "In a few days we will check her for egg production."
"Can I take my arm out now?" Draco asked, withdrawing his arm."Let's go clean up and have some supper."
Hermione and Draco began to spend more and more time together outside of work. Draco found he could not go for very long without seeing her. When they were not working together, he would seek her out just for a hug.
Hermione was the same. When Draco was out in the field working with the dragons, she would walk out to see if she could find him. She said it was to make sure he was okay.
Everyone on the reserve was glad when the moment came and they had stopped dancing around each other and made their feelings known to the other.
The crowd dispersed and Hermione and Draco headed back to their cabin. Draco went into their bedroom. "I'm taking a shower, you can join me if you want." he said with a smile. Soon Draco felt a pair of hands lathering up his back as Hermione joined him in the shower. The effects of the dragon blood and hormone mixture had not completely worn off.
Draco and Hermione were not seen until the next morning.