When Hermione arrived at Draco's penthouse so they could go and have dinner with his friends, Blaise was already present and downing a large glass of fire-whisky. In just under half an hour, they were due at Theo and Pansy's for dinner as when Draco had suggested an evening for his friends to get to know Hermione, Pansy had balked at the idea of going out in her heavily pregnant state, but not wanting to be left out, she'd insisted everyone should dine at their house.
"Go careful with the booze, Blaise," Draco cautioned his friend as he poured himself another large helping of fire-whisky.
"I'm merely fortifying myself for the evening ahead," Blaise replied. "If you and Hermione were smart, you'd be seeking Dutch courage as well."
"Will the evening really be that bad?" Hermione asked, nibbling at her lower lip. She was already rather anxious about having dinner with Draco's friends, all of whom she'd known in school and none of whom had liked her, and Blaise's comments weren't helping settle her nerves.
"Of course not," Draco assured his girlfriend. "Blaise is merely exaggerating."
"I'm not," Blaise informed Hermione. "Believe me Hermione, an evening with the Parkinson-Notts requires Dutch courage."
"Parkinson-Nott?" Hermione frowned. "Did Pansy keep her old name?"
Hermione was surprised at the idea of Pansy hanging onto her maiden name as the wizarding world was fairly old fashioned and from her experiences, married witches tended to use their husband's name. Even Ginny, who had been making a name for herself in the quidditch world, changed her name to Potter upon marrying Harry. It seemed to Hermione that once a witch was married she gave up all claims to her former name, even if sometimes it made more sense to keep using her old name.
"She double barrelled the names," Draco answered.
"So is Theo now a Parkinson-Nott?" Hermione questioned.
"No, for once Theo stood his ground and he remained a plain old Nott," Draco replied. "However, Pansy is a Parkinson-Nott, as is Max and Mina will also be one."
"That's very unusual in the wizarding world," Hermione remarked. "Most witches just take their husband's name. What made Pansy hold onto her maiden name?"
"Officially, it was because she's the last Parkinson and being a female the family name would die out once she was married," Blaise said. "But unofficially, and more accurately, it's because she thinks Parkinson-Nott sounds posher than just Nott."
"Oh," Hermione muttered, not really sure how to respond. It sounded to her as though Pansy was a bit of a snob, but she didn't want to say as much and offend Draco.
"It's okay Hermione, you can say it," Draco said with a chuckle. "Pansy is a snob."
"Yeah, poor Theo's family name wasn't quite classy enough for her," Blaise said. "This way she gets the prestige of being a Nott, but also reminds people that she's a Parkinson by birth."
"So she's basically flaunting her two family connections," Hermione remarked.
"Pretty much," Blaise agreed with a nod. "Although we all know she wouldn't have done the same thing if she'd married someone like Draco. There's no way she would double barrel the name Malfoy. After all, you can't get much classier in our world than being a Malfoy."
"Not that a marriage to me was ever on the table," Draco said quickly, giving his best friend an annoyed glare. The last thing he wanted was for Hermione to think that he'd almost ended up married to his former girlfriend.
"Why not?" Hermione asked. She wasn't at all bothered by Draco's past as she also had a past and who they'd previously dated had nothing to do with the relationship they were now embarking on. "You did date her in school."
"Very briefly," Draco admitted. "By the time Pansy's father began to think of looking for a suitable husband for her, our relationship was over so it didn't make much sense for him to look at me. Theo was obviously a good option, and his father was more than happy to arrange a marriage with Pansy's father."
"That's such a sad way to live," Hermione said with a sigh. "It must be so horrible having no say over your own life."
"You can have a say if you really want," Blaise said. "Just look at Draco. He refused to let his parents dictate his life, and here he is, really happy with you."
"But he's without his parents," Hermione said quietly.
"Which is no fault of yours," Draco insisted as he took hold of Hermione's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Blaise is right, I could have ended up like Theo, but I chose to stand up for myself and pursue my own dreams and find happiness."
"Are you saying Theo and Pansy are unhappy?" Hermione asked, wondering just what sort of situation she was about to walk into.
"Actually, I don't think they are," Draco admitted. Even though Theo had never admitted to loving his wife, Draco knew that he did love her these days. "They might not have picked each other, and initially there was a lot of conflict between them, but over time they've come to care for each other. In fact, I would say they love each other. And there's no denying that these days their marriage works for them. Pansy always did like being in charge, and even though he complains, Theo is quite content with a wife who wears the trousers."
"Theo's very much the anything for a quiet life sort," Blaise chuckled.
"As opposed to you, who lives for excitement," Draco retorted.
"That I do," Blaise grinned. "Which is why I think our next project should be a casino. I'm thinking Green Diamond."
"You're looking to set up another business already?" Hermione gasped in surprise.
"No," Draco answered. "There will be no new business until Red Diamond is firmly established."
"Yeah, yeah, you've already said," Blaise muttered, rolling his eyes at his cautious business partner. "But there's no harm in thinking of the future."
"We can discuss this in another few months," Draco told his friend. "But for now, we need to get going or else we're going to be late."
"We really don't want that," Blaise whispered to Hermione. "Pansy is bad enough at the best of times, but she's downright demonic when she's pregnant."
"This is going to be fun," Hermione muttered to herself, hoping she didn't say anything to anger a very pregnant Pansy.
Once Draco had secured the wards to the penthouse, he took hold of Hermione's arm and apparated them to a large house outside of London. Blaise landed seconds after they did, and Hermione was still admiring the large building they'd arrived at when Draco knocked on the door. The door was answered by a house elf, and as they were ushered inside and the elf took their coats, Hermione couldn't help but frown. Her house elf initiative to free the small creatures had failed to take off, despite years of campaigning, and it made her blood boil when she encountered house elves who were still forced to serve witches and wizards. Still, she understood that the wizarding world had its own set of standards and as pure-bloods Theo and Pansy wouldn't know any different when it came to house elves. Maybe in time she could get to know them and get a chance to share her views, but she didn't think a first meeting was the place to berate them for using house elves.
"Master and Mistress are in the lounge," the elf informed the trio before vanishing with the coats.
Slipping her hand into Draco's, Hermione followed him into a large, comfortable looking room. Pansy was sitting on the sofa, her large frame taking up a fair bit of space. Theo, who had been sitting opposite his wife on a chair, jumped to his feet to greet their guests. On another sofa sat Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, along with a witch Hermione recognised as Millicent Bullstrode.
"You're almost late," Pansy tutted as Theo handed out drinks and they sat down, with Draco and Hermione joining Pansy on the sofa while Blaise settled in the second chair next to Theo.
"Almost, but not quite," Blaise replied with a grin. "Besides, Tracey isn't here either."
"She isn't coming," Theo said. "Her mother took a tumble down the stairs and she's looking after her."
"I hope her mother is alright," Hermione said.
"Don't worry about Tracey's mother, she's a tough old dragon," Pansy snorted. "Knowing that old bat she fell down the stairs on purpose because she knew Tracey was going out for the evening."
"I'm sure she wouldn't do anything that extreme," Draco said, although he didn't sound too convincing.
"I'm sure she would," Pansy retorted. "We all know that since her husband died she's made Tracey's life a living hell. I'm always telling Tracey she needs to stand up for herself. There's nothing worse than people who try and run the lives of others."
"Indeed there isn't," Blaise said, exchanging amused glances with Draco. "So Pans, where's little Max tonight?"
"Maximillian is in his nursery," Pansy replied. "He's already had his dinner and will be retiring for the night shortly. Tonight is just for us adults. Besides, we don't want him getting attached to Granger if she's going to be leaving our lives again soon."
"Why would I be leaving?" Hermione asked.
"Who knows what the future will bring," Pansy replied with a shrug. "You and Draco might be happy now, but there's no guarantee it will stay that way. Draco's incredibly hard to cope with. He's far too stubborn for his own good."
"It's a good job I'm just as stubborn," Hermione remarked. "Maybe I can meet your son another day, Pansy."
"We'll see," Pansy muttered non-committedly as she hauled herself to her feet. "I need to use the bathroom. Theodore, check and see if the elves are nearly ready to serve dinner."
"Yes, dear," Theo replied with a nod as his wife waddled towards the door.
However, before Theo could summon an elf to check on the progress of dinner, Pansy let out a squeal. Everyone turned to find Pansy standing in the doorway, clutching the doorframe and gazing down at the floor in horror.
"Pansy," Theo cried, rushing to his wife's side. "What's wrong?"
"My waters have just broken," Pansy said quietly. "This is the worst timing ever. Who has a baby when they're hosting a dinner party?"
"Clearly little Wilhelmina is eager to meet us," Theo replied with a grin.
"Don't worry about dinner, Pans," Draco said to his friend. "You focus on the baby. We can all have dinner some other time. We should all leave so you can get off to the hospital."
"I'm not going to the hospital," Pansy said. "We're having a home birth. I've got a birthing room all set up. Theodore, contact the private healers and tell them it's time. Millicent, can you help me upstairs?"
"Of course I can," Millicent answered as she rushed over to her friend.
"And the rest of your stay here," Pansy ordered, looking around at her other friends. "I want you to stay and have dinner. By the time you've eaten, I should have given birth. I've been assured the magic we're going to use will lead to a speedy birth."
"We really can leave, Pansy," Draco said with a slight frown. "We don't want to be a hassle."
"It's no hassle, the elves have already cooked," Pansy replied. "Stay and eat, I insist. Now come on Millicent, let's get upstairs before this baby pops out in front of everyone."
"Are we really staying?" Hermione asked warily once Pansy and Millicent had departed the room.
"She'll only shout at us if we don't," Blaise remarked with a shrug as he crossed over to the bar in the corner of the room and poured some fresh drinks.
"So we're going to have dinner, while Pansy is upstairs giving birth?" Hermione checked.
"So it seems," Draco replied with a shrug.
"This is the strangest dinner party I've ever attended," Hermione muttered as she accepted another drink from Blaise.
Strange was definitely an apt description of the evening as while Pansy was in labour, with Theo by her side, the others remained downstairs eating the gorgeous dinner the elves had prepared. With magic silencing the rooms upstairs, they had no idea if Pansy had given birth by the time they finished dinner and headed back into the lounge. With no-one wanting to go and check on progress, the group remained in the front room drinking and talking until an excited Theo burst into the room.
"It's a girl," he announced with glee.
"We know Theo," Blaise chuckled. "You've been preparing for a girl for months."
"I know, but now she's here and it's real," Theo said as he collapsed into a chair and picking up Blaise's half drank glass of fire-whisky he downed the remaining contents. "I've got a daughter. I'm a father of two. I have two children."
"It's good to see you can still do maths," Draco joked. "But seriously Theo, congratulations. How's Pansy?"
"Great," Theo replied with a grin. "She's getting ready for visitors."
"Now?" Millicent asked. "Isn't she tired after giving birth?"
"She was insistent we used magical aid this time, so it was a quick and relatively easy birth," Theo explained. "And now she wants to see everyone and introduce you all to our new daughter."
"She just wants to check that none of us have ran away," Blaise laughed.
Even though Hermione wasn't sure the invitation included her, Draco was insistent that she went with the others to visit Pansy, so she found herself standing with the Slytherins as they met the newest Parkinson-Nott. If Pansy hadn't meant to include Hermione in the invitation she didn't say anything as she was clearly ecstatic after giving birth and all her focus was on her new-born daughter.
"She really is lovely, Pansy," Draco said as he kissed his friend on the cheek. "Congratulations."
"I'm sorry about dinner," she returned, including Hermione in her apology. "Maybe in a few weeks we can try again."
"I'd like that," Hermione replied with a smile. "Congratulations again, Pansy. Your daughter is perfect."
"Thank you," Pansy whispered as her focus once again drifted to the baby she was cradling in her arms.
Finally saying their goodbyes, the group departed for the evening, leaving the Parkinson-Notts to get used to the newest addition to their family. While the others went their separate ways, Hermione headed back to Draco's for a final drink, hoping that when her boyfriend met her friends in a few days' time, the evening was more straightforward than the evening they'd just had. Although to be fair, it wasn't like any of her friends were pregnant and were going to give birth during dinner.
