Hermione laid in Draco's arm as they shared his bed in his childhood room. It was strange to be in there with the Slytherin memorabilia scattered around the room and the photographs of his peers littering his dresser. His bed was covered in a set of green sheets and a silver bedspread with matching curtains covering the windows. As she laid curled in his arms she let out a content sigh. "I'm so glad we decided to come here," she mumbled into his chest.

"Me too." He leaned down and pressed his lips to her hair. "How was the party? Anything interesting happen?"

Hermione mumbled, "no, nothing really. Except-." She altered her position slightly so she could look into his face. "Ginny noticed I wasn't drinking and- I may have told her I was pregnant."

"You what?" He asked staring down at her. "I thought we agreed we wouldn't-."

"I know," Hermione sighed. "I hadn't intended to say anything but- she noticed, what was I to do? Lie? She's my best friend, Draco, I wasn't about to lie to her. Besides, she can keep a secret."

"Are you sure about that?" He asked darkly. "She is a Weasley after all."

Hermione sat up quickly, annoyed. "I think I know my friends well enough, thank you."

Draco sighed and heaved himself up as well. "I wasn't intending you didn't it's just-" he reached up and brushed a hand through his hair. "We haven't even told my mother yet, Hermione. I don't want her to find out through some gossip page in the Daily Prophet."

"We're telling her tomorrow, Draco," Hermione stated firmly. "We can do it at breakfast instead of dinner if it's such a bother to you. Either way, she's going to hear the news from us first and she's going to be thrilled- you said that yourself."

"Yeah she will be," he mumbled, sighing again. He reached an arm out for Hermione and pulled her back down so she was curled up against him again. "I'm sorry love, it's just- an adjustment still."

"I know," she whispered, placing a soft kiss to his cheek. "But everything will be okay Draco. I promise."

The next morning Nichole walked down to breakfast alongside her mother and father feeling giddy at the pending announcement to Mama. Hermione, meanwhile, was feeling extremely nauseous and wanted to run to the loo at the sight of the various dishes spread out on the table. Narcissa set the newspaper aside, which did not contain an announcement of Hermione and Draco but did have a feature on Ron Weasleys wedding, and smiled at the trio.

"Good morning."

"Morning Mama," Nichole exclaimed bending down to kiss her cheek before taking her seat on Narcissa's left. Draco, meanwhile, sat on her right with Hermione next to him. Hermione's face was now pale and she didn't want to try a bite of the food the house elf was currently scooping onto her plate. Instead she stared at it while gently placing a hand on her stomach while everyone else began to eat.

"How was the wedding last night?" Narcissa asked taking a delicate bite of scrambled egg. "The Prophet says it was an extravagant event."

"It was," Nichole stated excitedly, "they have this band- The Weird Sisters- who played all night long, and there was a display from the Veela, brought in by Aunt Fleur, and not to mention-."

"Hermione you're hardly touching your food, are you quite all right?" Narcissa cut her granddaughter off as she observed Hermione's behavior with a quirk to her eyebrow. "Maybe you had a little too good a time last night?"

Hermione and Draco exchanged looks as Draco set his fork down and picked up his napkin to wipe his mouth. "Actually mother, we, uh-."

"There's something we feel you should know," Hermione stated quietly. Draco reached under the table and squeezed her hand reassuringly, lending her strength. Hermione took a deep breath and blurted, "I'm pregnant Narcissa- three months. The baby is due in September, just as Nichole was."

For a moment the blonde stared at her son and his girlfriend, shocked. She blinked once-twice-three times before letting out an ear shattering shriek and jumped up from her chair to give them both a hug. "This is simply wonderful!" she exclaimed bending to kiss them both on their cheeks before strolling to Nichole and doing the same to her. "Oh, I'm- just ecstatic, truly ecstatic! Perhaps this one will be a boy, eh?" She cocked an eyebrow as she took her seat again, laying her napkin over her lap. "It would do our family well to have a proper heir, wouldn't you say Draco?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Draco mumbled a little shocked. He'd expected his mother to be thrilled but he hadn't expected quite this reaction.

"As long as the baby's healthy I don't care what the gender is," Hermione shrugged finally able to take a bite of her meal now that the news had been delivered; she was suddenly famished.

"Oh but you will be finding out, won't you?" Narcissa prodded. "We'll throw you the biggest celebration yet! We never did get to celebrate your pregnancy with Nichole nor her birth so this one will need to be twice as big!"

Hermione dropped her fork, her appetite vanishing quickly as she blushed. "That won't be necessary Narcissa, really," Hermione insisted. She hated being the center of attention. "You don't need to go to such trouble, I already have all of Nichole's old baby things and-."

"Nonsense," Narcissa waved her hand flippantly. "Only the best will do for this child."

Hermione turned to stare at Draco who heaved a heavy sigh, facing his mother. "Mother, please, Hermione has already done this once without assistance surely she's capable of doing it again-."

Narcissa's face slowly fell as she reached for her napkin and wiped her mouth. "I was simply trying to help," she stated pushing her chair back. "But if you'd like to go it alone..." she left her sentence hanging as she turned and strolled gracefully out of the room.

Nichole looked between her mother and father, speechless and unsure how to react. Draco sighed, pushing his own chair back and getting ready to stand. "I guess I should-."

"No Draco." Hermione spoke quietly, reaching up to place a hand softly on his arm before standing herself. "You sit and finish your breakfast. This is something I need to do."

"Are you sure?" he asked unwilling to sit down.

"I'm sure." She reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I'll be okay."

As she walked out of the room Draco couldn't help but stare at her with admiration. She truly was a remarkable woman.

"Narcissa?" Hermione spoke softly as she pushed open the door to the Master bedroom which the house elves had guided her to without protest. She found Draco's mother sitting at a desk in the corner of the room flipping through a photo album but she smiled at Hermione when she opened the door and gestured her inside to join her.

"Draco was such a sweet baby," Narcissa stated with a soft smile on her face, gazing at the photos in front of her which showed a little baby with a tuft of blonde hair crawling across the carpet. Another photo showed him riding a broom, another him chasing a snitch as he ran through the manor. "He was a born Quidditch player."

Hermione smiled as she watched Draco dump a plate full of food on the floor and howl at the loss of his dinner. "He was beautiful."

"As will your baby be." Narcissa stated simply looking up at the brunette.

Hermione sighed remembering why she had come. "I'm sorry if my reaction seemed off-putting. It's just-."

"No I understand." Narcissa sighed and closed the album, set it back on the desk, then turned to face Hermione full on. "You are not a pureblood, Hermione, so you wouldn't know our customs. As pleased as I was to find out about Nichole- I was heartbroken that I never got to fulfill my role as grandmother to her- that Draco never got to be a father to her! But this new baby- your baby- Draco's baby! We have a chance to raise him as he should be raised, and-."

"I don't regret a single thing in my life, Narcissa," Hermione stated clearly. "I don't regret having Nichole. I don't regret raising her in the muggle world, and I don't regret not telling Draco about it when he was sixteen years old. What would he have done had I told him? Surely my baby would have been taken away to be raised by your lot and I never would have let that happen. So no, Narcissa, I don't regret the way my daughter was raised nor will I subject this baby to such a life either. Nichole turned out just fine, if I do say so myself, and so will this child- whether or not they are a male."

Narcissa bowed her head, acknowledging Hermione. "You are a very strong witch, Hermione. Not many would have the nerve to stick up to their mother in law like you have, especially in terms of raising their child in our society."

Hermione blushed at her words. "You aren't my mother in law, Draco and I aren't even engaged, and-."

"All in good time, my dear," she smirked, looking like a mirrored version of her son; Hermione had never noticed just how alike their bone structure was until now.

"I want to do right by my child- my son, if that may be the case. If it is indeed a boy I want him to know that muggles are not scum, muggle borns are not dirty, and you can be just as successful as a half blood as you could as a pure blood. I want to rid the world of prejudice and if I can start with my son than I will."

Narcissa was silent for a moment as she considered the younger witch's words. She hadn't thought about it that way before. She had been raised to believe the opposite of everything Hermione had just said and even though she had tried over the last sixteen years to adapt her views it was difficult at times. This, though, showed her she had to be better- if only for her grandchildren. "You are absolutely right, Hermione."

"I am?" Hermione asked with a raise of her eyebrows, surprised to hear the worlds come form the purebloods mouth.

"You are." Narcissa confirmed. "It is uncontroversial, at least in our circle, but you should be able to raise your child however you wish."

"That also means," Hermione said quickly, "that I would prefer not to have a party or celebration or any of the sort- at least not until I'm ready, and when the time comes we shall plan it together."

Narcissa considered her words for a moment before nodding. "I'd like that."

A/N

Narcissa knows! Next up? Nichole reunites with Christopher and The Prophet gets a hold of Draco and Hermione's relationship! Stay tuned :) please R&R!