...and now we just wait...
Sammy woke in a sweat, her heart racing. "Mummy! Daddy Draco!" she cried out. Within seconds, her parents raced into her room, her dad pulling his shirt over his head.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Draco said as he pulled his little girl into his arms. Sammy began to cry. Sobbing and gasping as she attempted to find comfort in her daddy's embrace.
Hermione joined them and began rubbing her back soothingly. "Hush now. You're okay, sweetheart, mummy and daddy have you. Did you have a bad dream?"
Sammy finally calmed down enough to tell them what she dreamt. "It was a man in dark robes and a silver mask. He was watching Aunt Barb and Aunt Jill. They were walking through the park and suddenly a green light hit them and they fell. That's when I woke up screaming."
Hermione gasped then looked to Draco. They had to figure out a way to contact them and warn them. How much longer until Harry checked in? "Oh, gods! We have no way of warning them. Jill... Barb...my dear friends!" and then it was Hermione that needed to be calmed.
Draco stood up and started pacing. After a few minutes, he made a decision. "I'm going to have you send a patronus message, love. It's the only way we can get a message out. We can send it to Kingsley since we won't want it to ruin Harry's coup." Hermione nodded and sent off her otter.
Hours passed, with no word from anyone. Hermione tried passing the time by baking biscuits with Sammy while Draco started preparing Hermione's favorite, Quiche Lorraine. When supper was finished and there was still no word from Harry, the worrying began again.
"Mummy? I just wanted to say that I love you. And you Daddy Draco. I love you both so much." Sammy sat in between them and felt safe in their embrace. Suddenly the Floo roared. Harry stepped out looking sullen. Hermione stood as Draco held her back. She looked at him, confused by him halting her.
"Potter, what did I do to get you in the air on a broom for the first time?" Draco asked.
"You took Neville's Remembrall and flew off to hide it. Thanks, by the way, or I would have never become the youngest Seeker at Hogwarts in a century." Harry replied with a smirk.
"Okay, so you're you. What's happening?" Hermione asked with a slight bitterness to her voice. "Why the bloody hell did it take nearly an entire day for us to hear from you? Did Kings get my patronus?"
Harry looked at where Sammy was, then back to Hermione. "Maybe Sammy shouldn't be here for this, 'Mione." Draco agreed and took her to get her bath. He returned moments later.
"Okay, she's in the tub. She seems fine. Now, talk Potter." Draco sat in the chair, pulling Hermione to his lap and wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"So the good news? Our coup worked. The Death Eaters attacked us after an hour of arriving in Diagon Alley. They attempted to abduct "Sammy" and one of them was killed in the scuffle. Auror Simmons aka "Draco" was injured as well. He's in St. Mungo's. We captured three others and they are being held at the Ministry for questioning before going to Azkaban."
"Now, the bad news. Hermione, I'm sorry, but by the time your patronus reached Kings, it was too late for your Muggle friends. They were killed in a park while out for a stroll before brunch at some restaurant nearby. The third woman was running late to meet them, but she discovered their bodies." Hermione began to cry.
"If they never met me, they'd be alive right now. They were going to adopt their first child, did you know? They would have been wonderful parents. Oh, Draco!" She continued to cry for what seemed like forever until suddenly, she stopped and got a determined look on her face.
"They cannot get away with this. You've got to get every last one of them. I want to be there for the interrogation, Harry. Don't even try to say no!" Hermione got up on her feet then. "Now, get over to the table. Have some supper and take a tin of biscuits home for Ginny and the kids." She started towards the bathroom, "I'll get Sammy ready for bed. I think she'll need two stories tonight. Goodnight, Harry."
Draco shook his head and chuckled at his wife's retreating form. "I fucking love that witch." Harry chuckled as he spooned quiche into his mouth.
Back in Philly...
Theo held Madeline as she grieved over the loss of her cousin and Jill. He tried not to think of what could have happened if he hadn't convinced her to shag before she met them for brunch that day. "I love you. I'm here. Not going anywhere." Theo whispered as he kissed her forehead. Madeline looked up at her boyfriend.
"Thank you, Theo. I love you too." She kissed his soft lips. Madeline felt so safe...so loved in Theo's arms. Suddenly she got a crazy idea. Before she chickened out, she blurted out, "Will you marry me, Theo Nott? Marry me, and take me away from here." He would not have believed it in a million years, but his girlfriend proposed to him. "I know it's only been a few months, but when you know, you know. I just want to be yours forever. And, I can't stay here. Not where they died."
Theo took her hands in his and Accio'd the box he'd had since the day after he admitted being in love with Madeline. "Well, I was going to wait until our anniversary or your birthday, but you beat me to it, my dear." Madeline gasped as he opened the box to show a 3 carat round diamond engagement ring. "I've known for a while that I wanted to make you my wife. I want to marry you and make lots of babies with you. So, to answer your question, yes, I will marry you."
"Sammy, you're okay. You tried honey, but we were too late. They didn't suffer. That curse, no matter how horrid, is quick and painless. Daddy is going to lay here until you fall asleep, okay, but then I need to be with Mummy." Draco kissed the top of her head. He rubbed her back and hummed a song his House Elf, Jezzy, used to sing to him as a child. Moments later, he heard her snoring softly.
When he reached the doorway to his and Hermione's bedroom, he heard her talking. He watched as she stood in her bra and panties, rubbing her abdomen. "Your big sister and daddy are going to spoil you, I already know that. Oh, and don't get me started on your Uncles. Blaise especially will be extra annoying with Uncle Theo and Harry coming in a close second. I've dreamt of you for so long. Ever since I was 19 and so in love with someone I thought I could never truly have, but now? Now, I have that man...that beautiful, wonderful man. Your daddy's going to be the best father ever. Already is, in fact. You will be so loved, that's a given. I wonder if you're a boy or a girl. Daddy seems to think you're a boy." She jumped when she heard Draco clear his throat
"Oh, don't stop on my account. Please continue telling our baby how amazing I am." He chuckled and pulled his wife toward the bed with him. "Now, you've had a long, tiresome, emotional day, so come lay with your husband and let me love you properly." He massaged the tension from her neck and shoulders then rubbed her feet. She fell asleep fast, and Draco craddled her in his arms with unspoken promises, love, and devotion.
The next morning, Hermione was accompanied by Harry to the Ministry for the Death Eater interrogations. There was no press this time. The only thing that made her feel uneasy was the fact that Draco and Sammy were not present.
Hermione greeted Auror Simmons and Kingsley, then followed them into the first interrogation. The man that sat there, shackled, looked familiar to her which gave her some pause. She looked over at Harry and he nodded for her to begin.
"Good morning. I believe you know who I am, correct?" The man nodded and scowled at her. "If you help us out, we can reduce your sentence greatly. If you do not, then, I'm sorry to say, there's nothing we can do for you. We have reason to believe that you and the others were involved in Imperiusing for years and the subsequent murder of an American Muggle, a one Jarrett Adamski."
The man sneered at her, "I didn't murder the bloke. I was a lackey. Ran errands and such. You're waisting your time on me." Hermione watched him tense up.
"Okay, but you know who we should talk to? These bastards just killed again. You're young. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't throw it away for some sycophantic zealot!" She slammed her hands down on the table, her magic crackling around the room, causing the man to flinch. She had him.
"Alright, I'll talk, but I want immunity." Harry nodded as Hermione wore a self-satisfied smirk. "Rowle...and Dolohov."
By the end of the interrogation, they finally had two names. Names they were familiar with. Two Death Eaters they thought long dead. "Hermione?" Harry approached her slowly. The moment she'd heard Dolohov was still alive, she felt nausea creeping up on her. The man had almost killed her in fifth year at the Department of Mysteries.
Hermione sipped from the hot cup of tea Harry placed in front of her. "Harry, I'm okay, honestly. Just shocked is all. Antonin Dolohov is alive and out to get me and my daughter. Draco will protect us, I know, but I am still fearful." She worried her bottom lip. Her friends were killed because they wanted their little girl. Her special, beautiful, talented daughter that she felt so connected to even though she hadn't actually given birth to her. Sammy was a gift, and Hermione would be damned if she didn't do everything and anything to keep her safe.
Draco tried keeping himself distracted, so that he didn't worry himself or Sammy. He'd read her three books, they made lunch together, and now she was showing him one of her talents. "Okay, so hold my hands, close your eyes and focus on your favorite memory." the precocious little girl said in her most serious voice. "Ready, Daddy Draco?" He nodded his head then closed his eyes.
In an instant, he was transported to the small office where the MACUSA official married and bound Hermione and Draco together then bonded them to Sammy. He could feel Sammy's feelings of happiness to have found two people that wanted her as their daughter. He felt her sadness of no longer having her mother in her life.
Next he could feel the elation of Hermione in becoming his wife and her nervous excitement of becoming a mum to Sammy. The happiness of their friends. Then he could feel the jelousy and contempt of the official. Her sadness of never found happiness, of never becoming a mother herself. He finally felt all of his own emotions from that day. His feelings of inadequacy, like he didn't deserve this new, wonderful life being thrust upon him.
Draco opened his eyes and Sammy was smiling up at him. "That was unbelievable, Sammy! Like I was in a pensieve, but one where I could feel the energy's of everyone around us." He saw her face drop a bit. "What's wrong my beautiful girl?" He pulled her in for a hug when she started to cry.
"I love you, Daddy!" she sobbed into his shirt. "I wish you had always been my daddy! I miss my real mommy but Hermione is a great mum. I promise to be the best big sister to my little brother!" Draco smiled and began to tear up.
"Brother? But we don't know yet." he said, his voice quivering. Sammy smiled at him.
"I've seen him already, and, oh daddy! He's going to look just like you!" She hugged him tightly, and Draco couldn't help but get choked up at the thought of having a son. "Mummy will be so happy when we tell her. I just couldn't hold it in anymore after seeing your happiest memory and knowing that I am apart of it." Sammy hugged him again and kissed her daddy's cheek.
The Floo sounded and Hermione and Harry came through with James in tow. "James!" Sammy squealed then ran to greet him. "Are you staying for dinner? My daddy and I made a chocolate cake!" James smiled, blushing a bit at the attention his friend was giving him.
"My dad says I can have a sleepover with you. If, well that is to say, if you wanted to have one with me. I've only ever had a sleepover at Teddy's grandma's house before." James was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet with his hands in his pockets.
"That sounds brilliant, Sammy, doesn't it? We can make a blanket fort in the living room and read stories and play games." Hermione explained, "Then James and you can sleep on the floor inside the fort." Sammy's eyes went wide with excitement and she nodded emphatically.
Draco walked over and gave Hermione a kiss before enveloping her in a hug. "We had a fantastic day, mummy, didn't we Sammy?" Draco turned and caught his daughter smirking.
"We sure did. Mummy, I know what kind of baby is in your belly!" Sammy was dancing around her parents as she made her proclamation in a sing-song voice.
"Oh, you do, do you? And how would you know that, little miss?" Hermione caught her little girl in her arms and started peppering her face with kisses. "Did you have one of your dreams?"
Sammy giggled, "Yes during my nap this afternoon. Then, I had daddy show me his most favorite memory. I was going to keep it a secret, but when I watched daddy's memory with him, I just couldn't stop myself!" Draco scooped her up and tickled her, causing her to giggle even more. "Daddy! Put me down please." He listened and placed her back on solid ground. Sammy skipped over to James and took his hand in hers. "Come on, best friend! I want to show you my room. It's much smaller than my room in Philly, but I don't mind."
The two five-year olds raced up the stairs as their parents watched them and laughed. "How'd it go then? With the scumbags?" Draco inquired as he started making dinner.
Harry and Hermione sat next to each other at the small kitchen island. Harry spoke first, "Well, your brilliant wife here got the first guy we interrogated to give up the lead Death Eaters. We thought they were killed during the war. Apparently, we were dead wrong." Draco looked up from chopping vegetables.
"Well, who the fuck is it?" Draco spat out in frustration. Hermione looked up and sighed.
"Rowle and Dolohov." She watched as Draco's face paled. He rushed to his wife and hugged her close. "How is he alive? I thought he died during the battle at Hogwarts." She started to tremble thinking of Dolohov. That curse he hit her with would have killed her if he hadn't been silenced.
"I won't let anything happen to you. Either of you. You're my everything. I love you, my beautiful sunflower." Draco spoke softly into her hair. She smiled at his endearment. Lifting her head, he kissed her sweetly.
"Don't worry, guys. My Aurors and I have this under control. Thanks to you, Hermione, we know who and where we're looking. You truly were brilliant. You should have seen her, Malfoy. She even scared poor Simmons. The last guy, man, I think he pissed himself!" Harry said with a hearty laugh which lightened the mood. "Let me go say goodnight to James and Sammy. See you guys tomorrow afternoon." He kissed Hermione's cheek and shook Draco's hand before heading up the stairs.
"I'll get dinner in the oven and make you some tea, love. Put your feet up and relax." Draco went back to the kitchen to put the kettle on and finished the roast chicken and veggies.
"So, did she tell you then?" He heard her call from the living room.
"Tell me what, love?" Draco tried to play stupid. He knew what she was asking.
"Don't play coy with me, sir. You know what I mean." Draco walked into the living room then sat on the sofa, pulling his wife's feet into his lap. He started massaging them earning a satisfied moan of appreciation from her.
"Do you want to know?" Draco said in a sing-song voice. Hermione smiled and nodded. "I'll just say, I was right."
Hermione squealed, "A boy! We're having a son?" Draco laughed and nodded his head as Hermione started to tear up. "Oh, babe! Now we need a name! It'll need to be after a constellation like your mom's family and you. Oh! I'm so excited!" She crawled into his lap and curled up to his chest.
After dinner, the kids sat at the table eating the chocolate cake Draco had baked that afternoon while he magicked the blanket fort for the kids sleepover. "Wow! My dad has never done that for me! Sammy! Your dad is so awesome!" Draco smiled as he overheard Potter's kid calling him 'awesome' for his fort-making skills.
Hermione had gone up for a nice soak in the tub. Anything to relax her, Draco thought to himself. He needed her to rest and keep her mind off of Antonin Dolohov. "Okay, guys! All finished! Game or story first?" Draco asked the kids, who agreed on playing a board game they found in the hall closet.
A couple hours later, they all hung out under the blanket fort as Hermione read a Muggle book called Charlotte's Web. Draco sat next to Sammy as James curled up next to his friend. The sound of Hermione's voice must have really relaxed Draco because he was asleep by the time Charlotte started weaving words into her web to save Wilbur.
Sammy giggled when Draco let out an undignified snore. "Daddy's snoring mummy. He had a long day." Hermione stifled a laugh then gently nudged her husband awake. Draco woke with a start.
"What happened! What's wrong! Who's hurt!" Everyone began to giggle then and he joined in. "Was I snoring again?" The laughter became more raucous after that.
"Okay, okay. Time for bed, I think." Hermione announced as the two little ones groaned in protest. "None of that now. It's half past 10, off we go." She tucked James in as Draco tucked in Sammy. "Sweet dreams, my doves."
As they settled into their own bed, talk turned to baby names. "How about Orion?" Hermione suggested. Draco made a face.
"No way. I had a great-uncle named Orion. Total tosser. Next!" Draco waved off the name.
"Okay, how about Perseus?" Again, he made a face.
"Too close to Percy, the Weasels uptight brother. Ugh! Such a dick. Always taking points away from Slytherin." Draco sounded childish but she had to laugh. Percy was annoying, but she'd always gotten along with him.
"Well, what name do you like? Any ideas?" After a few minutes of thinking, Draco spoke up.
"Scorpius. I always liked that one. Don't know why, I just did." Hermione mulled it over in her head then tested it out loud.
"Scorpius Draco Malfoy, hmm. Scorp for short?" Draco nodded and then smiled. "I like it. I think we have a winner, babe. Scorp, you hear that? Daddy and I found your name." Draco stretched his hand out to caress her belly. She was hardly showing just yet, but he kissed her little pouch.
"We love you, Scorp. Your sister is so excited to meet you too." With one more kiss to her tummy and a kiss to her lips, the two happy parents curled up and fell asleep. Soon, Harry and the Aurors will apprehend the remaining Death Eaters and life could go back to normal. At least, one could only hope...
A/N: Hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. My granddaughter was born. She'll be two weeks old tomorrow, hence why I have not been able to post.