I'm not sure if y'all are ready for this one...

8 February, 2008: 5:00pm

"We have to go, mum. Please!"

Hermione sighed as she followed Rose down the pavement. She'd had a very long day, her mum wasn't able to get Rose, and Draco was stuck in meetings. She'd drowned in paperwork all afternoon and by the time she met with the muggle attorney, it had been time to pick up Rose. The last thing on her mind was a trip to the bookshop. What she really wanted was to get out of these heels, have a nice soak in the bath, and drink a glass of wine with dinner.

"Darling, I love visiting the bookshop as much as you do but don't you think we could go this weekend?"

Rose walked a few steps ahead of her as she took hurried steps. "I'll be quick, mum. I know just what I'm looking for."

Hermione knew as soon as she saw her pull her lip between her teeth that she would say yes. It had been an interesting few months since the wedding and the holidays. There had been a lot of adjusting and Rose had been patient through it all. Patient while she and Draco navigated this new parenting dynamic. Patient while they navigated the changes in their own relationship. She asked for very little.

She sighed again. "Alright then. But we'll be quick about it." She grinned and hurried ahead, despite her mother's groan. "Slow down, Rose."

She knew that her daughter wouldn't run ahead of her now. She stayed a few steps ahead but close enough that it wouldn't take much effort to hurry and grab her.

Hermione wasn't paying much attention to anything but the location of her child as she fished her mobile phone from her coat pocket when it began to vibrate. It was cold and she shook her fingers out before she tried to respond to her mother's text.

"About bloody time."

She nearly dropped the blasted thing at the sound of his voice.

Draco stood at the entrance, smiling as he ushered Rose into the shop with a wave.

"Hi, dad!"

"Good work," he said, nodding.

Rose flashed Hermione a grin before disappearing inside.

She lifted her free hand and gestured at the door. "Did you—did you plan this?" The absolute audacity of that child working against her! She'd have to remind her just how many hours she spent in labor with her.

He leaned down and stole a kiss from her before he answered. "If you think I didn't, you surely don't know me that well." He tipped his head towards the shop. "Inside with you."

She grumbled under her breath but did ask he ordered. "Draco, I'm bloody exhausted. What is this about?"

Rose was already lost in the children books but she could see her. He placed a hand at her lower back and urged her to walk the aisle with him.

"Don't you know what today is?"

She shrugged. "The eighth of February." And then it dawned on her. "Oh."

"I don't do things by half. I'd think you would realize that." He flicked his hand at the books. "We met again here a year ago today."

She huffed. "Are we really here just to buy books?"

His mouth curled in a smirk. "This is for nostalgia. And a reminder. I was exceedingly confident that day because I didn't figure I had a chance in hell with Hermione Granger so why not enjoy watching her blush a bit while I compliment her?"

She rolled her eyes even as she wove an arm through his. "Yes, I do recall being terribly confused by you that day. Pleasantly so, but confused nonetheless."

"Yes, well, your protective walls were still rather high then."

"And now you know why."

Rose dashed around the corner before he could respond. Oddly, her hands were empty.

"You didn't find anything?" Hermione asked.

She shrugged but her eyes strayed back across the shop. "There was a calendar I wanted for my room but—" Her lips twisted into a frown.

"But what?" Draco asked.

Rose sighed. "Oliver in my class says that liking Paddington is for babies."

Hermione untangled herself from Draco and took her daughter by the shoulders, marching her back to the display. "And I imagine that Oliver is a killjoy in many aspects in life. He doesn't have to be in yours though."

Rose bit her lip as Hermione grabbed the calendar in question. "But I'm going to be nine this week. Aren't I supposed to grow out of these things?"

She frowned. Yes, she would be nine. She blinked and another whole year passed. Her baby was only a year away from double digits. And then another year away from Hogwarts.

The force of the searing emotion threatened to choke her but she pasted on a smile anyway. "Sweetheart, you like what you like and you don't have to explain yourself to other people. Paddington is a cartoon bear. You're still a child. You don't have to be in a rush to grow up."

"And Oliver is probably just an insecure prat," Draco added. He lifted his hands when she glared at him. "What? I was one. I think I'd know." He took the calendar from Hermione. "And I'm a grown man and find I quite enjoy this bear as well."

Hermione watched him in a cloud of déjà vu. She curled an arm around Rose while he paid for the calendar and apparently a stack of books he must have ordered ahead. He glanced over his shoulder and winked at her as the shop assistant tossed a package of taffies into the shopping bag, green apple no doubt.

10 February, 2008: 8:00am

Since becoming a mother at nineteen, Hermione learned to enjoy the simple pleasures at the start of her day. Waking up fully rested, leaving the house on time, finding her favorite skirt and blouse clean and waiting for her on a day she knew would be stressful, and last but not least—coffee and chocolate croissants.

The coffee shop was neither terribly busy nor quiet when she stepped inside, shaking off the cold chill from the February wind. She took her place in line and pulled her mobile from her coat pocket to respond to her mother's text about Rose's birthday tomorrow. She wasn't paying attention when someone joined the line behind her. Not until she felt his breath at her ear.

"You know if you're going to shag me until I'm too exhausted to do my morning workout, you could have the decency to kiss me goodbye before you leave to take Rose to school."

She whirled around on a gasp, eyes wide even as she whacked his shoulder. Draco straightened to his full height, chuckling through his smirk.

"Oh, you're terrible!"

"That's certainly not the sentiment I received this morning."

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to face the front of the line again. She tried not to smile as the tips of his fingers on one hand walked little lines from one shoulder to the other, causing a shiver even through her coat. She knew he felt it because his fingers began twisting a loose curl, only to allow it to spring back.

"Stop," she chastised him lightly, not really expecting he would, nor even wanting him to.

"You shouldn't have left it down then. It's begging me to run my fingers through it."

Hermione shifted forward a few steps when the line moved and Draco moved with her. "You did enough of that this morning," she muttered from the corner of her mouth.

"Can't help it. They're abundant and have a mind of their own but they're also quite soft."

"Hmm," she hummed to herself. "Rose's curls are more tame thankfully. Gives a decent track record that the next one will be as lucky."

They shifted in line again, nearly to the front now and she pocketed her phone finally, giving his hands a playful swat where they still played around her shoulders.

"You know I've been meaning to ask—any feelings on when we should start trying?"

She whirled around to face him, eyes wide. "Are you ready for that?" She glanced around as if they were discussing Ministry secrets. "Because a baby isn't going to be like Rose. She's old enough to help us take care of her. A baby—a baby is—"

He pressed a finger over her lips. "What I want. When you're ready." His mouth lifted on one side and he arched his brows. "Because I'm ready when you are."

Hermione felt her skin flush hot and she dipped her chin in a firm nod. They shifted again and he leaned down to her ear.

"There's no rush, Hermione."

There used to be a time when she couldn't read the emotions in his eyes. She knew him now though. When she looked up, his grey eyes were warm.

"We'll talk about it more later." She glanced at him again as they finally reached the counter. "I'm not saying no."

He grinned and the way he looked at her almost did her head in. She was thankful when he reached into his coat and produced his wallet, handing over a ten pound note and ordering their coffees and croissants. Words lodged in her throat. Was she ready to be pregnant again? Planned this time?

It was strange how quickly her answer came back as yes.

She took her coffee from him, reaching inside the paper bag to take her breakfast as they left the cafe and walked together down the pavement. Neither said a word for the first two blocks before she finally broke.

"Did you mean it?"

Draco lifted his coffee to his mouth before glancing at her. "Mean what?"

She swallowed. "About having a baby. Did you mean it? Now?"

They stopped suddenly and turned to face one another. He blinked at her as he lowered his cup and nodded.

"I meant it. But I also meant it when I said I'm in no rush. Do you want more time to settle into things before we throw a new baby into the equation?"

She sucked in a lungful of cold air, letting it burn in her chest. "No, I actually would love to start trying."

He tilted his head curiously. "I sense a 'but' though."

Hermione shook her head as a sudden spike of anxiety ricocheted through her. "You promise—Draco, you can't love Rose any less if we do."

His brows knit together and his mouth curled in a frown. "Hermione, you honestly think after all this…that I…" He shook his head.

Her eyes fell shut and she bit down on her a lip. "I'm sorry. I—it's just I know what it feels like having a child that's biologically yours." She lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. "It's why I kept her. She's mine. Blood isn't everything but there is something quite special about holding a life that you created. I just—I want another baby, Draco, but I'm also so hyper aware of making sure Rose doesn't feel any less loved after we bring another into the world. She's been an only child for so long."

"Hermione, there is nothing that could make me love her any less. Nothing." He sighed. "I sort of anticipated this. It's why I had the inheritance documents drafted before I even proposed. I didn't want you or her to think I'd see her as any different, less, than any biological child we might have." He shook his head. "Honestly, having a baby isn't a deal breaker, Hermione. If you don't think—"

Her hand shot out before she could stop herself and grabbed his free one. "I want one, Draco. We talked about this before the wedding. I want another baby to hold like I did Rose. I want to watch another grow up. I just—"

He twisted their hands so that he could lift hers to his mouth where he pressed a kiss to her palm. "I know. And I understand." He then leaned down to press a soft kiss to her mouth. "We will do everything possible to shower them both with love. Because I also don't want our children to grow up like I did. And I've got so much catching up to do on the father bit for Rose."

Her voice wobbled a little when she said, "And you're doing so well." She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I just spiraled for a moment there." She lifted her hand to swipe at the tears collecting in her eyes. "Merlin, I'm so sorry, Draco. I don't doubt you. I just sort of…I don't know. I panicked a little."

He flashed her a smile and she didn't know what she did to deserve him but she was incredibly thankful. "I understand. It's just like it's always been and I expect you to do no less—we have to protect her the best we can."

Draco curled an arm around her and pulled her close enough to press a kiss to her forehead as they began walking again.

"If you think I might be mental now, just wait until I'm pregnant," she muttered self-consciously.

He snorted loudly. "I look forward to it. That and the pregnant sex."

Hermione attempted to nudge her elbow into his side but he merely pulled her a little closer. "That was with Rose nine years ago. And every pregnancy is different, you prat."

He laughed and she was happy that the murky moment where her anxiety got the best of her was past them now. "Well, regardless, your husband will be happy to satisfy whatever needs you have—whether they be in the bedroom or not."

When he stopped with her at the employee entrance of the Ministry, it occurred to her that this was how they'd started their day together exactly a year ago, running into one another over coffee and croissants. Had he planned this, too? She wouldn't exactly put it past him.

"Shall I bring you lunch?" He asked, sipping the last of his coffee before he vanished the cup. The croissant had disappeared two streets over.

"And have my entire department know how spoiled I am?" She pretended to think about it even as he narrowed his eyes as her playfully. "Oh, fine. What could it hurt?"

A far cry from one year ago. She'd brushed off his efforts, tried not to form expectations, but he'd gotten past her defenses anyway. Proven both his worth and that he could be trusted.

Draco rolled his eyes before he leaned down and kissed her. She felt so silly for how she'd reacted earlier.

She gripped the front of his coat in her hands as he began to pull away. "We're okay, aren't we? You're not upset?"

His expression softened. "We're perfectly fine. I love you. Now go write up some progressive law those stodgy old bastards won't like."

She kissed him again before she finally went inside, not caring who saw. This year was different. Maybe so was she.

11 February, 2008: 4:00pm

Too many times in the past, Draco had retraced his steps only to find disappointment in himself. His sixth year was riddled with mistakes and poor judgement, coupled with the threat on his parents' lives. The war—well, that wasn't even worth the time to consider. It was all wrong. The one thing that plagued him the most was not intervening when his aunt cut into Hermione's flesh right there on his own floor. He may not have felt the way he did now about her, not even a hint, but he knew it was wrong. He knew he'd come to regret his silence. And each night when she fell asleep beside him and her left arm curled over his chest, he saw the horrible scarred letters. Traced them every now and then with a lone fingertip before she'd inevitably sigh in her sleep and wrap herself tighter around him.

He liked to view his life as a series of chapters. He'd closed the first two to open on this current one. The pages of the previous ones were weathered and yellow, and he had no desire to ever revisit them. Not when the new parchment was so fresh and the words kind and reassuring. Not when the smell of it held promise.

As he traced his way through the house, he noted the changes over the last few months. There was a muggle coloring book and crayons on the designated homework table in their main family room. A stack of children's games in the corner. A forgotten tea cup sat on the coffee table next to a new release from Flourish and Blott's and a muggle biography. And the worn throw blanket over the back of the sofa.

Some of the pictures on the walls of the corridors didn't move. The delicate and expensive vase gone from the foyer, taking with it it's ugly pattern. Two sets of worn trainers, one smaller than the other, sat in waiting at the back doors.

He now stood at the doors to the back garden, hands tucked in his trouser pockets as he observed the scene. Last year, he'd happened upon them in the park. She'd had a very simple birthday for her. He'd considered recreating that but why? It was the memory that mattered, not so much the exact reenactment.

That was why now their back garden was filled with an odd mixture of their friends and family as well as Rose's muggle best friend. Telling Blaise, Theo, and Pansy that there could be no magic while the little girl was there had been hilarious. Pansy had shouldered past him into the garden muttering, "If I'd known I was expected to pretend to be a muggle today, I'd have brought my bloody knitting."

"Your new house is huge!" The little girl had whispered a bit too loudly to Rose when Draco opened the door for her and her father. He'd not been able to hide his smirk when the knobhead muggle—David, was it? Daniel? Doug? He didn't care—had shown a similar expression to his daughter. And they'd not even moved past the foyer.

Draco had lifted his brows. "You'll be by to pick her up at seven, yes?"

"Err…yeah, mate. Seven." The idiot had still been too distracted by a glimpse of the chandelier over the main staircase that he'd hardly noticed when Draco shoved him back out on the doorstep and shut the door in his face. "Holy fuck!" He heard him mutter a little too loudly after the door closed.

"What are you thinking?"

He turned at the sound of Hermione's voice. She had a large birthday cake cradled in her hands. Pipsy had been sorely disappointed not to be able to light the candles for Rose—it would have been hard to explain an elf to a muggle child—but she perked up again when Rose asked if she'd have a slice of cake with her later after everyone had left. He wondered if their next child would also inherit Hermione's ability to navigate situations like that. He hoped so.

"That for once, in the last year, I have very few regrets." She arched a curious brow and he shrugged. "I have one—not telling you about running into Astoria in Paris. But besides that—none really. For once, I made the right decisions. Took the right paths."

Hermione blinked and he could practically see the wheels turning in her brain. "I think you sometimes discount that what outsiders may see as a wrong decision, may seem right to the person making it in the moment. Everything looks differently when in retrospect."

He threw his head back with a groan. "You sound like our bloody therapist."

She smiled. "Yes, well, I think that both of us talking to someone about some of the past lingering issues we have, shared or not, has been good for us since we started last month. We have a very healthy relationship, Draco. Not everyone can say that."

He reached out and took the cake from her and nudged his chin towards the doors. "You make it easy for me."

And in truth, she did. Following through on her offer to see a therapist with him had been a positive nudge.

She stepped forward and opened the door. "We make it easy for each other."

The two girls squealed when they saw him approaching with the cake and forgot the game they were playing as they hurried to the patio dining tables. Hermione had transfigured a few things in the townhouse to look like muggle outdoor heaters in order to mask her warming charm over the garden.

"Oh, it has Paddington," Elizabeth said. She scrunched her nose. "Oliver is daft. I still like Paddington, too."

"Don't know the chap," Theo said, "but I like his outfit."

His comment made both of the girls giggle and Theo sent Blaise a rather smug look. They were obviously still debating the idea of children. Draco had his money on Theo getting his way and Blaise honestly not being upset about it.

The birthday song was sung, Rose blew out her candles, and cake was served. Hermione and Ginny stood with glasses of wine watching while Harry and Blaise jointly told the girls a story, embellished with the use of some simple charms for a tiny display of fireworks which they passed off as muggle magic. If Harry himself weren't an auror, Hermione was sure he'd be in trouble with the Ministry for producing magic in front of a muggle. But it was just for show and hardly anything of consequence. Rose knew well enough to go along with their fibs about it.

"Do you see what I see?" Ginny asked, gesturing across the garden with her wine glass.

"Oh, I see it as well. I had a feeling they would hit it off."

Draco appeared behind them and cleared his throat. He arched a brow when they turned to face him. "You two have done something. I can feel it. No, actually, I can see it."

Ginny snorted inelegantly and lifted her wine glass to her lips. "No idea what you're on about, Malfoy."

He narrowed his eyes before they flicked in Hermione's direction. "And you?"

Hermione fidgeted on her feet, wishing she'd chosen a different pair of heels for the evening. Sometimes she felt the desire to dress up a bit. The looks he sent her way were worth it. And it wasn't like she'd thrown on a cocktail dress or something. It was a simple dress really but that didn't stop him from eyeing her from head to toe when she put it on earlier.

"What do you mean?"

He flicked a hand, gesturing across the garden at Pansy who was engaged in conversation with Hermione's coworker. When she told him she was inviting the witch to Rose's birthday party, he'd merely arched a curious brow but didn't pursue the topic further. That was the annoying thing—sometimes he liked to take a wait-and-see approach when he wanted information.

"That witch over there with Pansy—are you trying to set her up?"

"And what would the harm in that be?" Ginny asked.

He laughed. "She'll hex you both, that's the harm. Pansy is—notoriously private about her dating life, in part because her parents didn't know for so long. Even Theo, Blaise, and I couldn't tell you who she dated last or when."

Hermione shrugged. "I invited Madeline Thomas from my department because we've gotten on well since I took over the department and she's always been sweet to Rose whenever I've had to bring her in." She lifted her own wine glass to her lips. "And Pansy's exactly her type.

Ginny snorted again. "What? Bitchy and possibly plotting all of our demise?"

Draco glared at her.

"No! I would say more like mysterious and overconfident. And I didn't explicitly tell her why I was inviting her." She bobbed her head side to side. "Though it's possible she had an inkling and was still keen to show up."

He sighed and reached to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Alright. As I know your heart was in the right place, and you're my wife, I'll shield you from possible harm should she figure out what you've done. As it is, she's just confused by the attention."

"Confused?" Ginny asked.

He nodded. "She doesn't…flirt well. Or at all really. Theo used to tease her about it and, well, let's just say that's why his left eyebrow is an eighth of an inch shorter than his right."

"She doesn't seem upset though," Hermione said.

He squinted. "No, oddly, she looks to be enjoying herself." He looked between them. "I'll consider you both lucky."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks, Malfoy."

She walked off to join Mrs. Granger and Narcissa who were seated on the outskirts of the fray, likely discussing some gardening topic. It seemed to be their agreed upon common ground and as long as they got along, Hermione wasn't going to say a word.

She lifted her glass to her lips again but paused when she felt the heat of him at her back. He leaned down and she fought a shiver as his lips neared her ear.

"Come clean then. I know you're not the meddling type."

She rolled her eyes, fighting the urge to turn to face him. He was trying to make her nervous, to turn her into a puddle of goo as he knew he could. "I just—she's always alone." She gestured across the garden with her free hand. "And I was thinking about if it'd not actually been for her, I may have never spoken to you again. I'm rather stubborn after all." She nudged her elbow into him when he snorted, as if to say 'You? Stubborn?'. "I feel a bit in her debt."

He groaned. She wouldn't tell him how it affected her when he wrapped an arm around her waist and stepped to stand at her side.

"Don't tell her that. It might be surprising but Pansy won't like that you feel that way. She loathes someone feeling like they owe her something when what she did feels like nothing. She would have spoken to you on my behalf no matter what. She might be prickly and difficult to understand but beyond the incident with Astoria, I have to admit that she's actually been a decent friend."

"Are you honestly upset that I tried to set her up?"

There was amusement in his eyes when he looked down at her. She could see it in the way his mouth turned on one side and the crinkles at the edges of his eyes.

"No." He gave her a gentle squeeze. "But no more meddling."

8:00pm

It was getting late now. Rose's friend had been picked up and the witch who'd spent the better part of the evening flirting with Pansy was gone. It was just close friends and family left.

Draco bit down on his lip as he watched Pansy approach the table where everyone was seated, lingering over slices of birthday cake and conversation.

"You set me up, Granger."

Hermione's eyes grew wide and flickered briefly in his direction. "I—well—"

"And she's bloody gorgeous."

She squinted. "Is that—bad?"

Pansy narrowed her eyes carefully as she sank into a seat next to Theo. "No. Thank you."

"Oh…err…well, you're welcome."

Hermione glared at him when he finally lost his composure and started snickering. He lifted his hands. "She's a surprise, that one."

Rose squeezed next to them before she could respond and cupped a hand to her mother's ear to whisper. Hermione nodded and pointed behind her at the house. "It's in my briefcase. You know where it is?"

She nodded and slipped away without a word.

"What's that about?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing." She waved him off with a dismissive flick of her hand but he wasn't quite convinced.

Across the table, Theo nudged Blaise. "I still want one."

Pansy nudged him from the other side. "And I'd like one of my friends to have one that doesn't shirk away from me."

Hermione's cheeks went pink. "She's just—well…" She shot Draco a look.

"Stop trying so damn hard, Pansy. Rose doesn't like to be pushed," he said.

"Hmph," she huffed and crossed her arms.

At the opposite end of the table, Narcissa arched a brow. "Both of your mothers would be quite pleased, I can assure you."

Blaise groaned and flicked a hand towards the house. "I'm not opposed in theory. However, we can't all be so lucky as Granger." He looked at her then. "Your kid is easy. What if ours is a natural menace?"

Hermione tried to fight a laugh but it didn't work. "You think she's easy? Merlin, then I suppose I've done a decent job so far." She shook her head. "All children are work, Blaise. Only have one if you want to put in the work." She tilted her head. "What are you actually afraid of? Because I don't think it's raising a child."

"Failing," Harry said before Blaise could get the words out. He shrugged when Ginny glanced at him, her eyes falling pointedly on James sleeping in her lap. "Aren't we all afraid of that when it comes to parenting? The world just throws you this new life like it's no big deal and then you've got to raise them until they're old enough to be on their own. I'm not afraid to say it—some days it's bloody terrifying!"

"And this is why I enjoy being a grandparent now," Mrs. Granger smile smugly. "Of course, I also didn't imagine my daughter would be a witch but," she spread her hands out, "here we are."

Draco wanted to tell Harry that he was right, that it was terrifying, especially when you were entering the game eight years late. However, that would have been validating him and he wasn't feeling quite that charitable at the moment.

Rose entered the garden again, cutting off conversation. Hermione twisted in her chair when she heard her and whispered something in her ear.

All eyes at the table flickered in their direction but Draco could only shrug. He had no idea what the two of them planned. He had a lifetime to figure out their family dynamic and find new ways to insert himself. Until then, sometimes he was just as lost as anyone else.

"Go on," Hermione said, smiling as she gave her a gentle nudge.

Rose glanced back at her before she moved to stand at his side. She had her hands behind her back, clearly hiding something. His eyes flickered briefly beyond her to Hermione but she offered him no clues.

Draco froze when Rose held out a small rectangular gift box, no wider or longer than a piece of parchment. It even had a purple bow on top. "What's this? It's your birthday."

Rose sunk her teeth further into her lower lip and nudged the air with the box for him to take it. He'd never seen her quite this quiet before, not even that day in Diagon Alley when Weasley had nearly ruined Hermione's birthday. Her eyes were glassy and it scared him a little. He chanced a look in Hermione's direction again and she nodded, looking equally as emotional.

With a careful breath, he lifted the lid and looked inside. Ice fell over him like a shroud. This couldn't be. Not really. No wonder Hermione had been so panicky over the topic of having a baby yesterday.

Rose swallowed when he looked at her again and her poor lip was still caught between her teeth. He glanced to Hermione next, ignoring the looks from everyone else at the table now intently watching.

"Hermione?"

She lifted her shoulders and flashed him an equally watery smile. "I told her it was her choice. It's the only thing she asked for this year."

His throat was tight, like devil's snare binding around his esophagus. "Are you—you're sure?"

Hermione nodded. "It's just a legality really. You already are."

Rose looked even more nervous than when she first walked over with the box and she leaned forward slightly. "Please?"

He didn't know what it would be like being hit by the Knight Bus but he imagined it would feel a little like this. He set the box on the table and reached out for her. Her tears finally broke over the dam when he kissed her hair and felt her arms squeeze his neck.

"Of course, I'll adopt you. You needn't even ask," he said, his voice hoarse.

Admittedly, he dissolved into a teary mess. He didn't even care that Harry Potter and her friends all saw him in a way he really only ever let her see. They saw the tears. They saw the old pain. They saw the joy.

Beyond them, Mrs. Granger was dragging a tissue under her eyes while his own mother was blinking back signs of tears—it was more emotion than he usually got from her. Theo was crying outright but no surprise there and Blaise was grinning like an idiot. Pansy had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, fighting back a smile. Harry's mouth was open but the edges were slowly creeping into a smile while Ginny's hand pressed to her chest, the other squeezing Hermione's shoulder.

Rose pulled out of the hug, swiping clumsy fingers under her eyes. "Is there still cake?"

Hermione laughed first and he followed along with the rest of their group.

"Merlin," she said, wiping away her own tears, "only our child."

Our.

Full acceptance. Full love.

One full chapter left. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!