I own nothing Harry Potter.
I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's the final one before the epilogue.
Hermione POV
The next morning I am sitting in Harry's office, ready to see if we can come to some agreement fixing my schedule. While I'm here Draco is dropping the kids off with his Mum and then we will have a chance to talk. I was excited to tell Draco our baby news and hopeful I could add even more good news to our conversation.
"What's up, Hermione?" Harry asks, folding his hands on his desk and leaning forward, attention fully in me. "Why are you here on a Saturday when you've been working too much as is over the last few weeks?"
"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk about," I start, trying to figure out how to lay everything out for Harry. I'd gone over this conversation many times in my head, but all of the sudden, sitting here in the moment I was drawing a blank. "I have been here a lot lately and I'm hoping that, after we wrap up the case files for this case, I can take a week or two off to recollect myself and figure out what changes I need to make. It's like you said the other day, family comes first, and I need to start putting my family first. I love my job, but I love my family more," I put it all out there, letting it hang there between Harry and I so he can process what I'm saying.
Nodding as he takes in my words, Harry leans back in his chair and fixes he glasses before saying, "I've been thinking about this too, I may be your boss, but I am your friend first. I know you well enough to know that sometimes you try to do it all, even when it's not possible. I was going to bring this proposal to you in a few days, but since we're here talking about it, there is no time like the present," Harry says, crossing his arms over his chest, while I take in the fact that even Harry has noticed that I need a change. How was I the last one to see it?
"What proposal is that?" I ask, interested in hearing what Harry has to say. Maybe I won't have to give up as much as I thought I would when it came to my job.
"With Simon Halloway retiring by at the end of next month, I've been thinking about who would be the best person to take over his Criminal Profiler/Analyst role and I think you would be a good fit, Hermione," Harry says, looking intently at me. "The hours would be more regulated, it would be very rare that you would need to work outside of normal business hours. You wouldn't be out in the field collecting evidence and interviewing suspects, but you would still serve a vital role in all cases. It would be more of an 'office' job, sitting her going through files and evidence to figure out what type of profile fit the case. It wouldn't be the same as what you're doing now, but you would still play a very important part and be out of here at five most days," Harry finishes, looking at me tentatively like he's not sure how I'm going to take this offer. There is nothing for him to be worried about, this proposal is exactly what I'm looking for, exactly what I need. Something that will give me the satisfaction of doing good in the world, but also give me time for my family.
"You think I'd be good in that position?" I ask, wanting to make sure Harry is sure before I jump on the opportunity. Usually it's someone who's been an Auror for more than ten years who gets this role.
"I think you'd be perfect," Harry says. "You're the smartest and most dedicated person in this office, Hermione, who else would be better than you?"
"Thank you, Harry," I smile at my long time friend, completely flattered that Harry thinks so highly of me. "I'll take it," I add quickly before Harry can change his mind and take the offer back. This is too good to be true.
"I was hoping you'd say that," Harry smiles, green eyes sparkling. "Perfect, we can hammer out all the details in two weeks when you're back. Take the next two weeks off and then when you come back, you will work with Simon so he can start training you on everything he does. More than likely that will just be a few hours a day, so you can work part time until Simon retires and you take over."
"Wow, Harry, this is all too good to be true," I say, I hadn't expected the extra time off as well as the perfect new job.
"You deserve it, Hermione, you have given this job your all and now you need to step back for a few days to get calibrated again, it happens to the best of us. Don't question it," he says and part of me wonders if this is because he's my friend and not because he's my boss, but like he said, I'm not going to question it.
"Thank you," I smile, ready to get home and tell Draco all of my good news
"Enjoy your time off, Hermione," Harry smiles, standing to walk me out of the office.
"Speaking of time off, I'm going to need some at the end of the year," I think to myself with a smile as I place my hand over my stomach as I follow Harry out of his office, so excited for this new chapter in my life.
Draco POV
True to her word, Hermione was back within the hour that she'd left to talk to Harry. I had just gotten home myself from dropping the kids at my Mum's and was in the kitchen putting in a pot of water for tea. I thought Hermione might need the comforting affects of the tea for this conversation, I knew I sure did. I wasn't sure yet what exactly Hermione wanted to discuss, but I knew there was a lot we needed to talk about.
"Hi, Draco, how'd dropping the kids off go?" Hermione asks as she joins me in the kitchen, a smile in her face and her body radiating happiness. Since Hermione had taken the day to spend with the kids yesterday, she'd been a while new Hermione, refreshed, excited and happy. The hermione is always know, the Hermione who'd been forced to take a backseat over those last few stressful months. I wasn't sure what had caused the change, if it was the ending of the case she'd been working on or what, but it didn't matter, I was grateful all the same. I had my wife back.
"It was good, they're excited to spend more time with Grandmum," I say, turning my attention to the kettle as it starts to whistle. "Would you like some tea?" I ask, pulling out our selections and grabbing an Earl Grey for myself.
"I'll have Earl Grey too, but decaf, please," she smiles, her hand rest in her stomach. I think nothing of it at the time, but when I look back it will be one of the puzzle pieces that will make Hermione's news obvious.
Once our tea is assembled and sitting at the kitchen island between us, I lean over, resting my elbows in the counter and giving Hermione my full attention. "So, love, how did your talk with Harry go?" I ask, already knowing by Hermione's demeanor that it had to have gone well.
Taking a seat on the stool across from my at the island, she takes a quick sip of her tea, eyes fluttering closed in pleasure as the teas comforting warmth rushes through her. "It went really well, better than I'd ever hoped," she smiles. "You're looking at the newest Crime Profiler/Analyst for the department," he smile turns into a beam of pride as she says this.
"That's great news, love," I congratulate her. I don't know the full implications of the job, but I know it's a much coveted position and I am proud of Hermione. "You deserve it," I say, reaching across the island to squeeze her hand.
"Thank you," she smiles. "I won't start until Simon retires at the end of next month, but the hours will be much more regulated and I should be home almost every night by five, which is what I need. I'm taking the next two weeks off and then when I get back I'll be in training with Simon, but Harry makes it sound like that will only be part time until I fully take over the position," she explains, twirling her tea cup around in her hands. "I think it will be perfect, exactly what I need. What we need," she adds, her brown eyes coming up to meet mine, a question in the. I know she's waiting for my approval, my reaction to her news.
"That is perfect, Hermione. You can have both things, your meaningful job and your family," I smile, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
"That's what I thought, too," she nods in agreement. After a pause and another sip of tea, she continues, "I actually have some other news too, Draco," she pauses, eyes in me.
"What is it, love?" I ask, knowing by the sudden tension in the air that whatever she is about to tell me is big. What could be bigger than this job change?
"You know I went to see Ginny yesterday," she starts, pushing for me to agree.
"I do, you said everything was fine, right?" I ask, starting to worry that maybe something was wrong with Hermione after all.
"Yes, everything is fine, she just confirmed something I was pretty sure I already knew," Hermione smiles, a smile tugging at her lips but I can tell she's trying to hold it back, build the anticipation for what she's about to say next. Her hand going lovingly to her stomach is what makes me realize what she's about to tell me. The morning sickness, the exhaustion, the decaf tea, the sudden need for change and family.
"You're pregnant," I breath, unwilling to get my hopes up in case this isn't the news Hermione is going to share. We hadn't been trying for a baby, but I'd always known I'd wanted a big family, so had Hermione. Both of us had grown up only children and we didn't want to have our kids grown up alone.
"I'm pregnant," Hermione confirms, unable to hide her beam anymore. "You knocked me up, Draco Malfoy," she teases, the pure joy she is feeling radiating off of her. I'm feeling it too.
"Sorry I'm not sorry, babe," I smile, as I walk around the island and pull Hermione off the stool and into my arms. We're going to be parents again!
"I'm not sorry either, I've never been happier," Hermione beats, wrapping her arms around my neck and staring up at me.
"I love you so much, Hermione. Always and forever," I smile down at her, my heart filled with so much love and happiness that I don't know how to put it into words. I have had a lot of great moments in my life, but I'm not sure anything comes as close to being perfect as this. Everything is falling into place and our future only looks brighter. I know we will still have bumps in the road, but we will overcome them all like we usually do. This is all I've ever wanted and so much more. Ten years ago when Hermione and I first got together, I would have never in a million years thought I'd be standing here with my wife in my arms as she told me we were going to be having a third kid, but I wouldn't change a moment of it for the world. I wouldn't change one single up or down in our lives and relationship because they had all brought us here, to this moment and I had never been happier.
"I love you too, Draco. Forever and always," she smiles as she stands on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine and for once, everything I perfect.
Thanks for reading, I'd love to know what you think!
