Draco peered around the kitchen, arms crossed as he leaned against the counter. He couldn't believe she had dragged him to another one of these gatherings.

A smirk played on his lips. Of course, she had been quite convincing.

As if hearing his thoughts, she glanced up from her place beside the Weasley matriarch. They had been preparing some sort of bread wrap with meat and vegetables folded in.

His eyes flickered down to her hands, remembering how they had twisted in his hair with a delicious kiss just hours ago. He practically growled at the thought.

His eyes flicked back up to hers. From the heat behind them, she remembered too. With a breath, her expression changed. The message clearly said behave!

He quirked an eyebrow at that and smirked. Her grin turned mischievous, her chocolate eyes flashing.

Much to his disappointment, though, Mrs. Weasley turned to her then, catching their little interplay. She pursed her lips but did not comment. Hermione, not the bit abashed, went back to her work, nodding and adding to the culinary conversation.

And Draco went back to scowling. At least until the hurricane came through the room.

James, on his very own miniature broom, zoomed through the kitchen, bumping into chairs, bouncing his feet off the cabinet doors, and nearly blowing Draco to the ground as he passed.

"James Sirius Potter!" Ginny's voice rang down the hall. "What have I told you about riding that in the house?!"

James stopped near the table, trying and failing to hide behind Mrs. Weasley's robes. His grandmother raised an eyebrow at him.

"James." She scolded softly.

The boy smiled guiltily but hopped off the broom.

Mrs. Weasley smiled and jerked her head for him to run off before his mother, whose steps came stomping down the hall, came in.

When Ginny did enter, Mrs. Weasley was back to her cooking and the boy had vanished.

Draco almost snickered at the knowing look on Potterette's face. A fact she did not seem to miss.

"Here, Draco."

Before he could protest, the baby, Albus, was thrust upon him.

"Hey! What-"

He fumbled to grab at the baby's head and cradle him carefully before Ginny's hands moved away.

Smirking, she moved to the stovetop, where a big pot of stew simmered.

Draco looked down at the tiny human and almost winced. How the devil was he supposed to hold something so small without hurting it?

He looked up to Hermione for help. His words caught in his throat. Forgetting about her bread, she had been watching him, a soft look clouding her face. Seeing him glance up, she gave a small smile then turned as Mrs. Weasley levitated the loaves to the oven.

Draco did not miss the way her eyes flickered back to him.

His heart sped up and he looked down to the child with new confidence.

Albus, for his part, stared up with bright green eyes (an annoying trait from his father, no doubt). Draco held a finger out to him.

The baby stared at it, his eyes widening for some unknown reason. He reached up, his arms flailing about before he finally grabbed hold with one then the other chubby little hand.

Draco, surprised to find himself smiling unconsciously at the little tike, forced a sneer, though halfheartedly.

Albus let out a squeal of delight, his hands letting go to grab at the air.

"Don't get too chummy, Malfoy. Wouldn't want any of your bad habits to rub off."

Draco's head jerked up to find Harry entering the kitchen, young James in tow. He had started to strike back when he realized the man was winking at him. He immediately felt stupid.

Harry wouldn't invite him into his house just to ridicule him. At least, not if he wanted to keep his friendship intact with Hermione.

"Yeah," came the less joking voice of his ginger shadow. "We don't need a Slytherin in the family."

Hermione's head snapped up and, if looks could harm, Weasley would be a puddle of goop on the tiles. Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

Weasley had the decency to look mildly ashamed and threw Draco a forced apologetic smile. Draco kept his own face blank and held his words.

Albus babbled and blew a raspberry, not liking his attention being taken away. Before Draco could rectify this, though, Hermione scooped the infant out of his arms.

She held him up, making odd noises in a falsely high-pitch voice before cuddling him close.

Mental Note: She has a thing for babies.

A warm glow took over him at the sight of her holding the baby tightly, bouncing him in her arms. She leaned back into him, pressing against his chest and leaned her head slightly into his shoulder. He could have melted.

Instead, he wrapped an arm around her and accepted a drink from Harry with a nod. As he took a sip, he looked around the room, very aware that he would not have been comfortable in such company a year ago.

Merlin's Pants, the little witch has domesticated me!

He had to hide a laugh, chuckling behind his glass. Hermione turned around.

"What?"

"It's nothing," he assured, though not very convincingly if her suspicious look was anything to go by.

"Oh! Hermione."

Both heads turned towards Harry, who sat at the table feeding James a bit of cooled stew.

"Remember when you asked about Skeeter's article a while back?"

Hermione gave a sigh, shifting the baby slightly.

"Yes."

Harry scooped up another spoon full. "Well, I had Seamus look into it. Turns out her picture and story were first hand."

Draco's brows came together.

"What the bloo-"

He cut himself short as every witch in the room, save Luna, who had just entered with Longbottom, pointedly glared at him.

Longbottom snickered as he joined the others at the long table. Weasley joined in, though Longbottom's seemed more friendly by miles. Draco ignored them and tried again.

"What does that mean? How would she have-"

"Oh, no."

He glanced down. "What?" He growled.

Hermione passed Albus to Luna and ran her hands over her hair with an asperated look.

"She's an animagus. She can transform into a beetle."

"What?!"

Hermione chewed her lip, her mind whizzing behind her eyes.

"That doesn't explain the photo, though." She waived her hands in the air as if to speed someone along, probably herself.

"In beetle form, I could see how retaining the information would be easy. We were out in the woods after all."

Draco nodded, trying to work though it himself.

Damn old hag.

Harry let them worry through this a moment, an amused smile playing at his lips that both had not noticed. Finally, having enough of it, he spoke up.

"Apparently, she has developed a new charm. It miniaturized wizarding cameras and eliminates the cloud of smoke." He looked to Hermione. "Like a digital but magic."

Hermione's eyes widened in understanding while Draco, and the rest of the group, were a bit concerned on what a digital camera was.

"I'll explain later," she told him dismissively, looking to Harry, her eyes fierce. "Did you get her for anything?"

Harry nodded. "Oh, yeah. Improper use of magical equipment, going against restrictions on her animagus form, and interfering in the privacy of an official investigation."

Hermione smiled like a cat who ate the canary.

"Good."

Draco, echoing her feelings, smirked.

Maybe there's a bit of Slytherin in there after all.

~ The End ~

Author's Note:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations.

Well, that was it. I hope ya'll enjoyed it and thanks for reading!