Lunch was spectacular, simply put. Hermione wondered why they were being served a meal that could have easily fed sixty people instead of six. She supposed that the numerous house-elves probably needed food as well, and also assumed that they would have leftovers for the remainder of the year. Seeing as Draco ate enough for three people, she doubted the food would last long anyways, especially since he enjoyed midnight snacks.

Narcissa and Andromeda had finally gotten over the awkwardness of the meeting in the living room and had chattered excitedly throughout the whole meal. Lucius listened intently to their discussion, which was about everyone in all the families they were related to and what was going on in each clan, and Hermione realized with a small grin that Lucius Malfoy enjoyed listening to women's idle gossip.

Teddy was quiet throughout the meal, observing everything that was going on and steadily plowing through the meal. He didn't make any messes with his food, as Andromeda had made sure his portions were baby-friendly, and he was very calm and enjoyed the delicious Christmas delicacies. He sat next to Draco, and the two would sometimes talk, although the latter was clearly at a loss at trying to converse with children without becoming frustrated.

Hermione sat across from her beloved and throughout the meal, exchanged loving glances with him. She was glad that the adults were absorbed in their conversation and that Teddy was too young to say things such as "Ew!" or "Gross!" The silver locket was nestled comfortably on her dress, and Hermione felt as if she were bearing a treasure for all to see. The monogram was very visible, and Andromeda had even commented on how lovely a present it was during one of the rare times she and Narcissa took a break from their lively chattering.

After lunch, Lucius retreated to his study to read the Daily Prophet and the ladies went back to the living room to have tea and more conversation. Draco finally took Hermione to the Malfoy Library, as promised before, and they took Teddy with them as well. The baby seemed to rather like Hermione, and she would tell him the most amusing stories of his godfather, much to Draco's amusement.

The library, however, was stunning. Hermione could compare it only to the library in the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, which she had watched the summer after her first year at Hogwarts. She could only gape at it open-mouthed, as Teddy crawled around her on the spotless marble floor and Draco smirked at her expression. She was very tempted to climb straight to the second floor with its balconies and windows and immediately start ripping off the largest and dustiest tomes straight from the shelves and devour them.

However, Teddy was there, and Draco suggested that she read to them instead. While the uncle picked up his nephew and sat down in a couch in a cozy corner of the vast library, Hermione located an ancient-looking copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and soon snuggled down with the boys and read it aloud.

Teddy fell asleep after about ten minutes, and soon, it was just Hermione reading to Draco, who started playing with her hair, Teddy nestled in between them. Hermione thought the baby was so very precious, trusting people he had only met a couple of hours ago and not feeling anxious from being separated from his grandmother.

After Hermione finished the first story, Draco took the book from her and read her another one. Very soon, Hermione, very warm and full, felt her eyelids drooping as well. Teddy shifted his position until he was lying on her lap, and she automatically cradled him in her arms and nestled her head into Draco's neck. He read on, but she had fallen asleep before the end of the story. After Draco read the last sentence, he wrapped his arms around Hermione, and dozed off as well.

"Malfoy! Hermione! Wake up! C'mere, Teddy."

Hermione groaned and hugged Teddy harder while burying her face deeper into Draco's throat. She could feel Teddy stir feebly, and if it weren't for his heartbeat, Draco would appear dead to the world.

"Wow. I had no idea it was this serious." a familiar voice was saying. "They really are in love then?"

"The Daily Prophet has nothing on what I know." Ginny's smug voice lilted. Wait. Ginny?!

Hermione's eyes snapped open, and the first thing she when she turned her head around was a pair of bright green eyes. Harry's eyes.

"HARRY!" she squealed, completely forgetting that she was still holding Teddy and lunging to strangle her friend in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

Ginny hastily nabbed Teddy from Hermione's arms before he was crushed by his godfather and Hermione, greeting the infant enthusiastically. Draco yawned and finally sat up straight, alert but quiet. He nodded once in Ginny's direction, but then focused on Harry and Hermione.

After hugging his friend for a long time, Harry stepped back and grinned at Hermione. "You look great, Mione. And thanks for the Christmas present. I've been dying for Honeyduke's."

Hermione beamed. "Oh, it was nothing. Draco bought a rather large supply back in November when we went to Hogsmeade, so thank him!"

Harry nodded seriously, and then swiveled to look at Draco. "Thanks, Malfoy."

"Anytime, Potter." Draco waved a hand airily and then scooted over as Ginny went to take a seat next to him with Teddy giggling in her lap. Ginny was a master of making silly faces, a skill she had picked up from Teddy's mother. "Where's Crookshanks?" she asked, as fond as ever of the cat.

"He's probably with Father." Hermione said, before catching her slip. Harry and Ginny looked at her with raised eyebrows, and she blushed. Draco, sensing her discomfort, turned the attention away from her by asking, "So, why are you two here?"

"Andromeda was supposed to drop off Teddy at the Burrow for Christmas dinner, but she lost track of time talking to your mother, so we offered to come here to pick Teddy up so she wouldn't have to leave." Ginny answered. "By the way, the three of you looked so adorable sleeping together!" she squealed, tickling Teddy, who shrieked with laughter.

"Yeah, we should've taken a picture." said Harry, grinning. "So, Ginny tells me you two are coming over to the Burrow for the New Year's party. Is that still your plan?"

Hermione looked at Draco, who nodded. "Yes, it seems like it. Anyways… how's Ron?"

Harry frowned. "He's fine. Brought the Dawlish woman over on the second day after we got back. I can't deny that I was delighted to see Molly promptly throw her out."

"It was beautiful." Ginny said happily, bouncing Teddy on her lap. "After chasing out that she-devil, Mum practically murdered Ronald on the spot. I think he's lost his hearing, at the very least."

"He's looking forward to seeing you, though, Hermione. And it seems that he doesn't really care about you being his girlfriend, either." he glanced pointedly at Draco.

"Don't worry, I'm not exactly thrilled to be seeing Weaselby either." Draco drawled, drumming his fingers on the armrest of the sofa. "Anyways, Potter, Mione and I got you something for Christmas. Where's our loot? Same thing goes for you, Weaslette."

Harry glared at Draco, but fished in his jeans pocket anyways. "From Ginny and I," he said very clearly, "we present to you, Mr. Ferret, this flag." He tossed Draco a small package tied with red ribbon, and Draco opened it immediately. Out fell a small Albanian flag, and when Draco picked it up and waved it, the Albanian national anthem started playing.

"Um… thanks?" he asked, looking at the little banner without much interest. Harry ignored this, and turned to Hermione waving his wand and making a larger gift appear. "And for you, Hermione, a book."

"Surprise." Draco muttered, as Hermione opened her parcel. When she saw the cover of the book, she squealed, "Oh my goodness! It's the Meshari, the first published literary work written in Albanian!And a sixteenth century edition as well! How did you get it, Harry?"

Harry grinned. "Magic." he replied cheekily.

Just then, Lucius Malfoy strode into the library. Harry stiffened at once, Draco immediately stood up, and Ginny clutched Teddy a little tighter.

Without sparing a glance at Harry, the intimidating former Death Eater looked at Ginny, and said, "You'd better get going with the youngster. It's getting late, and I'm sure your family is waiting on you."

'Is Andromeda still not going to come with us?" Harry asked quietly. Lucius turned to look at him and shook his head. "No, she's staying to have dinner with us. She has years and years and years' worth of conversation she needs to make up with my wife."

"Alright, well, we'll get going then." Ginny stood up and handed Teddy to Harry. The infant happily threw his chubby little arms around Harry's neck and bid farewell to "Great-Unca' Luci, Unca' Drakey, and Auntie Mione." Lucius personally led the three visitors out, and Hermione and Draco waved at them from the doorway from the library, promising to see them again on New Year's Eve.

As they collapsed back on the squishy sofa, Hermione grinned at Draco, and said, "Luci? I'm sure that pleased your father."

Draco ran his fingers through his hair and grinned back. "To be honest, he's really gone all soft. I suppose he, Weaslette, and Potter already made peace in the living room before coming here. Back in the day, he would never have personally come here to see his guests off. He'd have sent a poor house-elf."

"Maybe you're infecting him." Hermione whispered, kissing his jaw gently. "You certainly did it to Zach."

"I wonder if he enjoyed our present." Draco mused, tracing light patterns on her back and leaning his chin onto the crown of her head. They had sent him a beautiful bouquet of flowers that featured heather as the centerpiece, and he had sent them, predictably, food, the most important commodity in his view.

"I'm sure he did." Hermione giggled. "Anyways, it was nice napping with Teddy. He's an awfully bright kid. Babies aren't supposed to speak like that at only eight months! I wonder who he got it from: Tonks, or Professor Lupin."

"It was nice." Draco replied, ignoring the second part of Hermione's words. "Although Potter did scare the toll bogies out of me when I saw it was him waking us up. I've never been a big fan of kids, but I think we could try for a couple."

Hermione smack his shoulder. "Draco Malfoy! We're still at school, for heaven's sake! Don't be silly! Kids, as if!"

"I meant in the future." Draco muttered ruefully, massaging his shoulder. "Usually, Malfoys only have children to pass on the family name. And if it's a boy on the first try, like it's been for the past several centuries in our family, siblings are seen as unnecessary. I remember Mother always saying to Father when I was younger that she wished she could have a daughter, but Father put his foot down, saying that they needed to concentrate everything on me. I suspect that's why Mother absolutely adores you. You're the daughter she never had."

"Why, that's so lovely to hear." Hermione replied, flattered that Narcissa Malfoy considered her as her own offspring."Well, I didn't particularly enjoy being an only child, so if I have children in the future, I'm definitely having at least two."

"Let's make it four; two boys, and two girls." Draco said idly, twirling a lock of her hair around his pinky. "Mother will never chastise me again if she becomes surrounded by her grandchildren. And Father might even be proud of me for once."

"Don't be ridiculous, Draco." sighed Hermione, leaning against his collarbone. "Your father thinks the world of you, I'm sure, and I don't think you'll get two boys and two girls perfectly. Knowing your family's ancestry, all of your kids will end up being boys."

"I think not. There hasn't been a Muggleborn in our family tree before, so you just might make things interesting." Draco said smugly. "And knowing your luck, you'll probably have a girl every time, and then Mother and Father will keep insisting that you try for a boy to carry on the Malfoy name. And before you know it, we'll have a dozen children in our family!"

Hermione snorted. "You wish, Draco Malfoy. I won't have more than four children, and that's final. Maybe we could adopt a boy if it really comes to that!"

Draco stifled a whimper of horror, thinking of how that would effectively end the Malfoy blood line. Instead, he decided to change the topic. "But, you know what's definitely going to be true about our kids?"

"What?" Hermione asked, yawning.

"With mine and yours brains, they'll be the brightest witches and wizards in their year." he smiled, pressing his lips to her temple.