Chapter 15

Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. Draco Malfoy of all people just sent her an owl requesting for assistance with Penny. Why would he contact her? Why not his parents? His friends?

Regardless, looking at the owl waiting for her response, Hermione could surmise that there must be a serious emergency for him to contact her out of the blue.

She quickly scribbled down her response and sent Malfoy's owl on his way. Just for precaution, she had stipulated that she would meet him and Penny where they met last time in five minutes to pick Penny up.

By the time Hermione arrived in front of Cafe Mojo, Malfoy and Penny were waiting for her.

Seeing Hermione, Penny started squealing with a big smile.

"Hi, Penny! It's good to see you." Hermione was overjoyed.

Draco, grateful, frazzled, and bashful at the same time initiated,
"Granger, I don't know how to thank you. I know it was incredibly rude of me to contact you so abruptly, but please know that you are a lifesaver."

Hermione, surprised by the earnesty in his words and how out of sorts he looked, replied with a polite smile,

"It's fine. I will admit that I was surprised, but I assumed that you were in the most dire of circumstances to have reached out to me."

Relieved that Granger was taking this situation in stride and knowing that she deserved to know why he was asking her what he was asking her, he briefly went over his predicament.

Although Hermione could feel that Malfoy was holding out on some information, she understood enough to know that he really didn't have much choice and was desperate.

"Penny and I will be fine, Malfoy. You have already prepared everything she needs. Go and take care of your job. You can floo to this address when you are finished." Hermione assured Draco and handed him a note with her address.

"You and I are going to have a lot of fun today, aren't we?" Looking at Penny, Hermione cooed.

Penny, loving the fact that Hermione was engaging her, held her arms out to be picked up.

As she held Penny in her arms, Hermione felt deja vu from her dream last night and Hermione hugged the little girl close to her heart.

Draco, although now free to be on his way, felt vulnerable and uneasy about leaving Penny with someone else. From the moment she was born, they had never been apart for even short periods of time.

As if sensing Draco's apprehension, Hermione sent him an assuring smile and said,

"Don't worry, Malfoy. If anything happens, I'm only a floo away. I highly doubt anything will happen, but in the event that something does, I will contact you immediately."

Assured by how comfortable Granger was with his daughter and his daughter with Granger, he nodded and said goodbye.

With a kiss on Penny's forehead he said,

"Penny, love. Daddy has to take care of something but I will be back before you know it! Have fun with Miss Granger today."

After hearing Penny's happy babble, Draco left them with a smile.

Hermione was having the time of her life. Although she had been afraid that she would mess up or do something wrong when they just arrived home a couple of hours ago, she soon after found her rhythm thanks to the detailed note Malfoy gave her about Penny. In the five hours that they had together, Hermione fed Penny her baby food, went on a stroll through the nearby park, sang to Penny for her nap time, read a book about baby animals with her, cleaned her diapers, and cuddled with her on the couch. She had even had to console Penny through her tears when she became fussy mid afternoon. Everything was new for her and Hermione was tired after all that had happened, but she cherished every moment.

When Draco hurriedly flooed over to the Granger residence after his emergency at work was taken care of, Penny was sleeping in a makeshift bed in the living room and Hermione was watching her with a book on her lap.

Seeing them together so peaceful made him feel something that he had never felt before. He wanted Hermione Granger to be Penny's mother.