Chapter 25: Felicitas Parentalis
It was 10 am on a Friday morning at the start of September. Today, Hermione would be returning to Hogwarts. Her parents and Crookshanks waited tensely with her in their sitting room. Hermione felt strange going back to Hogwarts in anything but her school uniform, but after all, she wasn't a student anymore. Her uniform wouldn't fit her now anyway. She wanted to make herself look beautiful for Draco, after not seeing him for so many months. She hoped he wouldn't get a shock when he saw her tummy- she was really much larger now than three months ago.
Finally, had settled on a simple charcoal-gray shift dress and a soft wool shawl in light blue. She had let her auburn hair down and put a gold butterfly clip in it, she had touched her lips with lipstick. Unfortunately, she was stuck wearing sensible black flat shoes- but she didn't really mind. She would see Draco Malfoy again today! Maybe even in less than an hour! Her thoughts had been full of him for the last week- she was hardly able to concentrate on anything.
Hermione had packed a small case of her things. She would not be taking the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts as it was just one person. Instead, for one hour between 10am and 11am, her fireplace would be connected to the Floo Network to the fireplace in one of the houses in Hogsmeade. She would travel by Floo Powder there and then walk the rest of the way to Hogwarts. She would not be alone of course, Dumbledore had told her that somebody would be sent to help her with her things.
She glanced at the clock…10.03. Whoever it was, they were late.
Suddenly, her fireplace blazed with a bright green fire. Her mother gave a small yelp of surprise. And out of the fireplace, smiling, and taller than ever stepped…
"HARRY!" Hermione threw herself into his arms.
"Woah! Hermione!" Harry was squashed against her big stomach. Harry hugged his friend tightly.
'Hello Harry!" said Katherine. And Hermione's father nodded to him. Harry had visited her a few times before so they knew him well.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Granger." Said Harry politely shaking their hands.
"My, you're all grown up!" said Mrs Granger, remembering the first time she had seen Harry in Diagon Alley nearly six years ago.
Harry laughed. "Yeah, teens tend to do that."
"Harry! Oh Harry! I've missed you so much!" said Hermione, giving him another bear hug. "How is Draco? Ginny? And Ron? Draco? And Sirius? And Draco?"
"Do I detect a common theme there?" asked Harry cheekily.
"Oh, how is Draco?" asked Hermione eagerly.
"The Amazing Bouncing Malfoy was perfectly all right, the last time I checked," said Harry.
"And when was that?"
"About two minutes ago in Hogsmeade."
"Draco's in Hogsmeade?" asked Hermione happily.
"Waiting for you, though he may be in the Three Broomsticks drinking himself silly by now- he seemed awfully nervous about it all, kept asking me to hurry and all that sort of thing."
"Let's go now!"
Harry laughed and picked up her case.
"Anytime you're ready Madame. Ladies first."
"Good bye mum! Good bye Dad!" Hermione hugged her parents. Her mother started to cry. "Don't mum! I'll be perfectly all right. And I'll be back in a month anyway. Madam Pomfrey is an excellent nurse. You couldn't find better in all of England. Goodbye Crookshanks darling, mum and dad'll look after you."
"Goodbye Mr and Mrs Granger, don't worry about Hermione, Dumbledore and us'll look after her." Harry said seriously.
"Let's go" said Hermione happily clutching a handful of Floo Powder that Harry poured into her hand from a little sack.
"Hogsmeade!"
There was a blinding flash.
"Hermione?" she heard a voice call her. She was still a bit dazzled by the green flames.
"Draco?"
She was whipped out of the fireplace by a pair of strong arms. "Oh Hermione. I've missed you so much! Wow, you are ready to pop soon." Draco Malfoy held her tenderly in his arms and kissed her. "I don't want to let you go in case this isn't real!"
"It's real! I'm here! Draco Draco Draco" said Hermione, kissing him back fervently. Blonde hair and gray eyes. My Draco Malfoy.
"Er, do you mind?" said a voice behind them.
"Harry!" Hermione spun around and blushing furiously.
"Don't mind me, I'll just step out for a moment" said Harry, leaving the little cottage quickly.
Draco laughed and winked at Hermione. "That Potter ain't seen nothin' yet!"
Hermione chuckled and ran her fingers over his soft blonde hair.
"I'm eight and a half months pregnant, Mr Malfoy, so you'd better not try anything funny!"
"But I've waited ages!" said Draco, in mock-distress. "This is all your fault" he said, bending down and reverently kissing Hermione's stomach.
"Oh!" Hermione tighted her hands on his shoulders suddenly.
"Why? Did I hurt you?" Malfoy asked in concern, pulling back.
"No, no…shh…feel." Hermione put his hand on the side of her stomach.
Draco felt a slight movement inside, like a dull thud. He couldn't believe it!
"He's really there!" Draco said in wonder. He knelt down and put his cheek against her stomach. He felt something bump against his cheek. "Wow, this baby kicks hard! Oh Hermione! I can't believe this is really going to happen- he'll be a bit of you, a bit of me- ours!"
"Well…it's easy to believe its going to happen once you have to carry this bump around with you for nine months. I could use a beak soon."
Draco took her hands in his and stood up. Hermione transfigured the ring back to its original state.
"You're still wearing it." Said Draco happily.
"I wore it all the time. Every single day." She transfigured it back quickly. "I expect you to make an honest woman out of me soon, Draco Malfoy."
He bent down and kissed her. "I remember how you looked when I put that ring on you on Graduation Day" he whispered. "I remember that moment every single day."
"How have you been?" she asked quietly as they left the cottage in search of Harry.
"Busy. I've nearly finished Auror training- and you know, I've been helping Snape figure out ways to you-know-what."
"Any luck?" asked Hermione in concern. She thought she saw a shadow pass over his face.
"Definitely, but it's slow."
"Don't give up."
He shook his head. "It's too late to give up now that I've chosen sides."
"You look really nice in your professor's robes" said Hermione, admiring him from the side. His robes were black and silver-lined with beautiful silver buttons. They had the Malfoy crest on them
"Mother had them tailored in Italy. She was really proud."
"They're beautiful. With you looking like that, I don't know how the Hogwarts girls can resist you. The Slytherin first years will probably faint in potions. They will probably queue up to do detention with you"
"Are you jealous 'Mione?" asked Draco cheekily.
"Am not."
"Are too."
"It's just being realistic. You always were a ladies' man."
"Go on- say it. I am the most handsome man you have ever seen."
"You are the most handsome ferret I have ever seen."
Draco suddenly swung Hermione up off the ground. She screamed. "Careful of the baby!" He lifted her up to him and kissed her hard. "Ten points from Gryffindor…You are definitely serving detention with me in my rooms tonight, Miss Granger!"
Hermione was breathless.
"Am I staying with you?"
"Well of course!" said Draco, setting her down gently, "They wanted to put you in the Hospital Wing but I wouldn't hear of it." He murmured something in her ear and she blushed just as they rounded the corner and met Harry Potter.
"You two still at it, huh?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He was still carrying Hermione's luggage.
"Tip the porter, darling," drawled Draco. The three friends walked back to Hogwarts as fast as they could.
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The summer reached its hot, drowsy peak. Birds flew slower, bees buzzed loudly and the plants threw open their green hands to catch the sunlight. Hogwarts was preparing for the return of its students in a few days. Hagrid made sure the grounds were cleaned up and Professor Sprout spring-cleaned her greenhouses. The mandrakes were dozy with the heat and barely made a sound when lifted from their pots.
On such a day, Dumbledore was drinking cold lemonade in his study when there came the sound of hurried footsteps and a knock on his door. It was Professor McGonagall- pink in the face and out of breath from running. "Come quickly Albus- Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger will soon be parents!"
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The baby was lying on its back in a little cot. He was dressed in a white knitted gown. Although his parents didn't know, he could already recognize them. His mother was the big person with brown hair and golden eyes. She was always smiling and holding him. She would feed him when he was hungry and sing to him. Mother always smelled like sweet milk. His father was another big person with yellow hair and blue eyes. He held him strongly against his chest and liked to tickle him. He liked his father to tickle him- though he was scared when father carried him because father was very tall. Sometimes mother and father would talk to each other a lot and laugh together- that made him feel happy… until they ignored him for too long then he would start to yell. That always brought at least one of them back to play with him.
The rest of the people he couldn't quite make out yet. They weren't around so much as mother and father. There was a man with white hair and a white beard that was fun to pull. There was a woman in green who sometimes helped mother change him. There was a black-haired man with a big nose who looked very fierce. He had been scared of him at first until one day, when no one was looking, black-haired man had carried him for a walk in the garden and sang to him. He liked him after that. There were a lot of other people as well, but his favourite were mother and father.
Hermione tied a blue frilly bonnet onto their son as Draco finished wearing his robes. It was the baby's Naming Day- one month after its birth. She put the baby into her old Christening gown that her mother had given her. She passed the baby to Draco to hold as she finished her make-up.
"I hope you burped him" said Draco, carrying his son to the window. "These are my best dress-robes."
"I hope I did too," said Hermione, combing her hair.
"Did mummy burp you?" said Draco, warily looking at his son. The baby stared wide-eyed back at his father. The baby had very blonde hair and golden-brown eyes. He was putting on weight fast. "You better not burp onto Daddy's velvet cloak."
The baby chortled and reached for Draco's blonde ponytail. "Oh no you don't!" Draco pitched his son forward and swung him around. The baby gurgled in glee. "Come, let's go and look at mummy, isn't she beautiful?"
Hermione looked at the pair of them watching her from behind in the dressing table mirror and smiled. She put on some make-up. Fortunately, she had taken the pregnancy and birth well, and her body was nearly back to normal. To Draco's delight, she had put on weight in the exact right areas, it was not long ago that they had made love again- this time with Hermione making sure she used all the proper potions. "If you put me through that ^%#&^$9 hell again, Malfoy, I will rip your #$**% off!" she had gasped after the childbirth. Madam Pomfrey had whispered to Draco that all new mothers said that and that she would change her mind in time.
Hermione finally stood up, "I'm ready." She was wearing one of her old dress robes in the Gryffindor scarlet and gold colours. She thought it was more figure-flattering than some of her others- with a sigh she realized that her hips would never be quite the same again. She kissed Draco and her baby. "Time to go!"
A small group of people was gathered in a smaller version of the great hall. Hermione hadn't even known this place existed but Draco told her that he had used it for Auror training. The stained glass windows threw colourful patterns onto the stone-flagged floor and the gothic columns arched gracefully to a high point.
Slowly, Hermione and Draco entered the hall. Draco had passed the baby to Hermione and she cradled him loveingly.
"Our proud parents!" said Dumbledore, who was dressed in beautiful scarlet robes and standing in the middle of the aisle beneath a large pictures of the founders of Hogwarts. "Come, come, right up to the front."
Professors Snape, McGonagall and Lupin sat on chairs to the left. Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid were also there. To the left sat Harry Potter, Sirius Black and Narcissa Malfoy.
Hermione couldn't believe her eyes, what was Narcissa doing here? She turned in confusion to Draco- but he too looked equally puzzled. Narcissa smiled at both of them and waved. As they walked towards the front, Helga Hufflepuff bent down and exclaimed, "What a beautiful little boy, looks just like his daddy!"
"Nonsense Helga, he's got his mother's eyes" said Rowena Ravenclaw, "haven't you, sweetie?"
Salazar Slytherin winked at Draco.
"There there ladies, let's not disturb the Naming Ceremony" said Godric Gryffindor, smiling at the gathered assembly.
Hermone and Draco brought the baby to front and placed him in a large silver bowl filled with a soft rose petals. Hermione had never been to a wizard Naming Ceremony before so she let Draco lead the way. Dumbledore asked each of the parents to take a handful of the petals.
"Who will stand as godparent to this child?"
"I will" said Snape, rising and approaching the parents.
Dumbledore indicated that he too should take a handful of petals.
"Spirits of the Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, we present to you the child of Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Hermione Granger. The name of this child shall from this day forward be Noel Draco Malfoy. May you always know Noel Draco Malfoy and keep him safe when he walks upon the earth, flies with the wind, fights against raging fires or swims in the water."
The parents and Severus Snape cast the petals over their child who gurgled happily.
Dumbledore took out his wand and muttered an incantation, beneath the child, the petals took on the image of grass, then swirling mist, then orange flame and finally, silver water. Then, they turned back to rose petals again.
"From this moment, Noel is protected by the love and care of these three guardians. He will be recognized in our world as a worthy member of society entitled the rights of life and liberty. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, Noel is a part of you both and thus, binds you both irrevocably to each other through the distances of space and time. Congratulations."
The little party clapped as Draco lifted his son from the rose petals. Noel seemed to be enjoying all the attention. Sirius watched with hungry eyes. The miracle of new life had even more significance for him now than before. His cousin Narcissa Malfoy also watched hungrily. He knew she was thinking of a moment twenty years ago when she had placed Draco in a silver bowl of flower petals.
Narcissa Malfoy swept up to them and hugged Hermione.
"Miss Granger- congratulations. Oh he is so beautiful. Can I hold him?"
"Of course, Draco- pass Noel to your mother."
Narcissa Malfoy held her breath and gazed rapturously at the little blond boy. He didn't recognize her and screwed up his face to cry.
"Oh dear- no, no- don't cry- it's only grandma…" crooned Narcissa, pacifying the baby.
"Mother, how did you manage to come here?" asked Draco.
"Your father has gone on Ministry business to Switzerland. He didn't want me to accompany him so I decided to take a day-trip to Hogsmeade." Narcissa smiled at her son. "Ever since Severus wrote to me a month ago about the birth of my grandson, I have been unable to think about anything else! Oooh, you are strong!" Narcissa said as Noel pulled one of her long, blonde ringlets.
"He looks just like Draco did when he was a baby. Except for the eyes- they're your eyes, Miss Granger."
"Mrs Malfoy, please call me Hermione." Said Hermione shyly.
"Then you must call me Narcissa, Hermione."
Draco was talking to Sirius, Lupin and Harry. The two ladies began chatting with McGonagall, the baby began to cry- tired of being ignored.
"I'll take the little tyke" said Hagrid.
Hermione hugged her giant friend and passed the baby over. She knew that Hagrid could be trusted even with the smallest living creatures. "Well what do you know, I do believe Noel likes me!" said Hagrid, pleased that the baby began to smile as soon as he was handed over.
"Are you wearing the ring?" asked Narcissa.
"Oh yes," said Hermione and showed her the transfigured silver band.
"Good. Wear it always, Hermione. And you know…did my son, well, did he propose?"
Hermione blushed. "Yes, with this ring."
"Wonderful. Draco always knew exactly what he wanted, you know. Once he makes up his mind about something, he sticks with it."
Hermione nodded. She could think of a few things that Draco had made up his mind about lately.
McGonagall felt very troubled. She knew that within a few days, Hermione would be leaving to go into hiding and Noel would be fostered out. Looking at Hermione and Draco this happy- she wasn't sure if it was the right decision.
"The poor things" she said under her breath.
"We are doing the right thing" Snape walked up and stood beside her. "Nobody knew that Draco would have a son and heir, that is already one strand of the prophesy unraveling. Lucius underestimates Draco too much- it will be his downfall."
"He's certainly good at being a father," said McGonagall, watching as the tall, blonde man took his baby from Hagrid and cradled the child in his arms. Hermione went up to him and the two of them bent over the child. She laughed as Draco kissed her cheek.
Across the room, Narcissa reached into her purse and took out a small camera. If she could never see her grandson again, she would at least have this photo, she thought sadly.
Harry and Sirius made ready to go. They were dressed in dragon-hide outfits.
"Noel, eh?" said Harry, winking at Hermione. "Christmas…I wonder why?"
Hermione grinned, "Draco chose it. Where will you be next, Harry?"
"We're going to Romania. Something fishy about the dragons there we heard from Charlie Weasley. I can speak Parseltongue so I may be of help. Then we might join the others in China to see what's going on with the Chinese Dragons."
"When will you be back?"
"We don't really know, do we Harry?" said Sirius. "We'll be back next year if all goes well, we never really know where our plans will take us."
Hermione noticed the worried look that Harry gave Sirius. She had shared in Harry's grief when they thought that Sirius was gone forever three years previously and knew how much Harry worried about his Godfather now. Even heavier than the burden of not disappointing the wizarding world, Harry had the burden of not disappointing Sirius Black.
"Sirius, you will be careful, won't you?" asked Hermione, in a meaningful way.
"As careful as I've always been," grinned Sirius. "Anyway, I've got Harry here to hold my leash if I'm a bad dog."
Hermione laughed. "You be careful too, Harry. Please do your best."
The two best friends hugged each other as Harry promised.
Across the hall Severus and Narcissa were saying their goodbyes.
"You and Draco will write to me, won't you?" said Narcissa.
"Of course, as always, burn everything as soon as you read it."
"I always do. Severus, Lucius has obtained a whole lot of muggles for the dragons. You must stop him soon. And he has told me that he will be taking Draco to meet Voldemort on his next birthday."
"We are doing our best. Nothing bad will happen there. We still have time."
"Time! I thought I had time, that 21 years was a long time…I was wrong. It has gone by in a flash. Hurry, Severus- you and Dumbledore must destroy him."
Snape looked at his beautiful friend. She was no longer the frightened desperate girl of twenty years ago- her face had hardened. She was preparing to meet her fate.
"Our Aurors are moving up North to Eastern Europe. Voldemort is being surrounded. I think the Final Battle is not far away."
"My cousin Sirius has told me he will be going to Eastern Europe soon," said Narcissa, walking with Snape to the door. It pained Narcissa to remember that Sirius Black was her cousin. It reminded her of old times when, together with her favourite sister Andromeda, they would all have mad-cap fun together, not realizing the pain that the future had in store. "I hope that he will be able to discover something about Voldemort's hideaway. Lucius reveals nothing to me these days."
"We will do our best. We shall leave nothing to fate" Snape assured his beautiful friend as they left the hall.
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Two days after the baby's Naming Day, Albus Dumbledore's head popped up in the fireplace of 45 Honeysuckle Row, a comfortable house in Leatherhead. Dumbledore was looking for one of the young Aurors that Hogwarts had trained last year. It was time for him to be involved in the Fidelius Charm as Secret Keeper. However, at the moment, no-one appeared to be at home. Dumbledore observed the neat, cosy, well-kept living room with approval. The boy's grandmother had always been an efficient housekeeper, even if she had bad dress sense.
Dumbledore's head vanished from the fireplace with a *pop*.
He had been looking for Neville Longbottom - one of the bravest and most skilled Aurors Hogwarts had ever trained.
