Chapter 10 – Day Care

Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter... Yet (cue evil laugh)

Thank you wonderful reviewers –

Sehila,
JessicaDracoMalfoy,
Sweet Stephy,
Bhekie – haven't planed on firing anyone just yet, well no one important anyway so don't worry about that one.

A/N - Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, some of you have for nearly every chapter so far and may I just say you guys are amazing and as for my new reviewers hello! Welcome to my story and thank you for reviewing of course.

A/N 2 – Tracey my beta reader is the best I thank her a lot! (sorry for all the mistakes in this one I was in a rush when I wrote it so I didn't check it at all).

At the end of the week a staff meeting was called in the staff room. Hermione, always being punctual, was one of the first there. She sat and made small talk with another Professor about the students and about the unknown addition to the staff.

"So do you think they'll be as bad as the last one?" Hermione asked.

"Well I wasn't around then, but from what I've heard I bloody well hope not!"

"Are they going to be teaching a lesson?" Hermione asked, trying to remember if anyone had said anything about a class going spare.

"Not that I know of, I think they're just going to do more checks and things, I mean we have full staff so unless someone is going then I don't think so."

"Oh God! Unless they fire someone!" Hermione groaned and went on to recount what had happened to Professor Tralwney.

Finally the others arrived and the meeting started. Professor Dumbledore told them that the High Inquisitor would be coming on Sunday afternoon so they would be able to start work on the Monday morning. They wouldn't teach any classes, but would be the one to take it if the teacher was unable.

The meeting ended after all other business was sorted and Hermione left to go and write a letter to Tom and Emma, as she hadn't for a while. She was walking down the corridor to her room, planning out what to put into the letter and what things it would be best to leave out, when she heard her name being called. She turned to see Ginny running up to her.

"Hermione can you do me a humongous favour?" She asked bouncing from foot to foot and clasping her hands in prayer position.

"That depends, I haven't got any money if that's what you're asking."

"What? Oh no! No, no, no nothing like that. I was just wondering if you'd help out at day care on Saturday. All the other assistants are sick so it's just me.

Harry said he'd help so that would make three of us, which should be ok. That's only one less than usual."

"Sure no problem, I'm not doing anything and it'll give me something other than marking to do."

"Great! Hermione you're a star!" Ginny hugged her friend and rushed off, leaving Hermione standing laughing at her dashing about.

Just a few steps on from where Ginny left her Hermione bumped into Ron.

"Hey Hermione can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

"No I mean I'm going to ask you something else so listen ok."

"Ok"

"I was wondering, and I know you said you only wanted to be friends but please just let me prove I've changed. So I was wondering if you'd go to Hogsmade with me tomorrow?" He asked, not able to look her in the eye and his ears turning slightly red.

"Oh Ron that's so sweet and I'd love to." Ron looked up at her and smiled relieved to not have been rejected again. "But I can't I promised Ginny I'd help at day care, she's got no staff." Hermione said giving an embarrassed, apologetic half smile.

"Oh right ok. No problem then. Well I'll see you around then." Ron babbled, trying to hide his disappointment. He quickly walked off, Hermione watching him go with pity in her eyes. She entered her room deep in thought. If she hadn't of been doing anything the next day would she still said yes? She still only wanted to be friends with Ron but the prospect of him changing did make her a little curious. She went to bed that night still confused and the letter forgotten.

The next morning she woke up late and quickly rushed to dress. She put on jeans and looking outside she decided a very thick sweater to go with it. She quickly rushed down to the Great Hall and grabbed a piece of toast before getting in a carriage to go into Hogsmade.

When there she crossed the platform into the town and entered the new building that had appeared on the street. It was Ginny's day care service. It was called

'The Magic Toy Box' and was for wizard families with young children needing caring for. Inside so many colours hit her she had to shut her eyes for a second before she got used to it. The room was quite large and in one corner there was a big pile of cushions and in another there were a few small tables with pots of crayons in the centre. A bookcase stood against the far wall and small squishy chairs were set in a semi circle around a larger chair next to it. There were two doors, one that went into a huge cupboard where all the toys were kept and the other that led of to the bathrooms, a kitchen and a small office.

The cupboard opened and Ginny walked out. "Oh, hiya Hermione come on in. Go put your coat in the kitchen and could you start pouring out some drinks? The kids will be here in a minute."

"Sure." Hermione walked through to the kitchen but opened the hatch into the main room so she could pass the drinks though and chat to Ginny. "So wheres

Harry?"

"Oh he's with Lily at the moment, he'll bring her here in a minute and then he's got some urgent Ministry business apparently." Ginny spat with venom.

"What? So we're going to be doing this alone then?" Hermione asked, completely terrified at the though of lots of kids and only her and Ginny to deal with them.

"Oh no. Didn't he tell you? Ron said he'd help out. You two are ok now aren't you? Are you going to be fighting? Cause there's no swearing allowed in front of the young children."

"Oh yeah, we're ok now."

"Good. Oh look here's Harry." Ginny said as Lily ran us to her and jumped into her arms. Harry followed his daughter slower and more cautiously. Ginny looked up and shot him a look of disgust. "Shouldn't you be going now?" She spat and turned around to help Lily take off her coat. Harry stood unsure what to do for a second before his face fell and he apperated away with a soft 'pop'. Ron arrived and so did the eleven other children shortly afterwards.

The morning passed pretty quickly and Hermione found herself rushed off her feet and completely exhausted. Then came lunch. The children screamed, shouted, and levitated their food into the faces of others. For Hermione it was hell on earth. For Ron it was a chance to become a kid again and join in. And for Ginny it was just another time to show off her maternal instincts. Hermione felt a complete failure and quickly stepped outside as the tears filled her eyes. She leant against the wall and took a few deep breaths.

"Hey what's wrong?" Ron asked, having followed her outside.

"Nothing." Hermione muttered and sniffed.

"Bull. Come on, tell me."

"I can't do it. You and Ginny are great you can look after them, get them to eat and sit down when they're supposed to. Me they completely ignore or do the complete opposite."

"What? Hey, no they don't. Come here." Ron said and pulled her into a hug.

"Listen, me and Gin are from a big family and our mom passed all her tips onto us. We've had years of being taught and we used to have to baby sit for next door when we got older. This is you're first time looking after them. And I can tell you at this age you'd rather poke out your own eye. But it's only one day then you don't have to worry."

"You are going to make such a good parent."

"So are you. You just don't believe in yourself that you can do it. And when it's your kid you'll have the practise to do it."

"Thanks Ron." Hermione whispered as she pulled out of the hug. They stood and stared at each other their heads instinctively inching slowly together. Hermione closed her eyes and tilted her chin up.

"Hey you guys, a little help here please!" Ginny shouted and the two jumped away from each other. They hurried inside blushing, Hermione questioning the feelings she was having and Ron feeling like he could slap his sister.

Finally the kids settled down for their afternoon sleep and all was quiet again.

Hermione stood over the sleeping forms; they looked beautiful and completely peaceful. Definitely not like the ones who had been making so much noise before.

"Thinking you want one?" Ginny whispered as she walked over to look at them all too.

"I don't know. I mean I'd have to find a suitable dad first."

"Have anyone in mind?" Ginny asked.

Hermione didn't answer for a second. She looked over to Ron, who was sitting on a chair in the corner also sleeping. Hermione smiled and said, "I think I'm starting to."