I am so sorry for not putting up a new chapter sooner! I've actually been busy finishing writing this story, and now I'm working on the sequel. So, now I have no excuse not to update sooner. I hope you like this chapter! Please review!

Disclaimer- J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, not me. I own Constance, Jason, and Natalia Malfoy.

Chapter 3: So Much Worse

Hermione sighed as she placed a tray of cookies in the oven. She had been thinking a lot lately, mostly about Draco and the kids. There was only one question that troubled her constantly: Was she doing things right?

No matter how hard she tried, there was just something…strange about her relationship to Natalia and Jason. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn't their real mother, but she was acting like it. Or maybe it was because Draco Malfoy was their father…

"Wow Tina, something smells really g – "

Hermione turned around to see Draco standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Uh, where's Tina?" he asked suspiciously.

Hermione knitted her eyebrows in confusion, "Who?"

"Tina," Draco repeated, "The castle's baker."

"Oh, her! Yeah, I let her go home. I felt like doing some cooking myself."

"You did what?" Draco asked slowly, trying not to loose his temper.

"I let her take the week off." Hermione repeated.

Draco walked up to her. "You can't just order around my maids and butlers! You don't even have to authority to!"

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "Your Grandmother left this morning for Canada. She appointed me Lady of the House while she's gone."

"Lady of the House! That's equal with my power!"

"Look, she said I'd be able to handle it."

"She was wrong!"

Hermione stomped her foot angrily, "Will you stop degrading me! I'm not some peasant off the street! I can handle this castle just as much as you can!"

"You don't seem to understand," Draco hissed, "My Grandmother gave you as much power as I have. And you aren't even royalty!"

"Does that really matter! If you think you're so powerful then go marry me off to some knight or something!" Hermione replied.

"Come on, there are no knights! That was Medieval Times! This is the 21st Century!"

Hermione glared at him, "I'll show you. I'll be the best Lady of the House this castle has ever seen. And I'll be the best parent your kids have ever seen."

She stared at him for a moment, and then pushed past him. He caught her wrist and turned her head to look at him.

"What?" she spat out angrily.

"Don't get too attached to my kids. They can't afford to loose another mother figure in their life." Draco replied.

"If I want to care for those kids, I will. That's what you hired me for, right? I always put one hundred percent into my work, I think you know that."

"No, you're going to get my kids attached to you, then when I find a wife, you're going to pack up and leave and they'll be heart broken once again." Draco replied.

Hermione frowned, "I would never do that! If you're that worried about my impact on your kids, then why did you ask me if I wanted the job in the first place!"

Draco tore his eyes off her face and looked down at the ground. Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly. After what seemed like forever, he finally looked back up at her.

"Jason is too young to understand what's happening, but Natalia can comprehend what is happening. She loves you. She'll be beside herself when you leave." he said.

Hermione smiled sadly, "Don't worry. I love both of them very much; I'd do anything for them. Don't second guess me Malfoy."

Draco nodded, but stood silent. He let go of her wrist and crossed him arms over his chest.

Just as Hermione opened her mouth to speak, Olivia walked into the kitchen.

"Lady Hermione, the Queen requested before she left that you be fitted into your gown for the Puddlemore Ball this Saturday. Would you mind going to your suite so we can talk?" she asked.

Hermione smiled, "Sure Olivia, I'll be right there."

Olivia nodded and left the kitchen. Hermione stared at Draco for a moment longer, then turned to leave.

She stopped at the doorway and stared off into the entrance hall.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." she whispered. She smiled sadly and then left the room.
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Draco strolled into the kitchen to find Hermione setting the table.

Hermione looked up at him, "Where've you been? We've been looking everywhere for you."

"I went for a walk around the garden to clear my head. Why, did you me?" he asked with a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes and handed him some cloth napkins.

Draco snorted, "What am I supposed to do with these?"

"Fold them."

"Draco Malfoy doesn't fold napkins."

"He does now."

Draco looked at her, "Have you found a date for the Ball?"

"No, I don't think I'm going."

"Why not?"

"There would be no one to watch Jason and Natalia."

Draco smirked faintly, "I already arranged for someone to watch them for the night."

"You're just giving me a reason to go." Hermione stated.

"Is it working?"

Hermione shook her head, "And do you have a date?"

"Well, uh, you see…" Draco stuttered.

"HA! You don't have a date either!"

"So?"

"So leave me alone!"

Draco smirked as he watched her snatch the napkins out of his hand and start folding them herself.

"Will you go to the Ball with me?" he asked.

Hermione froze, and stared at the table.

"What?" she asked finally, looking up at him.

"Will you go to the Ball with me?" Draco repeated.

Hermione burst out laughing, "You're joking, right?"

"No." Draco replied seriously.

Hermione's laughter died down, "Why are you asking me?"

Draco shrugged, "Well you don't have a date, and I don't have a date, so I thought we could go together."

Hermione burst out into another fit of laughter.

"Forget it Granger." Draco muttered angrily.

"Oh, come one, I'm sorry. I just never thought I would see the day when Draco Malfoy would ask be to be his date."

"I was just trying to be a gentleman. Obviously you can't handle that."

Hermione smiled, "Yes I can! And I will go with you."

Draco nodded, "Good. I think I'll go read in the library."

"Well dinner's going to be in about ten minutes. Why don't you just stick around?"
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"Oh Hermione, that was a wonderful meal." Constance praised.

Hermione smiled as she finished clearing the plates off the table and brought out dessert, which was apple pie.

She cut everyone a piece and then sat back down next to Draco.

"Hermione, Draco, can I talk with you two privately?" Constance asked quietly.

Hermione glanced at the kids who were eating their pie.

"Natalia, would you mind taking Jason to your room so Nana, Daddy, and I can talk?" she asked.

Natalia nodded, "Uh huh!"

"You can bring your dessert if you want." Draco added.

"But careful not to spill anything! I just cleaned your room today!" Hermione told them.

"They're kids Granger." Draco reminded her.

Hermione glared at him as the kids left the room.

"I have done a lot of thinking lately. And since Draco will take me place when he's twenty-five, this castle will become his. So I have decided to move to Addley Castle so you, Hermione, Jason, and Natalia can get used to having the castle to yourselves." Constance said, breaking the tension.

"What?" Draco asked, not believing what he was hearing.

"And so, during the Ball on Saturday, I will announce that you and Hermione will be in charge of the castle and its grounds."

Draco stared at his grandmother, "What did you say?"

"You and Hermione will both be in charge of the castle." Constance repeated.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "What are you trying to do?"

Constance shrugged, "Nothing! I just thought you and Hermione might like – "

"So that's it! You're trying to set us up together, aren't you!"

"No, not exactly."

"Then what is it?"

"Well, we got a letter today, addressed to you. It's from Pansy, she wants custody of the kids."

"Excuse me?" Draco asked.

"She wants custody of them. I know how much you both love those kids, and I know you'll come up with a solution, together." Constance replied.

She stood up and left Hermione and Draco alone at the table.

"Everything will fine, right?" Hermione asked softly.

"I hope so." Draco replied.

Hermione nodded.

She leaned forward cautiously as Draco hugged her. Hermione laid her head against his shoulder, not knowing that everything would get worse, so much worse.

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