And here I was, dreaming for grandchildren. I suppose that shall be near impossible now.

Narcissa sighed.

---

"Ok, ladies, we shall start training right after each of you are handed your assignments." Cho said, standing in front of the dining hall platform after they had their breakfast. "Each of you will be designated to different kinds of jobs. In a few days or weeks, there will be a rotation and you will be assigned to another. Some will be working in groups while a select few," She threw a nasty glance at Hermione's direction. "Will be working at their own at their given assignment. As you will be scattered at different locations, I have handed you over to my deputies. They will report accordingly on your failures and achievements. Scouts will also be going around to check on you." Cho paused and waved her wand to let the envelopes on her table fly to each of the girls. "Here are your assignments. Each envelope is also a portkey, which means you will be immediately transported to your location. I shall call for you when needed through my deputies. Ta-ta ladies."

Cho smirked as one by one the envelopes reached their owners and each lady disappeared.

Watch out, Granger. Watch out.

---

Hermione sighed when she saw the pointed glances Cho shot her all throughout the announcement.

"Where do you think we'll go, Hermione?" Gwen eagerly asked, searching for any envelope coming their way.

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione replied, not sharing her friend's enthusiasm. "But I know we won't be together and my assignment will be the worst ever."

"What makes you say that?"

An enveloped zoomed towards Hermione.

"Hermione?"

Gwen turned to face Hermione, just in time to see her wave good-bye as her fingers touched the envelope.

---

"Oh, Mother," Draco slightly regained his composure. "So nice of you to drop by today."

"Indeed." Narcissa Malfoy took in the sight in front of her, still shocked but coping.

Ron nudged Draco, indicating the flowers.

Narcissa noticed this and raised an eyebrow once more.

Dear me…

Draco glanced at the flowers dumbly and realization struck.

"Oh, these are for you, Mother." Draco immediately handed the bouquet of roses to his mother.

"Thank you, Draco," Narcissa regarded the bouquet at her arm and that of at Draco's. "You shouldn't have."

Draco furrowed his forehead in confusion.

Ron poked Draco at his side.

"Oh."

Draco then placed the tulips in the flower vase.

Narcissa inwardly sighed.

A little bit slow today, isn't he? I wonder… Must be due to lack of sleep…

The Malfoy matriarch grimaced, thinking what her son might have done to result in sleeplessness.

"Mrs. Malfoy, is something wrong?" Ron asked, concerned, form Draco's side.

Yes, everything!

"Nothing dear," Narcissa patted Ron's bare shoulder.

Well, I have to warm up to the idea, don't I? I can almost hear Lucius, 'At least he's pureblooded'.

She saw furtive and nervous looks shot by the three men to each other.

What are they nervous about anyway?

Harry raised an eyebrow.

Narcissa's eyes widened.

No way, Harry's in it too? Maybe they did not expect me to find out at once, maybe their nervous about telling me… Well, I have to put them at ease…

---

Bloody Weasley, we should have dressed up when we can. Mother's probably disgusted at how primeval we look.

Draco glared at Ron, who was just patted by Narcissa.

Ron faced him nervously, worried by his state of almost undress.

Draco threw him a withering glance before they both faced Harry, who raised his eyebrow, obviously comfortable with what he was wearing.

Draco thought it was high time to apologize for their bedraggled state.

"Mother, I'm – ."

"Don't worry, darling." Narcissa interrupted. "It's alright. I accept you for who you are."

"But -." Draco sputtered.

"Yes, honey. I've figured it out – about your love life."

The three men's eyes widened, but Narcissa was not finished yet.

"My only regret is that, I don't suppose I'll be having grandchildren from you now, won't I?"

---

Hermione tottered a bit when she arrived at a dark and gloomy-looking Muggle industrial city.

Figures…

She tore open the envelope and read its contents.

"Hermione Granger,

You are the select one who shall be working at kitchen-line factory of S & S. You deputy is Mrs. Yna Singer. You must follow her obediently without complain. She will report to me of your misbehavior and noncompliance. You shall stay here until the next assignment. Please hand her the attached form of your resume upon arrival.

Cho Chang

CEO of Sassy and Stylish"

Hermione made her way towards the dilapidated gray building at the edge of the city.

Once she made it inside the building, she noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere. It was not cold and apathetic-feeling as most factories are. Instead, it was rather homey and has that motherly air about it. The colors were vibrant and the people cheerful.

It did not surprise her when a woman that strongly reminded her of Mrs. Weasley, only more sophisticsted, approached her and introduced herself as Mrs. Singer.

"Hello there, you must be Hermione. I'm Mrs. Yna Singer." The mother-like woman rushed to take Hermione into a hug.

"Hello, Mrs. Singer."

Mrs. Singer waved her greeting away. "Oh, pish-posh. No need for the formalities. I want you to feel at home. You may call me Mama Yna."

"Mama Yna…" Hermione murmured

"Formality is only needed when Ms. Chang visits." Mama Yna waved at several trainees passed by, greeting her. "Everyone here knows that. The image we project to the other branches of S&S is that we are strict, cold and unfriendly; just like this industrial city we're in. Ms. Chang probably thinks the same. But, she never does visit us except for her annual one."

"How come?"

"Well, she's more on the flashy fashionable clothes branch. As long as her kitchen branch sells, she does not care."

"So, you don't feel nervous about this façade at all?" Hermione's inner stick-to-the-rules attitude resurfaces.

Mama Yna laughs jovially. "Why no! Besides, with her extreme cold professionalism standards that she put up for this branch when it started, the sales did not go so well. She fired her former deputy and promoted me. I knew what was wrong and I straightened it up. If and when she accidentally finds out about what I did, I don't think she'll disagree as this kind of set-up stimulates the employees to be creative in their designs, making the sales steadily go up."

Hermione nods, agreeing with the woman's ideas. She handed her resume, which Yna glanced through a bit.

"Well, enough chit-chatting. Since I was informed that you are the only one for this branch from the university, my co-workers and I decided to have a little welcome party in your honor, so you may feel at home. Come on!" Mama Yna declared, leading Hermione through a maze of rooms and hallways.

Smiling and keeping up with Mrs. Singer, Hermione couldn't believe the luck she had.

---

"Mother, I wouldn't like to question you but, you already know about my feelings?" Draco asked incredulously, thinking that his mother knew about Hermione.

"Why of course," Narcissa waved her arms for emphasis. "The moment I stepped in this household, I felt something. I felt it. I felt a spark in the air. I'm your mother, Draco dear."

Draco absentmindedly stirred his tea in response, pondering at this revelation, feeling as though he wore his feelings on his sleeves.

The four of them were now in the dining room, having brunch, with the men still in their sleeping attire.

"So, Draco, when did you really planned on telling me this or did I just visit in an opportune time?" Narcissa sipped her tea delicately, eyeing Ron, who was buttering his fourth slice of bread.

Draco looked up from his tea. "What?"

Narcissa put down her cup. "Well, I suppose you think that it may not bode well with me with this, ahem, preference of yours, but I assure you its fine with me."

Draco threw a puzzled look at Harry then at Ron. "But Mother, I was quite sure that you will approve of my choice."

"Really?" Narcissa continued to eye Ron, who was now added more tea to his cup.

"Yes, besides I didn't think you have anything against anyone not Pureblooded. You nothing like Father, aren't you?"

"Not Pureblood?" Narcissa was now confused. "But, Draco, I am sure that your intended is of pureblood."

My intended? "Mother, are you sure we are talking about the same person here? I mean, I am absolutely sure that this person is not Pureblooded."

"Oh come on." Narcissa replied exasperatedly, gesturing to Ron, who was drinking his tea quietly. "We all know that Ronald Weasley comes from a long Pureblood line."

"RON?"