Chapter 12: Where Do We Go From Here?

Disclaimer: J.K owes…your mom….that was bad…I'm sorry.

Hermione transfigured the ashtray on the table into a cradle for the baby and laid the girl in there. Then she wiped her hands on her skirt. She was nervous and when she got nervous her palms sweated a lot. And well, Hermione never had any real experience with kids before. She was only child and well, she liked that. Derrick was glaring at her with angry eyes and she didn't know why. She rubbed her forehead willing away the pain that was creeping forward. What was she to with the boy? She didn't know how to entertain him.

"So where do we go from here?" She clapped her hands together and let out a heavy breath, "So? Umm…do you like to color?" Derrick looked at her as if she had grown two heads, but did not respond. "Do you know what coloring is?" The boy shook his head. "Right, of course you don't." She murmured to herself.

She looked about; all the children she had ever babysat were muggle. The only type of children young like Derrick were muggle, so she was going to teach him something muggle. She found some paper and markers in her room, she kept them just in case, you never know, the transfigured the paper into the dollar store coloring books, that had always been her favorite to color in. She placed them on the coffee table and patted the seat next to her for Derrick to sit in. The boy looked at her with some question. After a second of thought he sat down next to her and watched her for a second before joining her in the activities. It had been an hour of coloring and Hermione hadn't heard a peep out of either Malfoy child, she was honestly shocked. The nanny had acted as though they were monsters. She stood up to check on the little girl, Angie. The baby was sleeping quietly in the crib Hermione. Hermione sighed, this could have been so much worse than what it was. But she was less than happy about the situation. It was at least another hour before Draco would return to the common room, that if he didn't go any where else beforehand. She once again rubbed her forehead feel the pain rising to the front. This wasn't her problem and here she was taking care of it.

The next thing she knew Derrick was shyly tugging on the side of her skirt. She looked down at him. He was looking up at her with big eyes that were just pleading for something. She knelt down next to him, "What's up, dude?"

"I'm hungry. The mean lady never gave me breakfast." He said with a cute childish lisp. She smiled at him.

"Go color a little bit longer and I'll get you something to eat. Kay?" He nodded and walked back over to the table. Hermione went over to the fireplace and called Dobby. She knew that he knew Derrick and would be more than willing to assist her, and in turn Draco. Hermione called him and waited a second before he appeared to her. She smiled at him.

"Miss Hermione? What can Dobby do for you?"

"Well, I'm sort of in need of a little bit of help."

"What do you need, Miss Hermione?"

"Well, I need a lunch time snack for a young boy. And if you have it…something for a baby. You know like formula and a bottle?" She was wringing her hands nervously and hoping she could explain this if he asked why she needed it. But he never did. He gave her a short okay and a nod and left her with a pop. Hermione went back to the cradle and watched the little girl sleep. The baby let out a content sigh and Hermione smiled. She placed her hand on her stomach then rubbed it softly. She smiled sadly then went back to Derrick and his coloring.

"That looks really nice. The food should be here soon. Okay?" He smiled and nodded at her. And quietly went back to the book in front of him. Hermione thought about how cute of a kid he was. But how long was coloring going to entertain him? She didn't know how long she was going to have him and she didn't know the Pureblood games or toys. Hell, for all she knew he tortured people like her for fun at home. She shuddered at that thought. She could she Draco teaching some violent spells to his little brother to practice on girls like Hermione. She quickly washed that thought out of her head. Draco wasn't the evil bastard he once wasn't the evil bastard he once was, and Lucius wasn't around anymore.

Suddenly Dobby popped in breaking her train of thought. She graciously took the tray from him and placed it on the table. She gave him her thanks and he was off saying something about how he was needed in the kitchens again. Hermione told Derrick they had to clean up before they ate. So, together they cleaned up the mess they had made and put in all in a pile neatly in the corner of the table. She told him he'd be able to color after he was done eating. She set up a place for him to eat and once she had him settled she began reading the baby formula can. Dobby had warm water already prepared, but then gave her a couple of choices of different formulas to choose from. Hermione knew nothing about this, so she simply eeny, meany, miney, moed it. And then continued to follow the directions on the can. As if on cue, Angie started crying. Derrick groaned and mumbled something about the beast. Hermione quickly fixed the bottle and went over to the baby. She started rocking the cradle to calm the baby while she finished the milk. After a second the baby hushed and she lifted her from the crib. The baby, thankfully, happily took the milk and was content. As was Derrick. Hermione sat on the couch next to the boy and continued to feed the baby.

Not even a few moments later she heard the portrait open and turned to see Malfoy walk in the threshold. He stopped when Angie and Derrick came into his view. He stopped looked around the room. Blinked…once…twice. Then rubbed his eyes. "Granger, please tell me you are playing mind games with me and my brother and sister are not in this common room." Hermione stood to face him, Angie still in her arms.

"Malfoy, please. As if I have the time or energy to play mind games with you." He stood there with his mouth agape. He dropped his books causing Derrick and Hermione to jump. Derrick was hiding behind Hermione as if she were a shield.

"Derrick, what did you to Miss Baxter?" He said with a tinge of anger. Derrick's response was to hide his face in Hermione's skirt. Hermione smiled at how cute it was, but her smile was wiped away by a look from Draco. "Derrick, why did Miss Baxter feel it necessary to bring you back to me?"

Derrick poked his head out of the side of her Hermione, "She was mean, Draco. She was really mean. She always made me wait a really long time when I was hungry, she never let me play outside, and she never tucked me in. Please don't be mad. I just didn't like her, she was real mean lady."

Hermione felt sympathy for the boy, the lady didn't seem that kind when she dropped the children off, so Hermione believed Derrick's story and told Draco so. "Look, I know it's none of my business. But she seemed crazy when she got here."

"Did you ever think it was his behavior?"

"I did at first, but then he's been an angel for the past two and a half hours. So then I figured that it was probably her. And I really think it was. She seemed slightly crazed, but I can't possibly see how it was the kids."

"Angel? Him? Derrick? Wow. It's not going to save you kid. She was the last full time governess I could find. In a second you're going to wish Father was alive!"
"Draco Malfoy!" He was startled by her voice. "Derrick, why don't you head up to my room and take a little nap in my room. Me and your brother are going to talk for a little bit."

"Can I take the rest of the sandwich?"

"Sure." They watched him disappear into Hermione's room and he shut the door. Hermione moved forward and handed bottle and baby to Draco. Moved him to the couch and she moved toward the bay windows with her cigarettes. She was far enough from the baby but she still put a bubble around herself. "I can't believe you threaten him with that!"

"Granger you have no idea what I was doing."

"You were scaring the daylights out of him." She lit her cigarette and took a long drag. The day was about to get little more complicated. "You couldn't feel him shaking Draco, he was scared of you."

"He should be!"

"You are insufferable! That's a shame that you want him living in fear of you! Your father would be so fucking proud of you!" She shouted the last part. She was angry at him again. And without reason, this wasn't her family. She didn't have a family. Maybe that's why she was so protective of the little boy. Draco's face paled and then turned red in anger. "That's what you wanted just then? Wasn't it? To be like your father."

Draco had put the baby in the cradle almost immediately after Hermione handed her to him. He rushed over to her slamming her against the wall. "You have no idea what you're talking about. So just stop."

"Then explain it to me and get your hands off me!" He let go of her and stepped back, but was still in close proximity of her bubble. He took his pack out only to realize it was empty. He sighed and she threw him her pack and lighter. He caught them effortlessly and nodded his thanks.

"Derrick is what you would call a trouble youth." Hermione snorted.

"Oh the irony."

He glared at her and she flashed him a smile. "He's only five and stabbed to house elves and tried light the barn on fire. In order to keep him in line, I have to threaten him. And really who's scarier than my father?"

"You apparently." He laughed. "He was seriously an angel all day. But next time I watch them, I better be getting paid as much as that nut was."

"Yeah, what the hell happened?"

"I don't know. She just came in here raving about the devil's children and how she wasn't watching them anymore. But she didn't forget to mention that you can send her, her pay check when you get a chance."

"Oh, but of course." He took a drag and looked out the window. "I guess I have to go talk to Dumbledore, huh?"

"He won't bite, and I'm sure he'll be more than willing to help." She looked at him and he looked sad, he looked tired. "I'll help if you need it. I mean, shit I owe you."

She stood behind him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't owe me anything. I told you the cigarettes were gift. You know the more you smoke the quicker I get rid of you." He said jokingly. She smacked his arm playfully. "Kidding, kidding."

"Where do we go from here?"

"I don't know where we go, but you, you go back to your own world. I'll take care of this."

She tossed her cigarette but and turned to walk away. "I'm here if you need help. I'm not the bitch they make me out to be." He smiled softly and nodded. Hermione stood next to the cradle after Scourgifying her hands and started playing with the baby.

A/N: Way long chapter for me…Oh well. I hope you like it. I know it was very little HG/DM in this. But I need Derrick and Hermione to establish a connection for later. And if you want to yell at me for none of this making much, I won't be mad, because I'm really tired and can't think straight. Whoops.

Anybody see the movie yet? I did. Dan should never where a shirt…ever.

Jenn