A/N: Hey everyone… well here is chapter nineteen!
DISCLAIMER: You all know
Chapter Nineteen: One Month Too PlanGinny stood nervously beside Hermione holding her hand tightly. Beside them stood the rest of their family and friends. Today was the day, today, after a month of hard campaigning, stressful moments and everything else that went along with it, everyone would find out who was the new Minister of Magic. Would it still be Rufus Scrimgeour, or Simon Ledodd or Harry Potter?
All legal aged witches and wizards around England had voted over the past two days and now the three campaigning parties were standing in the foyer of the Ministry waiting nervously. Standing on a high platform were all the Heads from the Departments of the Ministry. They, apart from Harry, had all counted up the votes. The three running were seated too the left side of the stage. Harry waved nervously at Ginny who in return, blew him a kiss.
"This is so nerve racking," whispered Ginny clutching Hermione's arm tightly.
"I know… but I'm loosing the circulation in my arm… could you please let go a bit?" pleaded Hermione looking at her turning red fingers.
"Sorry," muttered Ginny as the head of the Legal Department stood up too the podium smiling.
"Good morning too you all," he said calmly, "Thankyou for all of you coming out. I know, like the candidates, you are all nervous and all wanting too find out the winner. And without further ado, I will now announce the Minister of Magic starting with third place. And in third place is Simon Ledodd."
Simon stood, bowed and left the stage to hug his waiting wife and four children.
Ginny and Hermione politely clapped along with the rest. Just as Hermione was about to say something someone snaked their arms around her waist.
"Sorry I'm late," whispered her fiancée, "Work was busy."
Hermione nodded, "They are about too announce the Minister of Magic."
"And without any further waiting," said the man smiling, "The Minister of Magic with 10,987,452 votes is none other than Harry Potter!"
Ginny let out an ear-piecing scream of joy as Harry stood up and prepared too give his winning speech. Rufus stormed off the stage and over too his disappointed family muttering angrily under his breath.
"He won!" cried Ginny hugging Hermione, her mother, her father, brothers, and other friends.
"Thankyou!" said Harry over the roar of claps and cheers, "This is wonderful! But that's enough of that. I plan on making changes too how this system works. Aurours work over time, taking time away from their family to ensure you are all safe from those who are out to bring harm too you. Yet, Ministry officials believe it is okay to release these evil people with a mere slap on the wrist. No longer will that happen! I plan on bringing in stricter laws, stopping that from happening. I plan on making this Ministry a fair place, that every single person is treated fairly… again I thank you all!"
Everyone burst into another round of applause, with Ginny clapping and watching on with tears falling down her cheeks. Harry jumped down from the stage and ran over too his wife, engulfing her in a long embrace. He then pulled back and smiled at her swollen stomach.
"Not long now," he whispered.
O
Hermione woke the next morning too find the bed empty. A note was beside her bed saying Draco had taken Dakota over too his parents for the morning. Hermione stretched and climbed out of bed. She pulled on her dressing gown and headed down too the kitchen too have a morning coffee and read the Daily Prophet. Once the kettle was boiling, Hermione settled herself and opened the Daily Prophet. Sure enough on the front was a huge announcement telling the world Harry Potter was the Minister of Magic and what changes he planned on bringing during the next four years. As Hermione turned the page her eyes landed on the days date.
Her eyes widened at the date and her page turning stopped, mid turn. Slowly she let the page go and stood from the chair, running into her office. She pulled the desk draw open and grabbed her personal date diary. She flipped the pages too February. She began muttering dates and numbers before falling into her desk chair. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute. She didn't know what too do, or who too go too. Ginny was busy, so was Harry now. Molly and Arthur were going to Australia for two weeks, Fluer and her hardly talked. Her muggle relatives all had jobs and their own issues to deal with.
"Hi Mummy!" came Dakota's cheery voice as she ran into the office, her cheeks rosy red, "Grandpa took me flying on his broom. It was fun! I like flying. Can I learn how too fly? James is and he can nearly fly really high."
Hermione shut her diary and put it away, "M-maybe Daddy can teach you. I never liked flying."
"There you both are!" cried Draco walking in smiling, "Have you had breakfast?"
Hermione shook her head, "I'm that hungry anyway. I need too get dressed. I have something urgent too tend to."
"Okay," nodded Draco slowly, "Well, Dakota, how about you and I go see if the dam is still frozen?"
"Yay!" grinned Dakota.
O
Once Hermione was dressed she grabbed her purse and wand. She looked out the window too see Draco chasing Dakota through the thin layer of snow. Hermione smiled then apperated too St Mungo's. She walked to the same place she went too nearly five years ago and asked too see Dr Angelina Wood. The nurse directed her too a ward and asked her too wait a few minutes as Dr Wood was tending too another patient.
Hermione sat on the bed clutching her purse tightly. Her hand slipped too her flat stomach, causing her heart too race. As her breathing was being more difficult, Angelina walked in smiling.
"Hermione! How are you?" cried Angelina greeting her with a hug.
"Umm… not sure really… I am a month late. C-can you check for me?" asked Hermione looking as though she was about to faint.
"Sure. Lift your shirt like last time… that's good… okay now," smiled Angelina muttering the spell. A glow of light shone and once it went Hermione lowered her shirt.
"Am I?"
"Indeed you are! Congratulations! You and Draco are going to be parents for a second time!"
Hermione's mouth fell open in shock before she began laughing with joy, "R-r-really?"
Angelina nodded and hugged Hermione, "Yes you are!"
Hermione hugged her back happily, "Everything is going perfect. Dakota will have a brother or sister… Draco wants another child and so do I! But I want too be married before this one is born."
Angelina nodded, "Oliver and I have three children now. Maybe we can organize a dinner one night, once you are married? With Ginny and Harry as well."
"Sounds like a plan! And I want you too be my Doctor throughout this pregnancy."
"I'd love too be," smiled Angelina.
O
Hermione apperated back too the house. Draco and Dakota were still outside playing, so Hermione pulled on her winter coat, mittens and a scarf before going out the back door. She walked across the snow, excitement rising inside her body. Slowly her steps turned from walking too running. She made it over too Draco just as he looked up at her. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him happily on the lips.
"What was that for?" laughed Draco holding Hermione in his arms.
"A very special reason," grinned Hermione.
"Can I know?"
"You and me are going too be parents… AGAIN!"
Draco looked at Hermione shocked, "What?"
"I'm pregnant! I just went to find out. One month along. So in October we will be welcoming another one into the world."
Draco burst out into happy laughter. Her scooped Hermione up into his arms and spun her around in joy, before kissing her passionately on the lips. All through this Dakota watched on laughing with joy and clapping her hands.
"We have too get married first," said Draco picking Dakota up after setting Hermione onto the ground, "How does next month sound?"
"Really sudden," said Hermione, her eyes wide, "There is so much to plan."
"It doesn't have too be a big wedding. Just close family and friends."
"Really? Wouldn't Narcissa want a huge one?" asked Hermione as they walk inside the warmth of the house.
"Well no. She will be too happy knowing she will be a Grandmother again."
Hermione grinned, "Let's get started!"
O
Hermione, Ginny, Fleur and Narcissa walked into All Occasions Tailor Made! Instantly Bernadette engulfed Hermione into a hug.
"It is about time you come too me for your very own wedding!" she cried happily, "Come, lets get started."
She led the women too the back of the store and signaled for her helper too bring a rack of designer gowns.
"Hurry Lisa! We only have a month!"
Lisa hurried in, smiling at the woman before handing Bernadette a gown. Lisa helped uncover it and Bernadette held it up smiling. It was a strapless satin gown with a sequined bodice, hem and back train with a matching beaded shawl. The dress was an ivory colour, causing Narcissa to eye it in envy.
"Its elegant, yet not too much," said Bernadette.
"No," said Hermione, "It is lovely but I want something more simple."
Bernadette nodded, handed Lisa the dress to recover and sifted through the rack. She hummed a little before making a pleasing noise and pulling out a dress. She uncovered it and held it up.
The dress was a white strapless gown with a satin underlay for more support the waist down part was flowing with a little layer affect at the top part of the waist.
Hermione sighed, "Its too simple."
Bernadette nodded and handed it too Lisa too cover up. She again sorted through the rack and smiled brightly as she pulled a gown off that was covered in a black cover. Bernadette turned around to show them all the dress, causing Hermione to gasp out loud. It was a strapless white gown with rhinestones on the top part and around the waist. The underskirt part was loose and flowing with criss cross layers over it all the way down too the ground. The back did up with white hook buttons. Hermione knew she had found her simple, yet elegant wedding dress.
"I… I love it," she gasped standing up and grabbing it from Bernadette, "I have too try it on!"
Hermione carefully grabbed the dress and headed into a dressing room. After trying it on and finding it was indeed the perfect dress, she headed back out too the sitting area to organize the bridesmaid dresses.
Hermione didn't want a Maid or Matron of Honor, both Ginny and Merle were important too her, so instead she was just having two bridesmaid. Merle was excited about the wedding and was coming too London next week. She had gotten Fredericka to take her measurements and had sent them too Hermione the day before.
"Bridesmaids?" asked Bernadette.
Hermione nodded, "Something with one strap with a kind of goddess style about it."
Bernadette smiled and pulled out a mocha coloured dress. It had one shoulder strap that connected too the front of the dress in a silver ring with rhinestones decorating it. The front bust area wasn't fitted but wasn't loose either. Around the waist were white beads, arranged too look like little stars. From there the dress flowed out loosely. It came with a matching shawl with the same beaded design on both ends.
"Ginny, do you like it?" asked Hermione smiling.
"Oh Hermione… it is beautiful," she smiled, "Will it be big enough for me?"
"I will make it fit you," smiled Bernadette, "Now a flower girl?"
"Yes, little Dakota."
Bernadette bit her lower lip and pulled over a rack of smaller dresses. She pulled one out and showed Hermione. It had thick singlet sleeves with little white flowers embroided around the neck. At the waist was a white tied sash too make the child seem taller and add some elegance too the mocha coloured gown. The bottom part had two layers, one being the material of the dress and the top a mesh material, the same colour.
Hermione smiled imagining her daughter in the gown. She nodded and Bernadette put it aside with the rest of the gowns.
"Than you are all sorted," she smiled, "When will the men come?"
"Today some time," replied Hermione standing up too pay for the dresses, "They aren't too know we have been."
"I understand, now that will be a total of… 1985 galleons."
O
Ginny walked into the kitchen too see Harry sitting at the table drawing with James and Rianna. She smiled and made her way slowly over too them before sitting beside Harry, feeling exhausted. She leant back on the chair with a hand on her stomach.
"How was your day at work?" asked Harry.
"Good," lied Ginny, "Yours?"
"Fine," lied back Harry with a smile, "Dinner is on. I'm cooking chicken legs with some roast potatoes, carrot, some beans and peas."
"Sounds nice," said Ginny before yawning, "Oh these three are all ready tiring me out."
Harry laughed as he put his crayon back with the others and turned too Ginny, "Bit like how Fred and George made your parents feel."
"Probably. But Mum knew how to handle them. What if I can handle these three? What if I become a bad mother?"
"Honey, you won't. Look at these two. You have raised them and they are turning out perfectly."
"I know. But this is three babies at once! How can I handle that?"
"You can handle it Ginny. I will be by your side all the way."
"I know," nodded Ginny wiping away a stray tear, "I think I might go take a bath."
Harry nodded and helped Ginny stand up before she left for the bathroom and he went to check on dinner.
O
"An engagement party?" said Hermione raising an eyebrow, "But we have been engaged since Christmas. Everyone knows by now."
"I know," said Draco, "But it is only proper in Malfoy tradition."
Hermione sighed, "Do we have time? We have a wedding to organize, a honeymoon to plan, plus a baby on the way."
"I can organize it if you want," said Draco with a shrug, "Just some food, invitations…"
"We have too send the wedding ones out yet. The wedding is on the 25th of March at 10am at the Malfoy Manor, where the reception will be held in the Ball Room from 12pm too 9pm, only you and I leave at 7pm for our honeymoon. Where are we going?"
"Maybe an engagement party isn't a good idea," frowned Draco, "We have some much too do."
"And so little time."
Draco sighed, "Okay. So I have my parents, some relatives, close family friends coming, so do you. That is roughly 80 people. Dakota can stay with my parents during the week we are away. Have you got catering sorted out?"
"No!" cried Hermione dishing up the salad onto three plates, " I haven't had time too even consider flowers for me and the bridesmaids or decorations… will your mother help me?"
"Of course she will," said Draco turning Hermione around too hug her, "You are like a daughter too her. She will do anything for you."
Hermione smiled and began cutting up Dakota's piece of fish. She smiled at Draco who kissed her on the cheek and began setting the table humming the wedding march. Hermione laughed and hummed along with him grinning from ear too ear.
Dakota walked in looking a little glum. This, was instantly noticed by Hermione who stopped serving the fish and walked over too her daughter. She knelt down in front of Dakota looking at her worriedly.
"Honey, is everything okay?" asked Hermione with a slight frown.
"You and Daddy are gonna forget all about me," she mumbled with tears in her eyes.
"What makes you say that?" asked Draco confused.
"Jon said so today! He said when the new baby comes I will be forgotten and nobody will love me anymore."
"Oh Sweetie!" cried Hermione hugging her, "Daddy and I love you very much and we would never forget about you! You are Daddy's Princess Angel and mine. We love you more than anything and always will! Besides the new baby will need a big sister to protect it and teach it things we can't. Do you understand?"
Dakota nodded smiling, "I love you Mummy and Daddy."
"We love you too," smiled Draco scooping her up and spinning her around causing Dakota too giggle, "Now let's eat!"
O
Hermione walked up the staircase too the magazine section, smiling at one of the photographers who blushed. He was a young guy, in is early twenties with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
"M-my name is Mark Eliding. I know you are Hermione Granger," he said in a nervous tone.
"Ah, you are the one who photographed the wedding I did two weeks back," smiled Hermione, "Excellent photo's you took. Ginny is proud of them."
"Thanks… umm do you want to have a coffee later?"
Hermione chuckled politely, "Sorry Mark. I'm getting married in March. Beside's you are younger then me and I am not completely comfortable with that."
"But isn't Draco Malfoy younger than you?"
"Only by nine months. Well see you around Mark," smiled Hermione entering Narcissa's office. Her and Draco still hadn't told anyone about the pregnancy. They were waiting for the three months too pass, which would be in early April, "Morning Narcissa."
"Hermione, darling, how are you?" smiled Narcissa looking up from the photo's of wedding gowns from Bernadette's shop and comparing them too her daughter's work.
"Great. I came too ask you a favour… a big one really and I understand if you say no. I mean you have the magazine, a husband, you know and probably other things too sort out as well," babbled on Hermione earning an amused look from Narcissa.
"What is it?"
Hermione laughed a little at herself before speaking, "Umm can you help me plan the wedding? I have so much too do and I am going too be completely out of it by the time the wedding is on."
"I would be honoured too," smiled Narcissa, "How about in half an hour you and I go flower shopping?"
"Great. I have nothing on. Are you sure it is okay?"
"Hermione, I see you as a daughter. I'm glad you asked!"
Hermione smiled, "Well I will meet you in the reception area in half an hour."
O
"No, I don't want purple. Something soft coloured. Like a butter colour," said Hermione as her an Narcissa walked through the shop, "And so it doesn't clash with Ginny's hair."
"What about these?" asked Narcissa picking up a bouquet of butter coloured roses with little red ones arranged in too make the bouquet look elegant and not boring.
"I like it and Dakota can have a basket full of the pale petals. And a maybe a fake one arranged in her hair, like the bridesmaids."
"That sounds beautiful and you could have this," said Narcissa picking up a bouquet with white roses with babies breath. The bouquet was arranged so it hung down a little too give a trail looking affect.
Hermione nodded smiling, "You are really good at this."
"Well, I do have a garden full of flowers. White roses mean you're heavenly and too Draco you are heaven sent."
Hermione smiled, "What do the pale yellow ones mean?"
"Oh, friendship. But yellow and red mean falling in love."
Hermione nodded, with a smile, "I really can't believe I am going to be getting married."
Narcissa smiled as they paid for the flowers, "It gets like that. But once it is done… you will be Hermione Malfoy."
Hermione smiled, "Draco and I sent a form away to officially change Dakota's name too Dakota May Malfoy."
"Ah, so I can finally say, my granddaughter's name is Dakota May Malfoy."
Hermione nodded, "I want these delivered on March 25th at the Malfoy Manor at 8am. No later."
The shop owner nodded, stunned at who she was looking at. The two women left the shop, glad at least one part of the wedding planning was completed.
"How are the invitations going?" asked Narcissa.
"Well Draco and I wrote them all out last night. We are sending them off tonight. The RVSP date is March tenth. No later. Only 84 people have been invited. Along with children. Dakota would be upset is James wasn't invited. Apparently, he is her future husband."
Narcissa laughed, "Draco used too say he was going to marry his second cousin Hilary-Marcie. I told him Hilary's parents wanted her too have an American husband."
"How old was Hilary?"
"Ten. Draco was five."
Hermione smiled, "Maybe that was why he was so upset during the Hogwarts years."
Narcissa smiled, "No. He was simply misunderstood. He had a lot too deal with, like you. He had a horrible future set out for him. If Harry hadn't of destroyed Voldemort… I believe Draco would be possibly dead or still in Azkaban. You showed him a way of life he never knew."
Hermione half smiled and swallowed a lump in her throat. She wiped invisible dirt off her shirt and gave Narcissa another half smile.
"I'm sorry dear. It is just that I believe it is all true. You are an amazing young woman."
"Thankyou. It means a lot coming from my future mother in law. My mother loved Draco. She knew I could never be with another guy after Draco. And she was right. I was never once with anyone for those four whole years."
"Draco was messed up… addicted to alcohol and sex. He saw it his only way to escape reality. We wanted too help but were scared that if we did, we would loose him all together."
"But when you weren't helping him, you were loosing him."
Narcissa nodded, "For all we know, he could be dead now if something hadn't been done."
Hermione gave a slight nod, "These women… was he in a long term relationship with any of them?"
Narcissa shook her head no," Never. It was always a different woman every night. I only met a few of them. They were all young ones hoping to earn some money by sleep with a Malfoy."
"How do you know?"
"They would hassle him for weeks after until he said it was only a one night thing. He always broke their hearts… some I think were virgins. Only they didn't tell him that because I know Draco would never intentionally sleep with a virgin."
"I never really knew all of this," admitted Hermione feeling shamed with her self, "It is just a topic we avoid at all costs."
"He is embarrassed by his past actions and you don't like what pain you caused him, do you?"
"No I don't. So um… can I tell you something?"
"Of course you can," smiled Narcissa patting her arm affectionately as they walked into a little coffee shop.
"Draco and I are expecting. We are only a month or so along."
Narcissa let out a happy squeal and hugged Hermione tightly, "Another grandchild! Oh this is wonderful! What do you think it is?"
"I don't know. But we hope it is healthy and a happy baby. That is all that matters."
Narcissa nodded, "Let's celebrate. Chocolate cake with whipped cream and a icy cold pumpkin juice!"
Hermione laughed followed Narcissa into the café suddenly excited about her wedding and the fact her mother in law held no grudge against her.
A/N: Guess what people… one more chapter to go! Next chapter everything will happen… the big finale! Anyway please review!
Bye for now!
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