Young Hearts Love Fast

Chapter 8 – Talks of Spaghetti

Harry Potter and Ron Weasely sat alone in the Gryffindor common room. Well, almost alone. Two younger Gryffindors played exploding snap over in the far corner.

They sat silently in the two armchairs in front of the fire. Harry stared intently at the flames flickering in front of him.

"Why him?" Harry suddenly asked. "How can she trust him? He's one of them!"

Ron looked over at his furious friend. "I dunno mate, maybe she's right about them though. I mean she's a little bit smarter than you're giving her credit, don't you think?"

Harry glanced over at him surprised. "I thought you were with me on this?" Ron looked uncomfortable under his gaze. "I was, I am…I mean I dunno, If Hermione trusts someone, don't you think we should?"

Harry stood up from his chair and walked closer to the fire, staring down at the burning embers, watching the flames' dancing shadows against the hearth.

"I trust her, but what about Snape?" Harry turned around. "We trusted her about Snape but, I guess her judgment wasn't so good then either was it?"

Ron sighed. "No Harry, It wasn't, but this is different." He stood up next to Harry. "I mean maybe we should give him a chance. Kelsey trusts him too. Look at her and Blaise!"

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "Have you forgotten everything he's done to us?" He stared intently at him. "He could be a death eater!"

Ron locked eyes with him. "But, I heard his father died Harry! Maybe he doesn't want to be like that!"

"Just because his father died doesn't mean he's going to give up his dream!" Harry snarled. "Look, I just don't want Hermione to get hurt, Cody too."

Ron smiled at him. "Yeah, I know. I don't either mate." Ron frowned slightly, "Draco and Cody seem to be pretty close, how did that happen?"

Harry sat back down. "I don't know, but shouldn't he be hanging out with us instead of shit head over there?" He asked, his anger rising again.

Ron sat down across from him. "He doesn't know us Harry." Harry watched the firelight play across Ron's face. "I don't know, I just don't know."

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Draco and Hermione sat on his bed playing with Cody. He was growing up so fast. He was nine months old and could sit up on his own now without support.

Cody tipped over on the bed when Draco was playing with him and started crying uncontrollably. Hermione pulled him to her chest. "I think someone's getting a little tired," She laughed. He had had a long day, she was surprised he had lasted this long.

"Can I put him down for a nap?" asked Draco. He kind of liked taking care of the little guy. Cody was already pretty much asleep against Hermione's shoulder. "Shhh" she put her finger to her lips.

She slid Cody carefully of her shoulder into Draco's arms. "
Shh, hold on little man." He whispered in his ear as he carried him into the nursery next door. Hermione watched as he carefully lowered Cody into the crib and tucked his blanket around him. He grabbed a teddy bear off the floor and set it in the crib next to him.

Draco leaned into the crib and gave Cody a quick gentle kiss on the forehead.

He walked back to Hermione's room pulling the door with him so it was left open just a crack. Hermione smiled up at him touched at how much he cared for Cody already.

"You hungry?" he asked. She grinned "Starving!" She hadn't eaten all day but it was too late for them to go down to the kitchens.

He held out his arm to her, "Come on, I'll whip you something up in our kitchen." Hermione looked at him in shock. "You can cook?" She asked him. He laughed at her. "You'd be surprised at some of the things I can do!" He raised his eyebrow at her and she followed him downstairs.

Draco bustled around the kitchen with ease getting everything needed to make spaghetti and meat sauce.

"Anything I can do to help?" Hermione asked watching him from the doorway.

"Yeah" Draco smirked at her. "You can make a salad if you want." Hermione nodded and started cutting up cucumbers. Carrots, tomatoes, and other salad specialties.

"So" She broke the silence. "What are your plans for after Hogwarts?" Draco looked over at her at her random question. " Um, I want to be an auror." Hermione smiled. "Really? That's great!" Draco smirked back obviously thrilled that she approved.

"So, what about you? Miss Bookworm?" He wondered. Hermione lowered her head in embarrassment. "I, I want to teach, be a potions professor here at Hogwarts." Draco turned around to look at her. "Wow Mione that'd be great!" He said. "Really?" She wondered. "Well, sure, the new potions professor after Snape sucks! You could defiantly take her spot!" He snickered.

Hermione was beaming as she tossed croutons into the salads. Draco stirred to sauce over low heat. Hermione made her way over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Draco, I don't know how I would take care of Cody and deal with all this by myself. I'm really glad you're here."

Draco wrapped his arms around her. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Hermione, I love that little boy sleeping up there! I will do anything to keep the both of you safe. You can count on me."

Hermione put her head on his shoulder giving him a hug. "I know," She whispered into his ear.

Then from upstairs they heard the sound of a young boy bawling from his crib.

Draco laughed. "Well, I guess he's not sleeping anymore!" Hermione laughed and went to the cupboard to mix up some formula. Draco went upstairs to get Cody.

He crept into the nursery. "Hey little man, couldn't sleep very long could you?" Cody was standing up hanging onto the bars of his crib.

Scared he would fall Draco hurried over and lifted him out. Cody sleepily laid his head on Draco's shoulder. He carried him downstairs on his hip.

Hermione sat on the counter feeding Cody while Draco finished the spaghetti.

They heard a knock at the portrait door before it swung open and Blaise and Kelsey came into the kitchen.

"Mmmmm, somethin' smells good!" Blaise said smirking at Draco.

Draco laughed. "Gee Blaise, would you like some?" Blaise sat down at the table and put his feet up. "Well, now that you mention it!"

Kelsey came over and knocked his feet off the table. "Mind your manners!" She scolded him. Blaise smirked at her. "Yes Mum" Everyone laughed then quieted at the sight of the sleeping boy in Hermione's arms.

"Just let me bring him back upstairs." Said Hermione. When she returned downstairs. Draco had served up the spaghetti and they all sat down to eat. Hermione had to admit, Draco could cook.

"So, Hermione have you talked to Harry at all since…" Hermione looked at her spaghetti. "Since tonight? No, I don't know what's gotten into him." "He just doesn't trust you guys, but that's his problem I guess, He doesn't know what he's missing." Blaise raised his glass. "Yeah I'll toast to that!" They all clinked glasses with Blaise.

Blaise and Kelsey didn't leave until almost 2:00 in the morning. Sometime during the night Hermione and Kelsey had sacked out on the couch. Blaise shook Kelsey awake and led her out the portrait door, clapping Draco on the shoulder. Draco looked at Hermione on the couch.

Deciding not to wake her, he carefully slid one hand under her back, the other under her legs, and carried her upstairs. He pushed her door open with his back and set her on her bed. He pulled the covers over her. She looked so peaceful in her sleep. She was beautiful.

Tearing his eyes away from her he stepped into Cody's room looking down at the sleeping boy. He was snoring lightly, his blanket twisted around him. Draco leaned down and corrected the blanket. He loved that little boy, and he had only known him for a month or so. Draco wondered why he had such a soft spot for the boy.

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Hermione woke up facing the clock on her bedside table. It read 3:30 AM. Beside the clock was a picture of her parents at the lake. Hermione was beside them. Her mom was pregnant. That was the weekend before Cody was born.

Hermione picked up the picture and rolled over on her back staring at the photo in the moonlight. She missed them terribly. Hermione could barely see the picture when tears clouded her vision. She set the picture back on the table and went into the nursery.

She carried Cody back into her room and held him next to her. She watched him, how peaceful he looked sleeping. She stroked his hair, "Don't worry Cody, I'm going to take care of you. I can be your mommy now. And, I'm going to tell you all about Mom and Dad so you don't forget about them." Her voice shook. She didn't even remember falling asleep.

From the chair in the nursery, Draco had heard the whole thing.

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