The next morning Hermione was up bright and early. She stood in the Gryffindor Common Room, hands on her hips waiting for Ron.
"Ronald! We are going to be la- Emme, darling don't touch that. We are going to be late!" She yelled up the stairs. She turned around and grabbed Emme before she destroyed anything with her 'marauder's touch.' Ron came down the stairs looking quite dishevelled. He had managed to get his clothes on but his hair looked as messy as Harry's normally did. Hermione fidgeted with her blouse, it seemed to have gotten tighter in a certain area then it used to be.
"Glad to see two years hasn't changed your outlook on school Hermione…" Ron said grumpily. Hermione smiled at him and turned to head towards the portrait hole.
"I figured you wouldn't want to miss breakfast." She called over her shoulder grinning to herself. Ron mouthed what she said in a mocking manner before realising what she had actually said.
"Breakfast!" He said delighted, "The most important meal of the day!" He hurried after her so not to be late.
The three of them made their way to the Great Hall just as they were entering Luna joined them.
"Do you think they would allow me to join you?" She asked serenely wrapping her arm through Ron's. Ron grinned down at his wife,
"I don't see why not. Harry wouldn't say anything." He said walking towards the familiar table. Hermione bent down and picked up Emme. Settling the small toddler on her hip she marched over to the table. She looked up and down the table,
"How convenient…" She muttered sarcastically to herself pulling out her wand. She swished and flicked and transfigured a high chair for Emme. Seating her, Hermione took her place across from Ron and Luna. She proceeded to prepare a plate for Emmelia cutting up toast and blowing on porridge to cool it.
"Can I have a manana pwease?" Emme pointed to the fruit bowl, which within laid several ripe bananas. Grinning Hermione reached over and pulled one out unpeeling it she gave it over to her daughter. She continued to work on the breakfast plate. Content with her work she set the plate in front of Emme and started on her own.
Harry looked down at the Gryffindor Table from his spot at the high table, Professor McGonagall was talking animatedly with another Professor and Harry found himself feeling lonesome. He quietly excused himself and made his way over to his old friends. Sitting down he piled his plate up and unfortunately looked over at Ron who was stuffing his face like a thanksgiving turkey. Harry chortled,
"Ron…slow down your going to give us all a stomach ache." He shook his head and started to eat his breakfast,
"Look Hermione…I'm really sorry. I mean it…after class would you mind stopping by my office so we can talk…please?" He was practically begging her to come. Hermione sighed,
"Fine, I will come because I am a mature adult and I need to deal with this." She said lifting a napkin from her lap to wipe her mouth.
From her seat Emme began to softly whine, Hermione turned to face her,
"Yes?" She asked quietly. Emme looked longingly over at a group of other children playing with a ball in the other corner. Getting the message, Hermione smiled,
"Yes you may go play, after 3 more bites." She said tapping Emmelia's plate. Sighing in defeat Emme hastily shoved 3 awkward bites into her mouth, chewed and swallowed.
"Cwan I goo now Mummy?" She asked pleadingly. Hermione laughed softly and nodded. Reaching over she unbuckled the toddler and lifted her down from the seat. Emme toddled over to the other children and began to play with them.
Hermione propped her head up in the palm of her hand and let out a low sigh,
"It's depressing to see how independent she's becoming…" Hermione said wearily. Ron who had overheard his best mate looked up from his food, at first he thought of speaking with his mouth full but then swallowed and spoke,
"Well look who she has for parents…" He grinned, "You and Harry, the two most independent people I know besides Fred and George." Hermione laughed softly and continued to eat.
"Ronnie's got a point." Luna said lovingly running her hand through his hair in a dream like state. "You are quite independent and Harry's stubborn…so what can we say." She shrugged and looked back at Ron grinning widely.
Emme was playing nicely with the other children, sharing, and caring. They were playing catch, an older boy threw the ball a bit too hard and it went sailing over Emme's head. She grinned excitedly,
"I'll go get it!" She exclaimed quite clearly. Scuffling over to when the ball had plopped onto a table she hoisted herself up and reached into the porridge bowl to grab it. However a pale hand got there first, Emme turned to look at the man, he was smiling sweetly, and to anyone who knew him this wasn't something Draco Malfoy did. Emme reached over to take it from him, her hand brushed his and her eyes glazed over.
"He is not gone, one can brwing him back…" She shuttered and blinked her eyes, she looked at Malfoy and smiled,
"Thwank you.." She said precariously.
"My pleasure my dear…" He said chivalrously. As Emme went to help herself down, he caught her underneath her arms and helped her down. Standing up himself he led her back to the Gryffindor Table.
Handing her over roughly to Hermione he growled,
"You lost some more trash Mudblood." His eyes flashed dangerously, "I wouldn't let that child near the others, it might contaminate them." He smirked. Hermione lifted Emme quickly into her lap and gave her a once over to check she was ok. Harry stood up protectively when Malfoy arrived, Draco looked from Hermione to Harry to Hermione and then to Emme before letting out a cold, humorous laugh,
"How utterly disgusting…Mudblood and the Boy-who-should've-died had a child." Draco laughed again and looked to Emme. He reached forward and stroked her under the chin like a kitty,
"Be careful precious…" He said coolly, "With someone as darling as her, we wouldn't want something to happen," He laughed again before turning on his heel making sure his cloak flared out behind him and strutted back to the Slytherin Table.
"Ohh…the nerve." Hermione growled, "Who does he think he is, we won and he still acts as though he owns the place." She said checking Emme over,
"Did he hurt you Luvvy?" She asked sweetly. Emme completely ignored her mother trying to reach for her juice cup, once she had succeeded, Emme turned to Harry and held out her arms opening and closing her palms cup safely tucked in her underarm, to signify she wanted up, to Harry. Harry shrugged and bent over picking up Emme. He held her close protectively; Emme nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck.
"He's a bwad bwad man.." She pronounced quietly to Harry, who was looking over at the Slytherin table.
"Yes…yes he is." He said quietly sitting down again.
Hermione looked over at Harry and Emmelia. She sighed, there was no denying he wouldn't make a good father. A child was all he needed, having grown up without proper parents of his own. There was also no doubt Emme wouldn't love him. She was exactly like her grandfather, smart and yet mischievous. Hermione laughed softly when Harry handed Emme another banana, that child could live on bananas that was for sure. Emme proceeded to allow Harry the chance to have a bite only to smear it on his nose having missed her target. Well the seventh year Gryffindors burst out in laughter and hoots. Emme giggled excitedly thinking they were laughing at her. She grinned and proceeded to dump her juice cup over Harry's head. The look on Harry's face was complete shock, at first Emme thought he would yell but he just kissed her nose and swooped her in the air like an airplane, both giggling all the while.
