"When did you learn to cook?"

Hermione examined the crumbly apple pie on the edge of her fork. She could not picture Narcissa Malfoy in the kitchen, let alone playing "mommy me" with a young Draco.

Draco did not look up from his pie.

"A house-elf named Nan," he replied. "Oldest, battiest thing you'd ever hope to see."

Hermione bristled at his words. She placed her fork down with a slight clatter and glared across the table.

He scooped up some filling, not paying her the least bit of mind.

"I owe a lot to her," he said calmly.

Hermione was surprised by his words. She was not sure how to respond. Apparently, he did not need her to.

"After the war, I did not know what to do with myself. To the Wizarding World, I was marked a traitor, so I didn't fancy going out. Most days I stayed hidden in the Manor, locked away in this room or that, wallowing in self pity. Nan found me like that one afternoon."

He gave a chuckle and popped the piece into his mouth, chewing.

"She told me to get up and quit sulking. Coming from a house-elf, you can imagine how I took it. When I was done yelling, she calmly took me by the hand, cleaned me up, and lead me to the kitchen. After her first lesson, I did not leave."

He smiled across to her.

"At first, it was because I did not want to be bested by a house-elf. Then it was just about perfecting each dish. Eventually, it was just fun."

He leaned back in his chair, looking at her expectantly.

It ruined her mood. Did he expect her to remember something from his past now, too?

She pushed her plate away and rose from the table. As she passed him, going into the sitting room, he glanced up.

"The first time you heard that story, you cried. Afterwards, we went to visit Nan's grave."

He still gave her that expecting look. But instead of getting upset, she studied him back.

Did he really think it would be as easy as that? Recite a few moments and everything would come flooding back?

She walked on.

~*~*~*~

Hermione curled up in a plush chair with a photo album she had found among the books in the master bedroom.

There were some photos that showed one or the other of them, but most featured both.

There were photos of Draco playing one-on-one Quidditch with Harry while she and Ginny spectated. One showed them at a restaurant with her parents (the waiter must have taken the photo for them). One even showed them in the back garden of the Manor, having tea with Narcissa. In the bottom of the photo, she could just make out an older house-elf bringing in a tray of cut sandwiches and she wondered if it was Nan.

A wrap on the doorframe pulled her from her ponderings. She looked up.

Draco leaned against the frame. His blonde hair was wet from a shower and silk sleepwear flowed off his frame.

"I'm finished in the shower if you'd like one."

She closed the album and folded it into the chair beside her.

"Yeah...okay."

Draco began to walk away.

"Hey, Malfo-" She cleared her throat. "Draco."

He turned back, surprise clear on his face.

She took a breath. No other way but to plunge ahead.

"How did all...this begin?" She looked up, a need to understand burning through her.

Draco looked at the book beside her and nodded. He walked over to the other chair, took a seat, and began speaking.

"Well, I've told you how pathetic I was back then. So, I guess, in a way, this all began that..."

He leaned forward, propping his forearms on his knees. His hands linked together, clasping one another tightly.

"You see, Theo and Luna decided that I needed to get out more."

Hermione's eyebrows rose. "Theodore Nott and Luna Lovegood? Really?"

Draco chuckled. "Yeah, none of us saw that coming. Anyways, they were taking little Rosemarie to the Platform for her first year at Hogwarts and insisted - Luna can be very demanding in her own way - that I come along for the joyous occasion. Theo, being my best mate and one of the only people left willing to deal with me, I could not refuse."

He ran a hand over his drying hair, slicking it back. He leaned back.

"To this day, I still believe it was a set up, though both Ginny and Luna deny it. Harry and Ginny just happened to arrive at the exact time with you. Normally, that would not have meant much to either of us. We had run into each other plenty of times."

Hermione nodded. It was hard to go through Diagon Alley and not run into one schoolmate or another. She and Draco had passed by each other more times than she could count, each avoiding the other in the utmost obvious ways. Which was why this was so baffling for her.

"One thing led to another and, somehow, we got seperated: I from my group and you from yours, but not from one another. You tried to walk away...but something gnawed at me. I'm not sure if Nan's lessons were working their magic on me or if the guilt just weighed too heavy. As you turned for the exit, I yelled out." He raised his hands for added gesture. "'I'm sorry!' with all the little Hogwart students and their parents, some from our year, swarming around us. Needless to say, it caused a nasty scene. But you just stood there, rigid as a board. You did not even turn around."

He caught her eyes and held them.

"But I heard you, over all the din. 'Me, too,' you whispered. And that was what caught me. 'Me, too.' As if you had anything to apologize for..."

He gave a small shrug. "After that, it all just sort of came together. We began speaking, then meeting, then...more."

Hermione was hung on his every word like that of a good book. She longed for what he said. Had craved it almost. But now...she couldn't even remember falling in love.

The moment faded as she processed what was said.

The grandfather clock in the hall chimed twelve, midnight.

Draco stood.

"I believe that's enough of a bedtime story. I'm off to sleep. If you would like, I will show you to the rooms and you can decide which would make you more comfortable."

Hermione nodded, though she was not the least bit tired.

She followed him to the master bedroom and found her face heating instantly. When he turned to ask, she immediately shook her head. There was no way she could sleep in there tonight.

Draco nodded and did not push the subject. Silently, he lead her to the smaller room.

He opened the door for her and stepped to the side. She peered in.

It was very nice and very un-them. The lack of their presence in the room calmed her.

"Why is this room so different from the rest of the house?" She found herself asking before stepping through to look around.

Draco hesitated. She turned to face him.

"Mal- Draco?"

He looked over her, framed by the purple bed, white nightstand, and pearl dresser.

"It belongs to our daughter."

Hermione felt as if the floor had been swept from under her. She stumbled back, her legs colliding with the mattress. She sat down.

"Daughter?" She choked out.

Draco rushed forward, reaching out to her.

She flinched away.

How could she forget she had a daughter? Where was she? Why hadn't anyone mentioned her before?

Draco stood beside her, arms limp at his sides.

"We have a daughter?" She asked, pushing tufts of hair away from her hot face.

"Well, soft of."

Her head jerked up. She gave him a hard look.

"Either we do or we don't. Quit playing games with me, Malfoy. Where is our daughter?"

"Sister Janynce's Orphanage for Witches and Wizards."

All the strength rushed from Hermione's body. She felt like a limp noodle, leaning back against a bed post for support.

Could this night get any more shocking?

Draco sat on the bed beside her, keeping a bit of distance between them.

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to upset you..."

He looked down to the floor, with its light pink rug - how did she miss that?

"The healers told me to go slow. They were afraid that it would overload you if you had to remember our marriage and a family all at once...I did not mean to keep it from you."

Hermione did not answer. She felt numb and a little nauseous.

"Why is she at an orphanage?" She felt stupid for asking, but her mind was running slow at the moment.

Draco looked up.

"It hasn't been finalized yet."

Hermione nodded, as if it all made sense.

"We had one more meeting, one more signing, before we could begin to move her in...but then this happened. We missed our appointment. Sister Jaynyce knows our situation. Everything is still in place for when - if - you decide you want this."

She decides. Her decision. This life, with all its comfy nooks and crannies, all its curve balls and sudden stops, all the craziness thrown into the pot.

Hermione took a breath.

"Tell me about her."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations.

Hi, guys! I kinda feel like this bit was all over the place, but I hope ya'll like it anyways!