Here's the new chapter! To those of you who have reviewed, thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad that you are enjoying it!

Chapter 3

Hermione stepped out of the Floo network at the Leaky Cauldron, son in tow. She gripped her child's hand and walked through the dim establishment towards the back door and the entry to Diagon Alley. Taking her wand in hand, she tapped the correct bricks and her son watched in amazement as the colours and noise of the wizard shopping area came into view.

Aquila seemed to be immediately overwhelmed by the noise and sights before them. He buried his face in her thigh and wrapped his arms tightly around her leg. Hermione suddenly realized that he had probably never been outside of the orphanage grounds. She bent down and swept him up in her arms. He was so thin and small, he seemed to weigh nothing, but he orphanage mediwitch had assured her that he was a little underweight, but otherwise healthy.

"Look Aquila! This is Diagon Alley. We will find Uncle Ron and Aunt Pansy first, then we will find you some things at the store to take home." She nuzzled his neck, inhaling his scent, memorizing it as only a mother can. He giggled at the feeling of his mother's nose tickling his neck. She kissed his cheek and walked toward the cafe where she usually met up with Pansy.

Her son kept his head on her shoulder and looked wide-eyed at everything all around him. Soon he was pointing at different sights. "What's dat, mama?" "See dat, mama?" He kept her busy answering questions, and soon they reached the table where Ron and Pansy were seated. Pansy looked like she wanted to explode with excitement.

"Oh, look at him! He's so sweet!" she cooed. "Would you like to come see Aunt Pansy?" She held out her towards the child, palms up.

"It's ok Aquila, Aunt Pansy is very nice. She will be spending a lot of time with us." Hermione looked down at the little blonde head on her shoulder. She knew that Ron and Pansy couldn't see him completely yet. And she sincerely hoped they would handle it gracefully. She didn't need her son traumatized by a Ronald Weasley tantrum.

Aquila picked up his head and looked at Pansy. Hermione saw the recognition in her eyes immediately. Pansy gasped, but seemed to recover quickly, not wanting to frighten the little boy. "Aunt Pan?" the little boy looked at his mama, who gave him a smile of encouragement, and he leaned forward to allow Pansy to take him in her arms.

They searched each other's faces for a moment and Aquila wrapped his arms around her neck, giving her a small hug and resting his head on her shoulder. Hermione watched as Aquila smiled and closed his eyes. "I like Aunt Pan," he murmured, as he quietly dozed off.

Pansy melted, "If you hadn't already adopted him, I would Hermione. I'm in love!" she gently placed her cheek against his hair and a tear fell from the corner of her eye. She gave Hermione a pointed look. "We do need to talk later, though."

Ron stood up and came around to the other side of Pansy in order to get a look at the boy. "Hermione, I can't believe you would go off and do this without letting us know. What made you decide to do adopt a child?" Hermione watched his face. He didn't seem to be angry, just curious about how she came to this decision. He turned his head to get a good look at the boy sleeping on his girlfriend's shoulder. He took in the hair and the pale features, and both women could see the realization dawn on him. He turned to Hermione and fortunately had the sense to speak quietly so as not to wake the child. "Are you daft? That boy is a Malfoy!"

Hermione felt as if she had been slapped, but before she could react, Pansy had already turned on Ron and slugged him in the shoulder as hard as she could. "Ronald Weasley!" she hissed quietly. "This child is a Granger and don't you forget it! He is Hermione's son and she loves him. I'm sure Hermione will tell us how this child came to be at the orphanage when she is ready."

"Thanks, Pansy, we can talk about all that another time, when Aquila isn't around." She turned to face her ginger headed best friend. "Ron, this is MY son, Aquila Harry Ronald Granger. And here is how we met..."

She proceeded to tell them how Aquila's magic must have been calling to her for several months to draw her to the orphanage, and what had happened the moment they met to bond them together. She spoke about his name and how she decided to leave his first name the same since he was already familiar with it.

By the time she had finished, she had taken her son from Pansy and they were all sitting at the table, Aquila settled into his mother's lap, napping. Ron sat quietly for a moment, and Hermione couldn't help but brace herself for what could be a most uncomfortable discussion.

"Well, Hermione," said Ron, watching Aquila peacefully slumbering against his new mum's shoulder. "We definitely need to get this kid to my mum. He needs to eat."

"Ok, love." Pansy reached over and patted Ron on the arm. "You can show him the ropes at the Weasley dinner table, it is something you have an affinity for!"

Hermione laughed loudly before remembering that her son was sleeping. "Mama?" she heard the small, sleepy voice.

'Oops,' she thought.'I've got to remember to keep it down a little.' "Shhh, go back to sleep, love. Mum's sorry she woke you."

He yawned loudly and put his head back on her shoulder, his pale strands of hair making a stark contrast against her brunette curls. He curled his fingers in her hair and pulled a strand to his face. Holding the curls against his cheek, he sighed and smiled. "Ok, mama, you smell nice." He drifted off to sleep again.

Hermione kissed the top of his little head, then settled her cheek against the place she just kissed.

"My heart is so full right now. I don't know how I ever lived before without this incredible, beautiful child." The tears welled up, shimmering in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his small body without squeezing too tightly. "I want to give him everything! I would die for him in an instant. I don't know how else to explain my feelings right now." The tears were flowing freely now, giving evidence of the magnitude of her feelings.

Ron watched the happiness and love radiating from his best friend. Pansy brought a handkerchief out of her purse and handed it to Hermione, who used the cloth to wipe the tears away. She took a few breaths to get herself together.

At this point, Ron thought it best to change the subject. "Well, let's go shopping for my nephew." He was rewarded for his acceptance and support with a wide smile from the new mother.

"Okay, Uncle Ron, let's go." She knew then that Ron had accepted her son. He would stand behind them, no matter what. Ron and Pansy got up, and Ron took Aquila from her arms and held the sleeping child close.

"Come on Hermione, I'm going to beat Harry at buying him his first broom." He grabbed Pansy's hand and headed for the Quidditch shop.

Hermione sat there for just a second, and then...

"What! Ronald Weasley! You are not buying my son a broom! He's too small for that yet! Do you want me to have a heart attack the first day I have him?"

She hurried after the couple who were kidnapping her son and planning dangerous activities for him. "Ronald, do you hear me? I said NO!"