Borrowed Hearts

Summary: 'You know how you like to make up stories sometimes honey? Well this is going to be just like that. We're going to pretend for a little while.'
Based on the Christmas movie by the same name.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own the rights to neither the Harry Potter books nor the movie Borrowed Hearts
Author's Note: Alright, so I'm finishing this story despite it being past the holidays now due to the increasing interest in the plot. Thanks to all my readers… most specially my reviewers as well though! I hope you enjoy this next chapter! It's kind of short. Originally chapter 7 and 8 were going to be combined but I'm still working on 8 and thought this would be a nice short chapter to tide you over with while you wait. It's late so my editing skills are probably off again so if you see a spelling or grammar error again I apologize.

Enjoy the story!

Chapter 7: Josie Tells A Story

Dinner that night progressed relatively smoothly. Hermione and Del Campo seemed to hit it off extremely well and continued to chat amiably throughout the meal.

"Señor Malfoy!" Del Campo exclaimed at one point. "You are a very lucky man to have such a beautiful wife and charming daughter!"

"Very lucky," Draco replied, smiling back at his guest. "So far…" He added under his breath.

As the dinner drew to a close and dessert began to get passed out Del Campo raised his glass high into the air.

"I would like to propose a toast," he began. The others raised their glasses into the air as well. "To my lovely hostess who has been so graceful as to welcome me into her home."

Del Campo turned to Draco, as if expecting him to say something. Draco cleared his throat.

"Well then… to my… wife."

He looked across the table at Hermione who appeared slightly surprised yet amused before bringing her glass to her lips.

Del Campo observed the two with a slight grin on his face. "You two make a very charming couple, if you don't mind my saying so."

"Don't they though?" Blaise replied with a smile, slapping Draco on the back cheerfully.

"I wonder, how long have you two been married?" Del Campo asked curiously.

"Eight years."

"Ten years."

Hermione and Draco both paused at their slip up, looking nervously at each other.

"You're right," Draco said after a moment of silence, laughing slightly to ease the tension. "It has been eight years. Seems longer."

Hermione laughed along as well, eager to try to smooth the situation over as best as possible. Del Campo and Blaise chuckled slightly as well.

"It is always curious to hear how a couple first met," Del Campo continued. "Tell me Señor, how did you first meet your wife?"

Draco paused, a fork full of his dessert almost to his lips. "Well… um…" he glanced at Hermione who seemed to be looking at him expectantly. "Why don't you go ahead and tell this one dear?"

Hermione smiled, not even batting an eye lash. "Oh but you tell it sooo much better."

"Oh… well, maybe I do," Draco shot her a look.

"An angel brought them together," Josie declared, looking up from her dessert for the first time since it had been set in front of her. Everyone turned to look at Josie.

"An angel?" Del Campo repeated curiously. "Really?"

Josie nodded. "He didn't look like an angel because on earth they wear their wings inside. But he was an angel alright."

Del Campo looked at Josie intriguingly, a slight smile on his lips. "I see… And just what did this angel do?"

Josie paused, unsure if she should continue on with her story or not. Hermione, however, nodded her approval and Josie continued.

"He told my mom she was going to meet the man she was going to fall in love with. But she didn't believe him because she doesn't believe in angels. Then, one day, she was standing in line at a restaurant and she heard this man come up behind her and she thought, 'That's him! Not, the man I am supposed to meet but the man I am supposed to fall in love with!' And it was him… my dad, I mean. And they fell in love and got married and had me. And we lived happily ever after in this house!"

There was silence as Josie finished the story and continued to sit there, staring at the group of adults around her. After a while, however, Del Campo began to laugh.

"What a romantic story!" Del Campo said at last, still chuckling. "Did it really happen like that?"

Draco, who had been staring open mouthed, promptly shut it. "Absolutely," he assured.

"I know another one!" Josie exclaimed, pleased that her first story had gone over so well.

At this, though, Hermione shook her head. "Maybe later honey… Right now it's time for you to go to bed. Say goodnight to Señor Del Campo."

Josie pouted slightly but got up none-the-less. She crossed over to Del Campo and curtsied once more.

"Buenos noches, Señor."

Del Campo smiled kindly. "And to you Josie."

Next, Josie went over near Draco. She stood next to his chair, fidgeting slightly. "Goodnight…" She said. "Daddy."

Draco smiled slightly at the small girl before him. "Goodnight Josie."

Josie leaned in and gave him a quick hug before running over to her mother and following her out of the room.

"What a precocious child," Del Campo commented, once Josie was out of the room.

Blaise nodded. "Isn't she though?"

Author's Note #2: This chapter was relatively short but I really wanted to get this out now when I had the chance. The next chapter should be up sometime Monday so check back then! Until then though, please review!