Draco coughed and spluttered. Ginny turned to look at him; curious as to why he was having so much trouble. Hermione waved her hand and Draco stopped gagging.
'Draco, do you want to have another kid?' Ginny directed at him.
'Sure,' he said, trying to sound confident about it. However, he managed to say that one small word falteringly.
He gave Hermione pleading look to save him from further inquiries from Ginny. She patted the sofa next to her, and he sat down cautiously, potting an arm around Hermione. Hermione took his Butterbeer bottle and drank out of it.
'Hey,' he protested, reaching for it.
'I'm giving it back,' Hermione assured him, putting the bottle back in his open hand.
'So, um, why are you two talking about babies?' he asked cautiously.
'I'm pregnant,' Ginny told him.
'Congratulations,' he said genuinely.
'And,' Ginny started, 'Another bit of happy news is that Ron supposedly popped the question to Luna yesterday.'
'Really?' Hermione asked excitedly.
'Yes. And Harry and Ron are at work right now; they took young James with them, which I think was a bad idea. At any rate, they should pop in very soon.'
'We're going to need another sofa,' Draco commented suddenly.
'Or, we could just all go out to lunch,' Hermione said. 'I'll go get Aria ready.'
When Hermione got back into the room with Aria, Ron, James, and Harry had already arrived.
'Well?' Hermione asked expectantly.
'She said yes!' Ron exclaimed happily. Hermione gave him a big hug.
'Of course she did,' Hermione laughed. 'Why isn't she here, too, by the way?'
'Oh, she'll be along,' Ron replied confidently.
Sure enough, Luna popped in right then.
'Hello,' she said. 'I'm sure Ron has told you all that we're engaged,' she commented dreamily, as he put his arm around her waist.
'Have you got an engagement ring yet?' prompted Ginny.
Luna merely extended her left hand in response. Ginny and Hermione came and examined the ring. It was gold, set with a purple stone.
'Amethyst?' Ginny questioned.
'I like purple,' Luna replied, smiling.
'Makes sense to me,' Hermione said, agreeing with Luna for once.
'But of course, this is coming from the woman who has a diamond bordered by a ruby and an emerald,' Ginny pointed out.
'So?' Hermione laughed.
Ron cleared his throat. 'Um, can we go get some lunch now?' he asked.
'Sure,' Luna said. 'Let's go to that café in London.'
'OK,' Ron agreed.
'Where exactly, in London?' Draco inquired nervously.
'Muggle London,' Ron told him. 'We'll Floo to Harry and Ginny's and then drive.'
Draco looked rather uncomfortable. 'Muggle London?' he asked, wrinkling his nose. 'Why can't we go to, I don't know, say, Fortesque's?'
'Draco, you've been to cafes in Muggle London dozens of times, what's your issue?' Harry asked suspiciously.
'I'd rather not go where the crowds are.'
'Where the crowds are, or where the Muggles are?' Harry demanded. 'Hermione's a Muggleborn in case you haven't forgotten. It's like you're channelling your old self.'
'No,' Draco defended, drawling. 'I just wanted to Floo directly to the place instead of driving, Potter!' he spat.
Everyone gasped, and Harry looked dangerously angry.
Hermione thought quickly and acted before either Harry or Draco could do something stupid. She pressed the back of her hand to Draco's forehead.
'Draco! No wonder you're acting so strange! You're burning up! Go up to bed right now!' she ordered.
'But-'
'No buts, Draco Malfoy!' Hermione commanded shrilly. 'Get upstairs and I'll come check in on you later.'
She turned him around and gave him a shove out the door. She knew things could get ugly at any moment.
'Ari, poppet, be a good girl and go keep Daddy company,' she told her daughter.
Aria ran out of the room, calling to Draco, who picked her up. Ginny followed suit and quietly sent James with Ron and Luna, away.
Once Aria and Draco were out of earshot, Harry spoke up. 'What the HELL is wrong with him?!!' he shot accusingly at Hermione.
'I don't know, Harry,' Hermione said softly.
'I thought he was our friend!' Harry exclaimed. 'But it seems like the old Malfoy is back or something. You had to have known about this!'
Hermione suddenly snapped. 'HARRY JAMES POTTER!' she shouted. Harry began to get nervous. 'Don't you dare say things like that about my husband! Muggle London makes him nervous. He's still gets jumpy when there are large crowds, just as you do.' She paused for breath.
'And you say Malfoy like the name is worse than slime, like it is a disgrace, and forget that I am now a Malfoy too!!' Her eyes were flashing dangerously at this point. 'Do you possibly have any more insults for me?'
Harry shook his head, even though he was still visibly brassed off at Draco. He Disapparated to keep out of more trouble.
Once he had gone, Hermione collapsed onto the floor and burst into tears. To her surprise, Ginny knelt down next to her and gave her a hug to comfort her.
'Ginny, I'm sorry,' Hermione sobbed, as the other woman rubbed her back.
'Shh. It's alright,' Ginny assured her softly. After a while, Hermione finally stopped crying, and sat upright.
'Do you have anything you want to tell me?' asked Ginny, raising an eyebrow, 'because I've noticed some very strange things around here lately.'
'Yes,' Hermione replied, taking a deep breath. 'It all started yesterday morning, or rather, sometime during the night.'