Husband.
The word ran through Draco's head as Hermione ushered her parents into the house. Mr. and Mrs. Granger greeted Harry, Ginny, and Ron warmly as they moved from the dining room table.
"We better be going," Harry said, his cheeks slightly red. "Girls! Come on, let's go!"
Harry, Ginny, Jamie, and Lily Flooed back to Grimmuald place, though Ron lingered slightly, an amused but evil smile on his face. "You guys have fun," he said, happily.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Ayden and Damien cried, rushing into the living room. Mr. Granger lifted Damien from his wheelchair and spun him around.
"Careful, Dad," Hermione said.
"Oh, he's a tough kid, he'll be fine," Mr. Granger said.
"I'm not worried about Damien, I'm worried about your bad back."
Mr. Granger chuckled before setting down with Damien in his lap. Mrs. Granger sat next to them, holding Ayden.
"Um, Hermione?" Draco said. "Why don't we get, um, Mr. and Mrs. Granger –"
"No need for formalities, darling," Mrs. Granger said, smiling. "It's mum and dad."
Draco gave a nervous laugh and said, "Right. Well, then, let's get – mum and dad something to drink, shall we?'
"Right," Hermione said, following him into the kitchen.
When the swinging door closed behind them and Hermione had shut the shade that let people in the living room look into the kitchen, Draco raised his hands to his head. "Husband!" he whispered.
"I didn't know what else to tell them!" Hermione whispered back. "I mean I popped out two kids with no husband in sight! And my parents are very . . . traditional. So I told them I had a husband but he was always travel because of Quidditch. At least I said it was something you liked to do rather writing books or something," Hermione added when Draco gave her a look.
"So what am I supposed to do when they start asking questions about Quidditch or about us? And how am I supposed to act when it comes to you?"
"My parents are Muggles, Draco. They wouldn't know a Quaffle from a Snitch. The boys are going on five years old so we've been 'married' for close to six years and for our 'honeymoon' we went to Hawaii. As for us, we're kind of still newlyweds so we kind of have to act like – like we're in love."
Draco stared at her as she turned pink in the face, rushing around the kitchen to grab beverages and a tray. They were supposed to act as if they were in love? Sure he was sure he had feelings for her but could he actually act like he loved her?
"It'll only be for a day," Hermione was saying
He focused enough to see Hermione heading towards the door with the tray, trying to back out of the kitchen. He rushed over and took the tray from her saying, "Let me carry that for you, darling."
Hermione smiled, holding open the door for him.
"So Draco, how is, oh what is it called again Jane – right, how is Quidditch?" Mr. Granger asked, after the drinks were passed out.
"It's going really well at the moment," Draco answered. "My team is pretty much top in our league. But I'm glad we got a break because I was able to come home and be with my wife and kids."
"It must be hard," Mrs. Granger said. "I could never imagine being away for as long as you have to be."
"It is hard," Draco said, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulder. "But I keep a picture of Hermione and the boys in my suitcase so I can see them every day."
Hermione chuckled slightly leaning into Draco a little more and whispering, "Overdoing it."
"Doing what you ask me to," he whispered back.
Ayden and Damien were watching all this from the grandparents' laps, giggling at what was going on. Hermione noticed, a slight frown coming to her face. "Why don't you boys go and play? Ayden, maybe you could help Damien walk around without his wheelchair."
"Yes mommy," the boys replied. Ayden crawled off his grandmother's lap, helping Ayden down too. Slowly, they walked off while Mr. and Mrs. Granger continued the conversation.
"You two planning on any more of them?" Mr. Granger asked.
Draco almost choked on his drink. Hermione covered for him as he coughed. "We hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, don't take too long to think about it," Mrs. Granger said. "God knows we'd love to have some more grandchildren."
Draco laughed nervously before turning to another subject. Dentistry.
Hermione smiled to herself. Even though they were technically lying to her parents, Draco seemed to be genuinely comfortable around them, laughing politely at her dad's corny jokes and listening with interest to her mom's story. They even continued to talk after Hermione went to tuck the boys into bed.
"I think we should all hit the hay," Mr. Granger said, stretching as he got to his feet.
"I'll go get your suitcases from the car, dad," Draco said.
"Why thank you, Draco, my boy."
Draco walked out the front door and the Grangers turned to smile at Hermione. "Well?" she asked.
"He seems like a very nice young man," Mrs. Granger said. "And he's very handsome."
"I don't know if I really like him not being here so much to watch over you and the boys," Mr. Granger said. "But at least it's to make sure you all still have a roof over your heads."
"But you like him, right?" Hermione said.
"Of course we like him, dear," Mrs. Granger said. "But are you happy?"
Hermione grinned. "Extremely happy."
Draco came back into the house with the suitcases and Hermione led the way to the spare bedroom towards the back of the house.
"We'll see you in the morning," Hermione said to her parents, taking Draco's hand.
"Should I just –" Draco said, nervously as they headed up the stairs.
"You might need to stay a while," Hermione said, her cheeks turning red. "Just in case my mom does that whole . . . checking up thing."
They entered Hermione's bedroom where Draco Apparated to his house to get his pajamas and Hermione turned her queen size bed into two twin beds. She finished changing just as Draco came back, now dressed in his own pajamas.
"I'm really sorry about this, Draco," Hermione said. "It seems like I've been doing a lot of lying lately."
Draco climbed into his bed, shrugging. "It's not like I've never lied before. Don't – don't worry about it."
Hermione grinned at him. "Thanks, Draco – You really don't know how much this all means –"
There was a knock on the door and Hermione grabbed her wand, flicking it and making the two beds come together. She feel into Draco and he caught her, his arms encircling her waist. "Come in," Hermione called.
The door opened slightly and Mrs. Granger peeked in. "Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said.
"Not at all, mum," Hermione said, turning in Draco's arms to face the door.
"I just wanted to come say goodnight and have a good night's rest," she said. "Love you both."
She closed the door and Hermione let out a deep sigh. "Uh Draco?"
"Hmm?"
"You can – you can let go of me now."
"Oh, er, right." Draco let go of her and Hermione scooted the beds apart again.
"Goodnight, Draco," Hermione said. "And . . . thanks."
Draco smiled at her, shrugging. "Don't mention it."
Hermione smiled back, using her wand to turn off the light. Draco rolled over onto his side, wishing for a moment that Hermione hadn't moved the beds apart.