Disclaimer:
B4 on MPES:
"Hey," Hermione said softly and Narcissa noticed her presence. She quickly pulled herself away from Draco.
"Hello, dear," she said, smiling and wiping the tears from her face. Hermione smiled.
"Hey, Mia," Draco said before he extended his arm, beckoning his fiancée. Hermione came without question, latching onto him.
"I told you, Narcissa," she said as she felt Draco's arm hold her to him. The older woman smiled.
"I know, Hermione... I know," she whispered. Draco smiled and kissed Hermione's hair lightly.
@--^-----
CHAPTER FIVE: Melville
During dinner, Narcissa sat at the head of the table, Harry and Draco to either side. Beside the men were their respective others, followed by their children. The first half of the meal consisted entirely of eating and small talk, as per normal in the Malfoy household. Jr. and Eric told everyone about school, Narcissa shared her experiences in the new areas of the city she'd explored, and Harry and Ginny announced that they'd be leaving for a month on an unavoidable business trip, starting next week. Eric didn't seem happy about this at all, but Harry grinned at him and rustled his hair, making the boy smile.
Hermione stayed, for the most part, quiet. She had nothing to tell. Everyone knew what her day had consisted of- Draco. Draco, and Jr. There was nothing more of interest in her schedule. Draco too, remained quiet. He would have his turn later. Hermione was smiling all through the meal, which was quite delicious in her opinion. Narcissa had never made Swedish meatballs before... probably because they were, in fact, Draco's favorite. Hermione watched both her Dracos closely. Jr. seemed overly energetic in his story telling, and Draco kept his eyes on his son, smiling proudly. Everything was so perfect. Picture perfect... magazine perfect... Partridge family perfect... she could have cried.
~
"Are you done, sweetie?" Hermione asked the little blonde boy beside her and Jr. grinned, sauce smeared across his face.
"Yes, Mummy." Hermione smiled at him and pulled the napkin from his collar.
"Okay. Why don't you go brush your teeth, hm?" she said, wiping his mouth and tossing the napkin on the table. Jr. looked mildly horrified.
"But Mummy! It's only six o'clock... I don't want to go to bed yet!" he wined and Hermione smiled slightly.
"I didn't say go to bed, I said brush your teeth," she reminded him, but Jr. still looked reluctant. "Go on, Draco. I'll meet you upstairs in a little while, okay?" Jr. sighed.
"Okay, Mummy," he said and jumped down from his chair, sluggishly moving toward the staircase. Once he was out of sight, Eric sighed and stood up.
"Where are you going, baby?" Ginny asked him and Eric paused, turning to address the adults, all of which were staring at him. He shrugged.
"With Draco, I guess. I'm going to get sent out in a minute, anyway, aren't I? You guys don't have to make up an excuse if you're going to have 'grown- up talk'. You can just tell me," he said and Ginny looked sympathetically at him. She turned to the man beside her.
"Harry," she said softly and he nodded.
"That was very adult of you, Eric. I think... if it's okay with Aunt Mina, you can stay here." Eric snapped his head toward his Aunt. Hermione was startled. She looked at Draco.
"I-I..." Draco nodded at her. "Well of course you can stay, Eric." Eric looked surprised, but smiled widely and took his seat.
"Thank you Aunt Mina," he said, extremely happy. He was going to enjoy being able to do something Draco couldn't for as long as it lasted. Meanwhile, Narcissa was getting impatient.
"So, tell us what we're waiting to here, Draco," she suggested and Draco sighed, beginning his story.
Quite a long time later, after Draco had finished and everyone had drained themselves of questions, Narcissa and Hermione began to clear the dishes. The Potter family ascended the stairs, but Draco stayed behind.
"Let me help you, Mia," he said and Hermione laughed, stepping toward him. She brought a hand over his chest and to the back of his neck, the other holding a small pile of dishes.
"I've been doing this for years, Draco. I've got it. Go check on Jr. for me?" Draco looked somewhat torn. Hermione knew he WANTED to check on their son, but he felt like he should help her. She smiled.
"Are you sure, Mia? Because I can..." he reached for her dishes, but she pulled them away.
"Yes, I'm sure. Go ahead; you know you want to," Hermione said once again and Draco sighed, giving in.
"Okay," he said and she smiled, giving him an intimate kiss. This too provided conflict. Draco didn't seem to want to stop. Hermione was reluctant as well, but she laughed and pushed him softly.
"Go," she said, smiling and Draco pouted, but turned and headed up the stairs. Hermione watched him go, then turned toward the kitchen, picking up another small stack of dishes on the way. She shook her head. "They are so alike it's almost scary," she said happily to Narcissa, who laughed.
"Yes, but you've got them both wrapped around your finger, Hermione, you do realize that." Hermione smiled.
"'Tis a gift," she said as she dropped the dishes into the soapy water, where a sponge was already scrubbing furiously, and Narcissa laughed again. She stepped toward her future daughter and wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm so happy for you, Hermione." Hermione smiled.
"I'm just happy in general," she said blissfully and both women laughed before beginning to clean up the cooking mess.
@--^-----
It was almost a half an hour before Hermione managed to make it upstairs. She quietly crept to her son's room, noticing to door was open. She could hear Jr. talking, but didn't know what about until she stepped into the doorway. With a wide smile, she leaned against the doorframe.
Draco and Jr. were sitting together on the floor, leaning back against the bed. Jr. was already wearing his pajamas, and concentrating hard on the words of a simple thirty-two page children's book while Draco absently stroked the boy's hair. Neither noticed Hermione.
"Next, Jack the puppy met a ba-... met a ba-d..." Jr. read and looked up. "What's this word, Daddy?"
"Badger," Draco provided with a smile, and Jr. grinned, turning back to the book.
"Jack the puppy met a badger. 'Hello Mr. Badger,' Jack said..." Hermione felt her heart swell and stepped away from the doorway. She walked far enough down the hall where she wouldn't be heard, and burst into tears. She was just so happy... Unfortunately, Narcissa was just coming up the stairs, and was quite alarmed to find Hermione so upset.
"Hermione! What happened, honey?" she asked, quickly coming to her aid. Hermione grinned and wiped her eyes.
"Oh, Narcissa, you have to see it," she said happily, much to the older woman's confusion. Hermione pulled Narcissa down the hallway, motioning for her to be quiet. She complied, still confused. Hermione stopped outside Jr.'s room, and Narcissa could hear the boy speaking. She looked questioningly at Hermione.
"Look," she whispered, pointing. Narcissa peaked her head around the doorway, seeing exactly the same seen Hermione had. She put her hands over her mouth and turned back to her grandson's mother. Hermione was crying again, nodding and smiling, and Narcissa embraced her.
~
Jr. stopped reading mid-sentence and Draco looked curiously at him.
"Daddy, do you hear that?" he asked and Draco listened. He couldn't hear anything.
"What, Junior?" Suddenly, Jr. looked grave. He turned to face his father.
"It's Mum. She's crying. Did you do something?" he asked, but not accusingly, and Draco looked stunned.
"I don't think so," he said and listened harder. He still couldn't hear anything. Jr., looking determined, shook his head.
"I gotta help her," he said quietly, standing and placing the book gently beside him on the floor before rushing to the door. Draco was up a moment later, walking slower, but taking larger strides. "Mummy?" Jr. cried in alarm as he turned a corner.
"Junior, what's wrong, baby?" Draco heard Hermione's voice, and slowed, keeping himself hidden around the corner and listening.
"Mummy!" Jr. said and Draco peeked around the corner. Hermione was crouched on the floor, and as he called her, she pulled Jr. close.
"Shh.... it's okay, baby, calm down..." Hermione said, hugging him. "What happened?" She was confused... she'd seen him only moments ago, and he was fine... probably happier than he'd been in a long time. What could possibly have happened?
"Why are you crying, Mummy?" Jr. asked almost frantically and Hermione smiled. She pulled back slightly. "Daddy's home, Mummy, you're not supposed to be sad anymore..."
"Oh, Draco, it's okay baby... I'm happy, see? Happy tears. Oh, don't you start now," she said, wiping some tiny droplets from her son's face. Jr. looked amazed.
"H-Happy tears?" Hermione smiled widely and nodded. Jr. wrapped his arms around her again. "I thought you were sad, Mummy... I thought Daddy would have to go away... I like Daddy, Mummy, I don't want him to go away again." Hermione smiled and squeezed him tight.
"I don't think Daddy's going anywhere, Junior," she assured him and Draco shook his head from around the corner.
"Never," he whispered.
~
"Come on, sweetie, I think it's about your bedtime," Hermione said softly and Jr. sniffled, but nodded his agreement and she lifted him up. Draco turned from the corner, but stayed where he was. Hermione smiled brightly when she saw him. "Hey," she said softly and Draco smiled. "Junior, say goodnight to Daddy," she instructed and Jr. perked up, obviously not even realizing his father had been right there. He smiled and leaned toward him, wrapping his small arms around Draco's neck. His father warmly returned the gesture. Draco never wanted to let go. This was the first embrace he'd shared with his son, ever... but Jr. sniffed and pulled back.
"Goodnight, Daddy," he said and Draco smiled.
"Goodnight, Junior." Hermione smiled as Jr. embraced her again, but didn't take his eyes off his father. She took a step closer to him and Draco bent slightly to quickly kiss her lips. She smiled and started toward Jr.'s room, slipping inside. Draco started slowly down the hall, but didn't intrude.
"Baby, will you do Mummy a favor?" Hermione asked as she sat down on the bed, Jr. still in her arms.
"What, Mummy?"
"Will you sleep in Eric's room tonight?" Jr. looked confused.
"Why?" Hermione smirked.
"Because I asked you to." Jr. frowned, knowing that meant he wouldn't get a valid answer.
"I don't like Eric's room, Mummy... it's scary and there're no nightlights," he said and Hermione laughed.
"Okay then, will you let Eric sleep in your room?" He smiled.
"Sure Mummy," Jr. agreed and she smiled.
"Thank you. Go ahead, get in bed..." Jr. did as she asked, smiling. Hermione covered him up and kissed his forehead.
"Mummy... are you sure they were happy tears?" Hermione smiled warmly.
"Yes, baby, I'm positive. Go to sleep, okay," she said softly and Jr. nodded. "Who do you want tonight, baby?"
"Melville, Mummy." Hermione smiled and stood from the bed, moving toward a shelf filled with stuffed animals. On the very end, was a very worn in and patched up stuffed monkey. She pulled the animal lovingly from the shelf, hugging it as she brought it to her son. Jr. held out his arms and she gave him his favorite animal. He smiled. "Thank you." Jr. turned on his side and hugged his monkey close.
"You know who gave you Melville, don't you?" Hermione asked and Jr. looked up surprised, and shook his head. "Daddy." His eyes grew wide and he looked at his friend. Melville stared blankly back, and Jr. turned back to his mother.
"Really?" She nodded.
"The first thing he did when I told him you were coming was go out and buy you that. You've had Melville since before you were born." Jr. just stared blankly at his monkey, who, of course, stared back. Hermione smiled. "Goodnight, baby."
"Night, Mum," he said and she kissed his forehead before leaving, turning off the light and shutting the door.
~
"He named it Melville?" Draco asked from his leaning position against the wall. Hermione turned to look at him and smiled, nodding slowly.
"He sleeps with it every night, except when something is wrong. Everyone has their own special stuffed animal. If someone is sick, or hurt... or not home, like when Harry and Ginny go on trips, he sleeps with their animal. He says it sends them good luck. If he's sick, he sleeps with Melville, but if he's sad, he sleeps with Angela. She's the rainy day Care Bear, but he changed her name. Sometimes it's the only way I can tell that something is bothering him. Wanting Melville is a good sign." Draco smiled sadly.
"I hate it every time you tell me something like that, Mia. I should already know that. I should already know a lot of things I still don't... Hermione, I don't even know when his birthday is," he said, looking down.
"Oh, Draco..." Hermione said and quickly embraced him. "I'm so sorry." He shook his head and held her close.
"No... you didn't do anything. I want to know, is all, Hermione. I want to know my son," he said softly. Hermione held him tighter and turned her head up, tears already forming. She couldn't imagine how he must feel... to look at Jr. and know how much he'd missed...
"You will know him, Draco... and you'll love him, just like I do." He smiled.
"I already love him more than I ever thought possible," he said and she smiled. "Hey, stop crying or he'll get upset again," Draco said, smiling and wiping away her tears. Hermione laughed and buried her head into him.
"I love you, Draco."
"I love you too..." he whispered, kissing the top of her head. Then, she pulled back.
"I have to see Eric, then we can talk..." she said, and stepped toward Eric's door, knocking softly. Eric opened it seconds later.
"Aunt Mina," he said, surprised. "Are you alright?" he asked, noticing her tears and glancing behind her to his uncle. Hermione laughed.
"Yeah, I'm fine Eric. Will you do your favorite Aunt a favor?" Eric smirked.
"You're my only Aunt, Aunt Mina." She smiled.
"All the more reason. I want you to sleep in Junior's room tonight," she said softly and the boy looked surprised again.
"Why?"
"I'm sorry Eric, but that's confidential," Hermione said playfully and he smiled.
"Okay, Aunt Mina."
"Just make sure he doesn't come and see me, unless, of course, it's an emergency," she said and Eric seemed suspicious, but nodded.
"Of course, Aunt Mina."
"Thank you Eric. Goodnight," she said, stepping forward and hugging him. Once she pulled away, Eric looked up at Draco. He held out his hand.
"Goodnight, Uncle Draco," he said softly and Draco smiled, accepting his handshake.
~
"Is Eric depressed, Hermione... I think Draco's right; his room is rather disturbing, and he blasts that god-awful death-metal," Draco asked after they'd left Eric and were heading toward their room. She nodded sadly.
"Yes, I think so, a little. He's been a little darker ever since Harry told him what happened... to you. I think he might feel responsible, you know? I mean, that's ridiculous, but I think he might feel that way." Draco nodded.
"I think he does too, Hermione. He tried to apologize to me... as if it was his fault I was gone. I told him it wasn't, but I'm not so sure he believed me. I think it might have been slightly too early to tell him... he doesn't understand." Hermione nodded.
"He's a great kid, though, Draco... a happy one... he just has a guilt cloud. Last father's day, he gave Harry his present, then spent the entire day in Draco's room, just playing Candy Land and Shoots and Ladders ... I wanted to cry... it was so sweet, to know he did that because he felt it was his fault Draco didn't have a father on father's day..." Draco kissed her head and Hermione smiled. "But there are only a few times it shows... and now that you're here, there'll be even less. Next Father's day Eric can spend the day with his father, and not his father's friends' son." Draco smiled and squeezed her close for a moment.
~*~*~*~
Hermione crawled onto the bed, next to Draco who was sitting Indian-style and leaning against the headboard, wearing nothing but black boxer shorts. He looked up when she came over.
"What's that?" he asked, noticing the large book in her hands. Hermione smiled widely.
"Photo album and home movies," she said and Draco's eyes lit up. Hermione settled herself comfortably next to him, wearing a short, black, silk, sleeveless nightgown. Draco, forgetting the album for a moment and focusing on her, worked on impulse and leaned forward, kissing her. Hermione made a startled peep, but kissed back forcefully. Draco's hand found it's way to her knee, moving slowly to her hip, underneath the black fabric. Hermione pulled away then, and Draco looked horrified.
"What's wrong?" he asked and she smiled, opening the album and turning to the last page.
"Nothing. I just want you to first see what that did to me last time," she said, pointing at a page with a list of titles. She tapped one. "This," she said and Draco read it, then took a strained breath. Hermione: Labor and Delivery.
"You videotaped that?" Hermione nodded.
"My mother did. She said the baby would want to see it when it got older... but I think Narcissa put her up to it. They would only let one family member in, and it would have been you, but..." she paused. "I brought mother because she gave me that 'I did this for you, now let me watch you do it for someone else,' talk."
"Conceiving Draco was not the last time we slept together, Mia." She smiled.
"I know. That title goes to the night before you left... but that's not the point," she said and turned toward her bed table, the one with the picture, and grabbed her wand. Hermione let the tip glide over the title, and a screen appeared; as clear as muggle T.V. Draco's breath caught in his throat.
(A/N: All the stuff in (')'s is stuff said in the movie, but stuff in (")'s is stuff actually being said. Ex. 'This hurt's like a bitch!' vs. "I can't believe I said that..." get it?)
The scene was of Hermione, sitting in a wheelchair while being pushed down a hospital hallway and breathing hard, occasionally stopping to moan. There were people surrounding her: Ginny, Narcissa, and her parents, as well as a few doctors.
'How are you feeling, sweet pea?' asked Mr. Granger and Hermione laughed shortly before throwing her head back and clutching her stomach.
'Not so good Daddy,' she said. 'Ahh....'
'Excuse me, Sir, but could you move out of the way?' asked a slightly pudgy nurse and Mr. Granger laughed nervously.
'Sorry.'
'Mum, turn off the camera, right now!' Hermione said, quite annoyed, but Mrs. Granger did no such thing.
'You know I can't do that baby. Draco deserves to share this moment with you, even if it can't be today. You'll thank me someday,' she said and Hermione moaned.
'Like hell I will.'
"I guess she was right," Hermione told Draco, and he smiled.
"When's his birthday?"
"December 1st (A/N Hehe, that's my birthday!)," Hermione said softly and Draco turned to her.
"Isn't that early?" Hermione nodded.
"Yes... almost a month... The doctors said it was because I was so stressed... what with everyone leaving and everything... but I think he was just ready to come out. At 9lbs 8ozs he certainly wasn't low birth-weight." Draco's mouth dropped.
"I was only seven pounds something..." he said and Hermione nodded.
"Six-twelve... how did we end up with such a fat baby? I think it was just my incredibly bad luck... just to torture me," she said, glaring at the picture.
.
A/N: I'm sorry I stopped right in the middle... but by the time I finished the movie I had... going on 15 pages... that's almost enough for another chapter. Sorry guys ;o)
Good news is, with all the free time I have for spring break, and against the liking of my sick parents, I get to spend hours and hours and hours working on this! Which means, the next chapter will probably be up tomorrow, considering I spent yesterday working on Guilly; it's MPES day today. I work on flames everyday... and it's almost done, I swear. Once it is, I'll be posting chapters like mad! You have been forewarned! I am NOT neglecting flames! I'm just neglecting to post flames! Lol.
B4 on MPES:
"Hey," Hermione said softly and Narcissa noticed her presence. She quickly pulled herself away from Draco.
"Hello, dear," she said, smiling and wiping the tears from her face. Hermione smiled.
"Hey, Mia," Draco said before he extended his arm, beckoning his fiancée. Hermione came without question, latching onto him.
"I told you, Narcissa," she said as she felt Draco's arm hold her to him. The older woman smiled.
"I know, Hermione... I know," she whispered. Draco smiled and kissed Hermione's hair lightly.
@--^-----
CHAPTER FIVE: Melville
During dinner, Narcissa sat at the head of the table, Harry and Draco to either side. Beside the men were their respective others, followed by their children. The first half of the meal consisted entirely of eating and small talk, as per normal in the Malfoy household. Jr. and Eric told everyone about school, Narcissa shared her experiences in the new areas of the city she'd explored, and Harry and Ginny announced that they'd be leaving for a month on an unavoidable business trip, starting next week. Eric didn't seem happy about this at all, but Harry grinned at him and rustled his hair, making the boy smile.
Hermione stayed, for the most part, quiet. She had nothing to tell. Everyone knew what her day had consisted of- Draco. Draco, and Jr. There was nothing more of interest in her schedule. Draco too, remained quiet. He would have his turn later. Hermione was smiling all through the meal, which was quite delicious in her opinion. Narcissa had never made Swedish meatballs before... probably because they were, in fact, Draco's favorite. Hermione watched both her Dracos closely. Jr. seemed overly energetic in his story telling, and Draco kept his eyes on his son, smiling proudly. Everything was so perfect. Picture perfect... magazine perfect... Partridge family perfect... she could have cried.
~
"Are you done, sweetie?" Hermione asked the little blonde boy beside her and Jr. grinned, sauce smeared across his face.
"Yes, Mummy." Hermione smiled at him and pulled the napkin from his collar.
"Okay. Why don't you go brush your teeth, hm?" she said, wiping his mouth and tossing the napkin on the table. Jr. looked mildly horrified.
"But Mummy! It's only six o'clock... I don't want to go to bed yet!" he wined and Hermione smiled slightly.
"I didn't say go to bed, I said brush your teeth," she reminded him, but Jr. still looked reluctant. "Go on, Draco. I'll meet you upstairs in a little while, okay?" Jr. sighed.
"Okay, Mummy," he said and jumped down from his chair, sluggishly moving toward the staircase. Once he was out of sight, Eric sighed and stood up.
"Where are you going, baby?" Ginny asked him and Eric paused, turning to address the adults, all of which were staring at him. He shrugged.
"With Draco, I guess. I'm going to get sent out in a minute, anyway, aren't I? You guys don't have to make up an excuse if you're going to have 'grown- up talk'. You can just tell me," he said and Ginny looked sympathetically at him. She turned to the man beside her.
"Harry," she said softly and he nodded.
"That was very adult of you, Eric. I think... if it's okay with Aunt Mina, you can stay here." Eric snapped his head toward his Aunt. Hermione was startled. She looked at Draco.
"I-I..." Draco nodded at her. "Well of course you can stay, Eric." Eric looked surprised, but smiled widely and took his seat.
"Thank you Aunt Mina," he said, extremely happy. He was going to enjoy being able to do something Draco couldn't for as long as it lasted. Meanwhile, Narcissa was getting impatient.
"So, tell us what we're waiting to here, Draco," she suggested and Draco sighed, beginning his story.
Quite a long time later, after Draco had finished and everyone had drained themselves of questions, Narcissa and Hermione began to clear the dishes. The Potter family ascended the stairs, but Draco stayed behind.
"Let me help you, Mia," he said and Hermione laughed, stepping toward him. She brought a hand over his chest and to the back of his neck, the other holding a small pile of dishes.
"I've been doing this for years, Draco. I've got it. Go check on Jr. for me?" Draco looked somewhat torn. Hermione knew he WANTED to check on their son, but he felt like he should help her. She smiled.
"Are you sure, Mia? Because I can..." he reached for her dishes, but she pulled them away.
"Yes, I'm sure. Go ahead; you know you want to," Hermione said once again and Draco sighed, giving in.
"Okay," he said and she smiled, giving him an intimate kiss. This too provided conflict. Draco didn't seem to want to stop. Hermione was reluctant as well, but she laughed and pushed him softly.
"Go," she said, smiling and Draco pouted, but turned and headed up the stairs. Hermione watched him go, then turned toward the kitchen, picking up another small stack of dishes on the way. She shook her head. "They are so alike it's almost scary," she said happily to Narcissa, who laughed.
"Yes, but you've got them both wrapped around your finger, Hermione, you do realize that." Hermione smiled.
"'Tis a gift," she said as she dropped the dishes into the soapy water, where a sponge was already scrubbing furiously, and Narcissa laughed again. She stepped toward her future daughter and wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm so happy for you, Hermione." Hermione smiled.
"I'm just happy in general," she said blissfully and both women laughed before beginning to clean up the cooking mess.
@--^-----
It was almost a half an hour before Hermione managed to make it upstairs. She quietly crept to her son's room, noticing to door was open. She could hear Jr. talking, but didn't know what about until she stepped into the doorway. With a wide smile, she leaned against the doorframe.
Draco and Jr. were sitting together on the floor, leaning back against the bed. Jr. was already wearing his pajamas, and concentrating hard on the words of a simple thirty-two page children's book while Draco absently stroked the boy's hair. Neither noticed Hermione.
"Next, Jack the puppy met a ba-... met a ba-d..." Jr. read and looked up. "What's this word, Daddy?"
"Badger," Draco provided with a smile, and Jr. grinned, turning back to the book.
"Jack the puppy met a badger. 'Hello Mr. Badger,' Jack said..." Hermione felt her heart swell and stepped away from the doorway. She walked far enough down the hall where she wouldn't be heard, and burst into tears. She was just so happy... Unfortunately, Narcissa was just coming up the stairs, and was quite alarmed to find Hermione so upset.
"Hermione! What happened, honey?" she asked, quickly coming to her aid. Hermione grinned and wiped her eyes.
"Oh, Narcissa, you have to see it," she said happily, much to the older woman's confusion. Hermione pulled Narcissa down the hallway, motioning for her to be quiet. She complied, still confused. Hermione stopped outside Jr.'s room, and Narcissa could hear the boy speaking. She looked questioningly at Hermione.
"Look," she whispered, pointing. Narcissa peaked her head around the doorway, seeing exactly the same seen Hermione had. She put her hands over her mouth and turned back to her grandson's mother. Hermione was crying again, nodding and smiling, and Narcissa embraced her.
~
Jr. stopped reading mid-sentence and Draco looked curiously at him.
"Daddy, do you hear that?" he asked and Draco listened. He couldn't hear anything.
"What, Junior?" Suddenly, Jr. looked grave. He turned to face his father.
"It's Mum. She's crying. Did you do something?" he asked, but not accusingly, and Draco looked stunned.
"I don't think so," he said and listened harder. He still couldn't hear anything. Jr., looking determined, shook his head.
"I gotta help her," he said quietly, standing and placing the book gently beside him on the floor before rushing to the door. Draco was up a moment later, walking slower, but taking larger strides. "Mummy?" Jr. cried in alarm as he turned a corner.
"Junior, what's wrong, baby?" Draco heard Hermione's voice, and slowed, keeping himself hidden around the corner and listening.
"Mummy!" Jr. said and Draco peeked around the corner. Hermione was crouched on the floor, and as he called her, she pulled Jr. close.
"Shh.... it's okay, baby, calm down..." Hermione said, hugging him. "What happened?" She was confused... she'd seen him only moments ago, and he was fine... probably happier than he'd been in a long time. What could possibly have happened?
"Why are you crying, Mummy?" Jr. asked almost frantically and Hermione smiled. She pulled back slightly. "Daddy's home, Mummy, you're not supposed to be sad anymore..."
"Oh, Draco, it's okay baby... I'm happy, see? Happy tears. Oh, don't you start now," she said, wiping some tiny droplets from her son's face. Jr. looked amazed.
"H-Happy tears?" Hermione smiled widely and nodded. Jr. wrapped his arms around her again. "I thought you were sad, Mummy... I thought Daddy would have to go away... I like Daddy, Mummy, I don't want him to go away again." Hermione smiled and squeezed him tight.
"I don't think Daddy's going anywhere, Junior," she assured him and Draco shook his head from around the corner.
"Never," he whispered.
~
"Come on, sweetie, I think it's about your bedtime," Hermione said softly and Jr. sniffled, but nodded his agreement and she lifted him up. Draco turned from the corner, but stayed where he was. Hermione smiled brightly when she saw him. "Hey," she said softly and Draco smiled. "Junior, say goodnight to Daddy," she instructed and Jr. perked up, obviously not even realizing his father had been right there. He smiled and leaned toward him, wrapping his small arms around Draco's neck. His father warmly returned the gesture. Draco never wanted to let go. This was the first embrace he'd shared with his son, ever... but Jr. sniffed and pulled back.
"Goodnight, Daddy," he said and Draco smiled.
"Goodnight, Junior." Hermione smiled as Jr. embraced her again, but didn't take his eyes off his father. She took a step closer to him and Draco bent slightly to quickly kiss her lips. She smiled and started toward Jr.'s room, slipping inside. Draco started slowly down the hall, but didn't intrude.
"Baby, will you do Mummy a favor?" Hermione asked as she sat down on the bed, Jr. still in her arms.
"What, Mummy?"
"Will you sleep in Eric's room tonight?" Jr. looked confused.
"Why?" Hermione smirked.
"Because I asked you to." Jr. frowned, knowing that meant he wouldn't get a valid answer.
"I don't like Eric's room, Mummy... it's scary and there're no nightlights," he said and Hermione laughed.
"Okay then, will you let Eric sleep in your room?" He smiled.
"Sure Mummy," Jr. agreed and she smiled.
"Thank you. Go ahead, get in bed..." Jr. did as she asked, smiling. Hermione covered him up and kissed his forehead.
"Mummy... are you sure they were happy tears?" Hermione smiled warmly.
"Yes, baby, I'm positive. Go to sleep, okay," she said softly and Jr. nodded. "Who do you want tonight, baby?"
"Melville, Mummy." Hermione smiled and stood from the bed, moving toward a shelf filled with stuffed animals. On the very end, was a very worn in and patched up stuffed monkey. She pulled the animal lovingly from the shelf, hugging it as she brought it to her son. Jr. held out his arms and she gave him his favorite animal. He smiled. "Thank you." Jr. turned on his side and hugged his monkey close.
"You know who gave you Melville, don't you?" Hermione asked and Jr. looked up surprised, and shook his head. "Daddy." His eyes grew wide and he looked at his friend. Melville stared blankly back, and Jr. turned back to his mother.
"Really?" She nodded.
"The first thing he did when I told him you were coming was go out and buy you that. You've had Melville since before you were born." Jr. just stared blankly at his monkey, who, of course, stared back. Hermione smiled. "Goodnight, baby."
"Night, Mum," he said and she kissed his forehead before leaving, turning off the light and shutting the door.
~
"He named it Melville?" Draco asked from his leaning position against the wall. Hermione turned to look at him and smiled, nodding slowly.
"He sleeps with it every night, except when something is wrong. Everyone has their own special stuffed animal. If someone is sick, or hurt... or not home, like when Harry and Ginny go on trips, he sleeps with their animal. He says it sends them good luck. If he's sick, he sleeps with Melville, but if he's sad, he sleeps with Angela. She's the rainy day Care Bear, but he changed her name. Sometimes it's the only way I can tell that something is bothering him. Wanting Melville is a good sign." Draco smiled sadly.
"I hate it every time you tell me something like that, Mia. I should already know that. I should already know a lot of things I still don't... Hermione, I don't even know when his birthday is," he said, looking down.
"Oh, Draco..." Hermione said and quickly embraced him. "I'm so sorry." He shook his head and held her close.
"No... you didn't do anything. I want to know, is all, Hermione. I want to know my son," he said softly. Hermione held him tighter and turned her head up, tears already forming. She couldn't imagine how he must feel... to look at Jr. and know how much he'd missed...
"You will know him, Draco... and you'll love him, just like I do." He smiled.
"I already love him more than I ever thought possible," he said and she smiled. "Hey, stop crying or he'll get upset again," Draco said, smiling and wiping away her tears. Hermione laughed and buried her head into him.
"I love you, Draco."
"I love you too..." he whispered, kissing the top of her head. Then, she pulled back.
"I have to see Eric, then we can talk..." she said, and stepped toward Eric's door, knocking softly. Eric opened it seconds later.
"Aunt Mina," he said, surprised. "Are you alright?" he asked, noticing her tears and glancing behind her to his uncle. Hermione laughed.
"Yeah, I'm fine Eric. Will you do your favorite Aunt a favor?" Eric smirked.
"You're my only Aunt, Aunt Mina." She smiled.
"All the more reason. I want you to sleep in Junior's room tonight," she said softly and the boy looked surprised again.
"Why?"
"I'm sorry Eric, but that's confidential," Hermione said playfully and he smiled.
"Okay, Aunt Mina."
"Just make sure he doesn't come and see me, unless, of course, it's an emergency," she said and Eric seemed suspicious, but nodded.
"Of course, Aunt Mina."
"Thank you Eric. Goodnight," she said, stepping forward and hugging him. Once she pulled away, Eric looked up at Draco. He held out his hand.
"Goodnight, Uncle Draco," he said softly and Draco smiled, accepting his handshake.
~
"Is Eric depressed, Hermione... I think Draco's right; his room is rather disturbing, and he blasts that god-awful death-metal," Draco asked after they'd left Eric and were heading toward their room. She nodded sadly.
"Yes, I think so, a little. He's been a little darker ever since Harry told him what happened... to you. I think he might feel responsible, you know? I mean, that's ridiculous, but I think he might feel that way." Draco nodded.
"I think he does too, Hermione. He tried to apologize to me... as if it was his fault I was gone. I told him it wasn't, but I'm not so sure he believed me. I think it might have been slightly too early to tell him... he doesn't understand." Hermione nodded.
"He's a great kid, though, Draco... a happy one... he just has a guilt cloud. Last father's day, he gave Harry his present, then spent the entire day in Draco's room, just playing Candy Land and Shoots and Ladders ... I wanted to cry... it was so sweet, to know he did that because he felt it was his fault Draco didn't have a father on father's day..." Draco kissed her head and Hermione smiled. "But there are only a few times it shows... and now that you're here, there'll be even less. Next Father's day Eric can spend the day with his father, and not his father's friends' son." Draco smiled and squeezed her close for a moment.
~*~*~*~
Hermione crawled onto the bed, next to Draco who was sitting Indian-style and leaning against the headboard, wearing nothing but black boxer shorts. He looked up when she came over.
"What's that?" he asked, noticing the large book in her hands. Hermione smiled widely.
"Photo album and home movies," she said and Draco's eyes lit up. Hermione settled herself comfortably next to him, wearing a short, black, silk, sleeveless nightgown. Draco, forgetting the album for a moment and focusing on her, worked on impulse and leaned forward, kissing her. Hermione made a startled peep, but kissed back forcefully. Draco's hand found it's way to her knee, moving slowly to her hip, underneath the black fabric. Hermione pulled away then, and Draco looked horrified.
"What's wrong?" he asked and she smiled, opening the album and turning to the last page.
"Nothing. I just want you to first see what that did to me last time," she said, pointing at a page with a list of titles. She tapped one. "This," she said and Draco read it, then took a strained breath. Hermione: Labor and Delivery.
"You videotaped that?" Hermione nodded.
"My mother did. She said the baby would want to see it when it got older... but I think Narcissa put her up to it. They would only let one family member in, and it would have been you, but..." she paused. "I brought mother because she gave me that 'I did this for you, now let me watch you do it for someone else,' talk."
"Conceiving Draco was not the last time we slept together, Mia." She smiled.
"I know. That title goes to the night before you left... but that's not the point," she said and turned toward her bed table, the one with the picture, and grabbed her wand. Hermione let the tip glide over the title, and a screen appeared; as clear as muggle T.V. Draco's breath caught in his throat.
(A/N: All the stuff in (')'s is stuff said in the movie, but stuff in (")'s is stuff actually being said. Ex. 'This hurt's like a bitch!' vs. "I can't believe I said that..." get it?)
The scene was of Hermione, sitting in a wheelchair while being pushed down a hospital hallway and breathing hard, occasionally stopping to moan. There were people surrounding her: Ginny, Narcissa, and her parents, as well as a few doctors.
'How are you feeling, sweet pea?' asked Mr. Granger and Hermione laughed shortly before throwing her head back and clutching her stomach.
'Not so good Daddy,' she said. 'Ahh....'
'Excuse me, Sir, but could you move out of the way?' asked a slightly pudgy nurse and Mr. Granger laughed nervously.
'Sorry.'
'Mum, turn off the camera, right now!' Hermione said, quite annoyed, but Mrs. Granger did no such thing.
'You know I can't do that baby. Draco deserves to share this moment with you, even if it can't be today. You'll thank me someday,' she said and Hermione moaned.
'Like hell I will.'
"I guess she was right," Hermione told Draco, and he smiled.
"When's his birthday?"
"December 1st (A/N Hehe, that's my birthday!)," Hermione said softly and Draco turned to her.
"Isn't that early?" Hermione nodded.
"Yes... almost a month... The doctors said it was because I was so stressed... what with everyone leaving and everything... but I think he was just ready to come out. At 9lbs 8ozs he certainly wasn't low birth-weight." Draco's mouth dropped.
"I was only seven pounds something..." he said and Hermione nodded.
"Six-twelve... how did we end up with such a fat baby? I think it was just my incredibly bad luck... just to torture me," she said, glaring at the picture.
.
A/N: I'm sorry I stopped right in the middle... but by the time I finished the movie I had... going on 15 pages... that's almost enough for another chapter. Sorry guys ;o)
Good news is, with all the free time I have for spring break, and against the liking of my sick parents, I get to spend hours and hours and hours working on this! Which means, the next chapter will probably be up tomorrow, considering I spent yesterday working on Guilly; it's MPES day today. I work on flames everyday... and it's almost done, I swear. Once it is, I'll be posting chapters like mad! You have been forewarned! I am NOT neglecting flames! I'm just neglecting to post flames! Lol.