I just want to say thank you to all my reviews for the last chapter, I must say I have only had one negative review which is fantastic. Also I want to congratulate Australia for the absolutely brilliant performance at the Commonwealth Games, 221 medals in all AUSTRALIA ROCKS!
PLAYING HAPPY FAMILIES
CHAPTER TWELVE
The weeks seemed to fly by for Hermione, Lucius' funeral came and went uneventfully, only Hermione, Draco, Lily and Narcissa had gone. Draco seemed to think that it was better to give his father a quiet send off. Soon Hermione found herself emersed in party plans, Ginny was being a huge help, they had booked out a room at The Three Broomsticks and the invitations had been sent off, Hermione had wanted to surprise everyone with the engagement so they had decided to coincide it with Draco's birthday.
"So who have you got for catering?" Ginny asked, Hermione and Ginny had gone to lunch to discuss plans over lunch, Ginny looked like she was going to bust at any moment,
"Gin, I'm a witch and my mother is a brilliant cook I'm sure she wouldn't mind whipping up some fabulous food" Hermione replied,
"I could go for some fabulous food at the moment, where are those chips?" she asked, at that moment the waiter appeared with Ginny's bowl of hot chips and Hermione's sandwich. "Ok, so what about decorations?" Ginny asked,
"That is what my wand is for" Hermione replied taking a bite, Ginny shrugged,
"So what did you get Draco for his birthday?" Ginny pried
"I think what I got him will knock his socks off" Hermione replied, smirking Ginny sat up,
"What is it?" she asked, Hermione shook her head,
"You'll find out all in good time"
"Fine keep secrets from your best friend, I need to get back to work" she said standing,
"Are you sure you should be working in your condition?" Hermione asked,
"Argh, you sound like Harry, I'm pregnant, not and invalid" Ginny said, she threw some money onto the table and disappeared into the crowd. Hermione stood and went back into the shop, she bought another sandwich and made her way to The Apothecary where Draco had been working for the last few weeks until he could hire new staff,
"Good Afternoon my love" she whispered, dangling the sandwich in front of him,
"You are a darl aren't you, I'm starving" Draco opened the bag, "Corned beef and pickle, my favourite" he said taking a bite. "How are the plans for the party coming along?"
"I think we are all done, and it's about time the party is tomorrow night" Hermione said, Hermione sat down in the office chair across from Draco, "So how's business?" she asked,
"Hectic, speaking of which, I had better get back to it" he put his sandwich back on the desk and stood, "Sorry, I'll see you tonight?" he asked, Hermione nodded, she stood also and followed Draco back out to the shop.
"Bye love" Draco said kissing her on the cheek, Hermione smiled and made her way back outside.
The hours seemed to fly by the next day for Hermione, she felt like she had just woken up when she was putting her dress on for the party, Draco had let her spend as much money on it as she had wanted, but Hermione had not wanted to spend an outrageous amount of money on a dress so she had settled for buying the material and making it herself, it was made of ivory silk with a gathered V neckline, spaghetti straps continuing down to criss-cross at the back and drape. Hermione slipped it on and turned to face the mirror. She looked stunning, Hermione took a deep breath and made her way out of her bedroom down to where Draco was waiting. Draco and Hermione entered the party, everyone gasping over how beautiful Hermione looked. "May I have this dance?" Draco asked, holding his hand out to Hermione, she took it and he led her onto the dance floor,
"I wanted to get you something special for your birthday but I couldn't find anything for the man who has everything" Hermione joked, Draco smirked,
"I just need you" Draco replied,
"Well I finally found something" Draco raised his eyebrows at her,
"Nothing could top having you back in my life" Draco said,
"Well I won't tell you then" Hermione began to walk away from Draco towards the front of the room where the speeches were going to happen, when Draco grabbed her,
"Tell me" he said, pulling her close, Hermione smiled,
"Alright, but after the speeches, we have to announce this first" she said flashing her ring at him, Draco nodded and took her hand. Everyone turned to face them and the music stopped,
"Thank you all for coming to celebrate Draco's birthday, a lot of people told me that I should say something that might embarrass him or tell a funny story, but I'm not going to do that, instead I am going to tell you all how we got to where we are today, it has taken a lot of hard work for Draco and I to be together. First there was the fact that Draco and I were enemies and a lot of our friends did not accept us, ten years later we were reunited at our reunion of all places" there were scattered laughs around the room, "Draco and I wanted to announce tonight, in front of you all that we are engaged" Hermione finished, the was an explosion of sound as the entire room surged forward to view Hermione's ring, Hermione was swept away in the crowed and Draco was left to be congratulated by the men. Hermione looked over he shoulder and smiled.
Later that night, Hermione and Draco where lying in bed,
"So you never told me what you got me for my birthday?" Draco said, he rolled over and wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist,
"Oh, so now you want to know?" she said, Draco kissed her neck,
"Please tell me" Draco begged, Hermione sat up,
"All right, well I hope you like what I am about to tell you" Hermione said, suddenly there was a pop and Harry apparated into the room,
"Harry!" Draco exclaimed,
"Sorry guys but Ginny has gone into labour and she wants Hermione there" Harry said averting his eyes,
"Oh, ok I'm coming, just give me a moment" Hermione got out of bed and threw some clothes on,
"Are you coming Draco?" she asked, Draco nodded and quickly got dressed, with three sharp pops they all apparated to St Mungo's hospital.
"She's over here guys" Harry said leading them to a room, they could hear Ginny inside,
Hermione stepped into the room,
"Oh, thank god you are here Hermione, I don't think I could do this with out you" she panted, Hermione smiled and stood beside the bed holding Ginny's hand,
"Ok Ginny, now we need a big push" the medi witch instructed, Ginny screwed up her face and squeezed Hermione's hand,
"Oh Merlin, I can't do this" Ginny said through deep breaths,
"Just breath, Ginny" Hermione said rubbing her back,
"Another push" Ginny squeezed Hermione's hand tighter,
"I'm so going to kill him, imagine putting me through this" Ginny said under her breath shooting daggers at Harry who was watching through a window. Hermione gave a small laugh,
"Have you said that for every child that you have had?" she asked,
"That's not the point" Ginny said, Hermione rubbed Ginny's back as she pushed again.
Three hours later Ginny gave birth to a beautiful baby boy,
"Oh my god" Ginny said through tears, "He looks just like Harry" she took the baby from the medi witch,
"He's perfect" Hermione said, Harry came into the room and put his arm around Ginny,
"Oh Harry, I love you so much" Ginny said kissing him on the cheek, Hermione left the room and joined Draco in the waiting room,
"It's a boy" she said, hugging Draco,
"I wish I had been there when you gave birth to Lily" Draco said,
"I'm sorry for that, but now that we are alone, I can finally tell you what I got you for your birthday."
"And what would that be, wait let's go somewhere private so we wont be interrupted again" Draco led her upstairs to Blaise' office,
"Draco, this is a surprise" Blaise said,
"Ginny just had a baby boy" Draco said, "Now Hermione is going to tell me what she got me for my birthday"
"Oh well I'll leave then and give you some privacy" Blaise replied winking at Draco, the door clicked shut and Draco turned to Hermione,
"So what is it?" he asked
Well there you go, there is Chapter Twelve. I hope this is starting to get better. Well till next Chapter, please review.
Lynda