Chapter 15

Pansy arrived, arms loaded with dresses, at Hermione's flat early in the morning a week after their first shopping expedition. Spread across the coffee table were the brochures and data Draco had presented the night before, each marked with red pen notes. Pansy smiled, relieved that they had finally discussed the topic of adoption.

Hermione groaned, more at the sight of the dresses than her friend. "Please, no," she pleaded. "I can't take it anymore. Just pick one and I'll wear it, no complaints. Just don't make me try on anything else. Ever."

Tossing aside the clothes, Pansy sat down and picked up a Ministry-issued brochure. "When you and Draco become parents, can I be Aunt Pansy?" she asked.

"If," Hermione corrected her. "There are applications and fees and waiting lists. We'll be fifty when we get a child."

"What if I could help?" Pansy offered.

"Then we're naming you godmother," Hermione replied.

Laughing, she promised to check with her foundation's contacts. The 1998 Foundation had helped open and fund orphanages for children with no other family following the war. If anyone could nudge along the process it was Pansy. "I'll make a few calls," she promised, smiling mischievously. "If you wear the orange taffeta."

"I'm okay living a childless life," Hermione decided. The pair laughed as Draco joined them with three coffees. After setting down the mugs, he picked up a clear dress bag filled with crinoline and yellow unidentifiable fabric, wrinkled his nose, and tossed it aside. "These aren't really my options, are they?"

Ever the cunning Slytherin, Pansy had stacked the deck in their favor. There had been one dress - a delicate lilac silk - that Hermione had liked. Giving Ginny ten bad options would hopefully push her to pick the dress. "I have to wear it too," she added as the bride to be had asked her to be in the wedding party. "We might as well like it while making her think it was her choice."

Draco chuckled. "Ah, it's good to be a man," he said, enjoying his morning coffee. "What was that about helping with the adoption though? That's a far more fascinating topic than dresses and hairdos."

"I have some connections," Pansy told him. "That's all I'm going to say for now though, since I'd hate to get your hopes up. There are so many children who need a good home, and I know the two of you could give them that. Would you be opposed to an older child? Everyone wants the babies, and the older ones get forgotten."

The couple exchanged a brief glance before nodding. "Age doesn't matter," Draco declared.

"Good, that should make it easier," Pansy replied. "The other thing is, most orphanages want a couple to be married. Even if you put your names in now, they won't do anything until they know you've done that. So, is that something that might happen?"

Brows furrowed, Hermione objected. "What if I chose to be a single mother?" she asked. "Because I don't have a man legally in my life, I'm not fit to raise a child?"

"It's about stability," Pansy responded. "I don't agree with it either. You don't have to be married to have a child on your own, but the Ministry insists that adoption only be done by married couples. I'm sure you've got enough sway with Shacklebolt to be granted an exception, if that's what you wanted to do."

Draco stared at her, waiting for Hermione to speak. "Is that what you want to do?" he asked, masking his hurt with anger.

Taken aback by his outburst, Hermione scowled at her boyfriend. "That's not what I was saying," she said tersely. "It was more a commentary on outdated, sexist rules than on our actual situation. Theoretically, if I were a single woman looking to adopt, I should be allowed based on my character and ability to support a child. A ring on my finger doesn't make me a better parent. Calm yourself, Draco."

Pansy snickered, loving when Draco was put in his place. Gray eyes glared at her, but she remained unfazed. "I'm with Hermione," she said. "As a woman, I find that a lot of our rules and laws are unfair towards our gender. And as your friend, I think you jump to conclusions far too much. Have a little faith in Hermione. She's a Gryffindor, after all, and if there's one thing you can count on with them it's loyalty."

Pouting, he said nothing until well after Pansy left half an hour later. Hermione went about her morning business, electing to ignore him until he apologized. It was just past noon when they finally spoke. "I was out of line," he said, meeting her in the kitchen for lunch. "This whole thing kind of scares me, and I overreacted. I'm sorry, love."

"Do you not want to do this?" she asked. "Because if this isn't something you're ready for, we can wait. Although, according to the laws, we have to. If you want to put this off, we can."

"I want this," he said adamantly. "I want to have a family, and I want to have one with you. Is it bad that it scares me though? I've never had to be responsible for anyone before. What if I can't be a good father? What if I end up like my father?"

Taking his hand, she led him to the table and sat down. "I don't know that anyone has ever been completely confident in their ability to parent," she told him. "There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't make you weak. I'm scared too. Knowing I've got you to do this with me makes it a bit less daunting though."

Nodding, he squeezed her hand, grateful that she accepted his apology. That they would raise a child together added a small dose of confidence that their son or daughter would turn out better than he had. "Promise me something," he requested. "If I ever act like Lucius, take the kid and leave. I know that sounds horrible, but my father was an awful man. He was always quick to draw his wand, and he didn't care what curse was cast. You and our child should never have to fear that I'll do something like that."

Hermione reluctantly agreed, though she believed it would never come to that. "You know I have faith in you," she said. "I know you can do this, and I know you'll do everything you can to not be your father. If that were a concern I had, we wouldn't be on the same page."

Relieved and inspired by her words of encouragement and confidence, Draco knew what his next step needed to be. "Um, last week when you were with Pansy and Ginny, I bought you something," he said nervously. "Harry's holding onto it for me because I'm impetuous and impatient, and probably would have given it to you as soon as I saw you. I've been thinking about this for awhile though, and I don't want you to think I'm asking just because of potential adoptions. I'm asking because I love you and want to be with you for the rest of our lives. Hermione, will you-"

"Yes," she interjected, smiling despite the tears in her eyes. Draco laughed as he wiped them away. "God, sorry, you didn't get to finish asking."

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

Hermione took a deep breath and said yes.