Sorry! Busy morning so I'm posting this now. Also, that 99 cent nail polish is not worth it, FYI.


Chapter 18

There was a certain peace to coming home to her husband. The scent of homemade tomato sauce wafted from the kitchen, drawing her in. "Hello, husband," she greeted him, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"Evening, wife," he replied, shutting off the stove. "Would it be completely foolish of me to ask if you're hungry?"

Kissing him, she nodded. "It's like you don't know me at all," she bemoaned, pulling away to sit down at the table.

"Just think," he said, setting dinner down on the table, "we have a lifetime of this. Regretting it yet?"

Putting an end to the teasing banter, she replied, "No, and I never will."

He made her a plate, then helped himself. "I went with Pansy to a meeting today," he told her as they ate. "The foundation is going to host a fundraiser for the orphanage, and I got to have a bit of a look around. Seeing all those kids without a family or a home, I wanted to take them all home with me."

Hermione smiled sadly. "We'll get our chance," she promised him. "I know neither of us are good at waiting, but that's what we have to do. With Pansy's help and Kingsley on our side, we'll get the family we want. We just have to give it time."

He nodded, knowing she was right and hating that they would have to be patient. "Did you talk to Ginny?" he asked, needing to discuss something other than their familial woes.

Frowning, she confirmed that she had. "I understand her worry," she said. "She's right that we didn't like each other for a long time, and our relationship was sudden and out of the blue. I just needed her to know that we got married because we love each other, and while we want a family, that wasn't the reason. She seemed to understand that."

"As long as it doesn't become a headline," he muttered, finishing his dinner.

"You don't think she'd talk to the papers," Hermione replied, aghast at the thought of being sold out by her best friend.

Draco shook his head. He didn't believe Ginny would deliberately hurt Hermione. "But she gets mad and flies off the handle," he said. "Anyone could overhear that, especially if it's said at the Leaky Cauldron."

The day after they married, it was the front page headline. For once, it didn't bother them to be in the news. The article was positive, wishing them well and remarking on the fact that two former enemies who fought against each other in the war could fall in love. There was no mention of their desire to adopt being the catalyst for the quick union. It was the most honest piece they'd seen in months.

"Padma is the new News Editor," Hermione told him. "It explains the better quality. Hopefully it also means less smear campaigns and made up stories."

"So, Ginny does talk - Padma will make sure it's not printed?" he asked skeptically. Though he trusted Padma Patil, he had a hard time trusting journalists. Their lives made for interesting stories, and people enjoyed reading them.

Hermione couldn't be sure, but she was hopeful. When she was finished eating, she began to clear the table. "This fundraiser - can we go?" she asked, rinsing their plates. "I'd like to be able to help however I can."

"Plus a little face time with the director of the orphanage might help us get a child sooner," Draco added. Hermione rolled her eyes as he handed over the pots. "What? I'm a Slytherin. I can't help how my brain works. Besides, don't pretend you weren't thinking it just a little bit."

Laughing, she confessed that a small part of her wondered if making a new friend would help them. "I'd like to help anyhow," she stated.

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One little girl at the orphanage had caught Hermione's eye. She had been meeting with Claire Underall, the director of the orphanage, at Pansy's behest. Together, they worked to organize the party that would be held on the grounds in order to raise money for renovations and new beds. Twice a week they met, and Hermione had gotten to know some of the children during her visits.

"Hi, Miss Hermione," the shy seven year old greeted her. Georgia, with blonde curls and blue eyes, was four months old when she arrived at the orphanage. Muggleborns, her parents had fled England at the outbreak of the war, but swore to return for their daughter. When they didn't, they were presumed dead and Georgia became a longterm resident.

Smiling, Hermione bent down to her height and hugged Georgia. "Are you excited for the party?" she asked.

Pulling away, the little girl frowned as she sat down on the floor. "No," she mumbled. "I don't want other people here."

Hermione sat too, mirroring her crosslegged position. "I'll be there," she told her. "We'll keep each other company."

Georgia looked at her dubiously. "What about Mr. Hermione?" she wondered.

Softly chuckling at the name used for her husband, Hermione assured her that Draco wouldn't get in their way. "I think he'll be busy, so I'll be on my own," she replied. "Are you sure you can't be my buddy that night?"

Reluctantly, Georgia agreed. "Just don't leave me," she requested.

"I promise I won't."

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Hermione had talked nonstop about Georgia since their first introduction, and Draco looked forward to meeting the little girl who had captured his wife's heart. "I'm hoping we could adopt her," Hermione said as they entered the orphanage.

"Maybe I should meet her first," Draco replied. "For all you know we might hate each other."

"I doubt that," she said breezily. "No one could hate this child. You really think you could hate a child?"

Draco shrugged as they greeted Pansy. "I don't know. She could like the Cannons," he said.

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Because everything is about Quidditch?" she asked. "What if your kid doesn't like your extreme vanity?"

"Now, now," Hermione said, stepping between the friends. Claire, an often tired looking forty year old witch with graying hair and friendly eyes, led some of the older children downstairs to join the guests. Hermione had been nervous about including them, wondering if it would be seen as a desperate ploy to pull on donors' heartstrings. Claire reasoned that if they saw the children, there might be more incentive to donate or adopt. "That's her," she whispered to Draco, subtly pointing to the last child to descend the stairs.

He watched the shy and nervous little girl follow the other children. "She's adorable," he replied.

Nodding, Hermione left his side to speak with Claire. When she returned, Georgia held her hand. "I'd like you to meet someone," she said, addressing her husband.

"Is that Mr. Hermione?" Georgia asked.

Stifling a laugh, Draco nodded. "It's nice to meet you," he said, holding out his hand to her. "Um, mister sounds so formal. I think it's okay if you call me Draco for now."

"Some of the other kids call me Georgie," she told him, shaking his hand.

Grinning, he whispered in his wife's ear, "I think this is our daughter."