Last chapter before the Epilogue! Also, if you haven't read Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's comments on same sex marriage, do it! This woman is my hero and idol and I want her to adopt me even though I'm an adult. This world needs more people like her.


Chapter 20

Hermione entered the orphanage to a round of hugs and the children excitedly shouting her name. Georgia lagged behind, wanting to greet her last. Her arms wound around Hermione's legs as she looked up and smiled at her.

"What's got you in such a good mood, Georgie girl?" Hermione asked, returning her affection.

"Miss Claire and Miss Julie were talking, and I heard them say that someone wants me," she shared in a hushed tone.

Hermione's eyes widened. They'd lost her. Another couple would get to be parents to Georgia. "Oh, sweetheart, that's wonderful," she replied, hoping she sounded happy for her.

The smile the little girl wore faded. "What if...what if I don't like them?" she wondered. Hermione led them to the kitchen where they could talk privately. "What if they're mean or don't like me? What if they're not like you and Mr. Draco?"

"I don't think they'd let just anyone adopt you," Hermione reasoned, feeling her heart break more and more as they talked. "Miss Claire makes sure all her kids get only the best parents. I'm sure the family adopting you will do nothing but love and take care of you."

Blue eyes watered. "I wanted you though," she confessed.

Hermione felt her emotions overcome her. "I wanted you too," she replied, holding Georgia close. The kitchen door opened and Claire entered. She looked to Hermione, silently asking what was wrong. Hermione gave her a minute shake of her head before letting Georgia go.

"Okay, what's going on?" Claire asked when they were alone.

Though she didn't want to tattle, Hermione told her what Georgia had overheard. "Is it true?" she wondered.

Taking a deep breath, Claire nodded. "I wanted to talk to you and your husband about that since you've become so close to her," she said. "Is Draco available to come in?"

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"Have you heard anything yet from the orphanage?" Harry asked as he and Draco took in a Quidditch game.

Scowling, Draco shook his head. "No, and it's driving the both of us crazy," he muttered. "This is the perfect kid, Harry. Not just for us, but downright perfect kid. I swear that's not bias. She's smart and sweet and loving, and I want to be her father."

"Maybe it just takes longer than two months," Harry replied. "I'd suggest patience, but I don't want to sound like a hypocrite."

The pair laughed as the game continued. The cheers of the crowd as the Falcons won kept Draco from noticing the number of times Hermione called his mobile. It wasn't until he returned home to an irate wife that he knew he was in trouble. "Why didn't you answer calls?" she demanded.

"It was loud," he said sheepishly. "I'm sorry I didn't answer. What's going on?"

Her anger turned to tears as she shielded her face behind her hands. "Claire has found parents for Georgie," she told him. "She wouldn't...couldn't say who. She wanted to talk to the both of us, but I couldn't get in touch with you. God, Draco, we've lost her."

Sitting down beside her, he offered her whatever comfort he could. "I'm sorry," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. They sat in silence until her sobs subsided. "I know you hate when I'm optimistic, but hear me out. What if we haven't lost her? You said Claire wants to talk to us and that she's found parents for Georgie. What if it's us? Maybe she just wanted to tell us together."

Lifting her head, Hermione glanced at him dubiously. "Or she just wants to let us down once."

"Sure, or that," he agreed. "It just seems too coincidental to be something else. Let's go down there and talk to her before we make ourselves crazy. Can we do that? Can we get this cleared up tonight?"

Taking a deep breath, Hermione nodded and stepped into the floo beside her husband. Claire sat alone in the living room when they arrived, and smiled when she saw them. "Oh good," she exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're here. Let's go to my office to talk."

Nervously, the couple climbed the stairs behind her, silently wondered what would be said. Draco got down to business as soon as they were seated. "Georgia," he said. "What's going on with her?"

"It's always difficult to place older children," Claire told them. "Everyone who adopts wants the babies because it gives them a chance to start almost from scratch. For a lot of these children, they won't leave this orphanage until they go to Hogwarts, and even then they'll come right back here when school is out. This will be the only family they ever have."

"What about Georgia?" Draco interrupted, growing more and more impatient the longer Claire waxed poetic.

She seemed not to notice his rising ire, or else she didn't care. "Well, I know you've both expressed a great deal of interest in adopting her," she continued. "As I told Hermione earlier today, we have finally found a good family for her."

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Pansy and Ron sat side by side in the Malfoys' living room, anxiously wondering why they had been invited. Neither liked being kept in the dark, and both frequently asked when they would be told the big news. Both sulked when Hermione informed them that they needed to wait for Harry.

"Where's Malfoy?" Ron wondered. "Merlin, you're not divorcing him, are you? My sister and her 'I told you so' attitude have been bad enough. Don't add fuel to that fire."

News the of broken engagement had made headlines for days. Neither Harry nor Ginny made any comments to reporters, but it seemed that Ron had heard plenty from the youngest Weasley. "I take it she's not handling the break up well," Hermione remarked as she put down the tea tray.

"Stop stalling," Pansy cut in. "We don't need Draco or Harry here, do we? We're your friends. You can tell us anything."

Grinning, Hermione refused to talk. "Did you really think that would work?" she wondered. "They'll both be here soon, and we'll tell you together."

Sulking, the pair waited until Harry and Draco arrived, five minutes apart. Draco exited through the kitchen to greet their friends, but asked Hermione to join him in the other room. With a small nod of her head, she followed him. Minutes later, they returned together.

"So, um, we wanted to say thank you for coming over," Draco began, a hint of a nervous tremor in his voice. "As you three know, we've been trying to adopt a little girl we met at the orphanage about a month ago. And well-"

He looked to Hermione, who beamed with excitement. "We got her," she finished for him. "Georgia is our daughter."