A/N: Sorry for the long wait. But here's chapter 14! Happy holidays!

Chapter 14: Teatime

Hermione grabbed a glass of water and downed her prenatal vitamins, as well as an ibuprofen—she already had a headache, unfortunately. After regurgitating this morning's breakfast (again), she didn't feel quite as chipped she would've hoped. Luckily, Draco was out with Scorpius getting a new suit or something, so he wasn't there to nag her about her tiny lunch of vegetable soup, though it was all she could stomach at the moment.

I'll just rest for a bit, she thought, and closed her eyes, before drifting off into sleep. Her phone went off, and she picked up.

"Ello?" she answered groggily.

"Hermione, were you asleep? Tsk, tsk." Ginny's familiar voice rang through the speakers. "I was going to drop by to help you get ready for tea with Narcissa."

"Tea? Oh shit!" Hermione looked at the clock—it read 2:17, and she had tea at 3!

She ran to her closet and pulled out her navy skirt set. She was attempting to zip the skirt when Ginny came through the floo.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, you're going to tea, not a business meeting!"

"Gin! It's getting tight!" moaned Hermione. While she didn't show yet, she'd already gained a pound or two around her waist.

"That's normal, Mione! Now put this on!"Ginny threw a peach-coloured A-line dress at Hermione's head. Hermione pulled it on. The neckline and lack of sleeves made her look leaner and more elegant, she thought. She needed it now. "Sit!" exclaimed Ginny, quickly applying a light layer of makeup. Ginny waved her wand and Hermione's unruly waves fell into soft curls. Grabbing a coral lipstick and handbag, Hermione was out the door.

"There you are!" exclaimed Draco, seeing Hermione speed-walking into the Leaky Cauldron. "I was worried you'd be late!"

"Mummy looks really pretty," said Scorpius, giving Hermione a hug.

"And you, darling, look quite dapper!" said Hermione, bending down to give Scorpius a kiss.

"What does dapper mean?" asked Scorpius.

"You're very handsome and look clean, like a gentleman. Just like your father," replied Hermione.

"Don't I get a kiss too?" teased Draco.

"Well I didn't hear a compliment from you, did I?" Hermione bantered.

"Well, I think you look beautiful," Draco said softly, leaning in to give her a kiss.

"Ew!" exclaimed Scorpius.

"What, you get to kiss Mummy and I don't?" asked Draco.

"Mhm!" Scorpius affirmed, crossing his arms across his chest. Hermione let out a giggle.

"Let's go, loves." With that, Draco placed his hand around Hermione's waist and led them down the street, with Scorpius' hand tightly clasped in Hermione's.

Narcissa looked up from the Daily Prophet as a tea was set in front of her.

"Thank you, Mr. Fortescue."

"You're welcome, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Please, do call me Narcissa."

"As you wish, Narcissa. Will that be all?"

"Ah, no. I 'm expecting some company soon. They should be here any minute now."

"I see. I'll be back in ten minutes then?"

"Thank you very much." Young Mr. Fortescue scampered away. What a sweet boy, Narcissa thought. She looked up and saw her company strolling down the street. She smiled as Draco leaned down to whisper something in Hermione's ear, to which Hermione turned and replied to him, adoration in her eyes. She noted the way Draco's arm was wrapped possessively around Hermione's waist, and the way in which Hermione held Scorpius' hand. She stood up and waved to get Draco's attention. The trio made their way over.

"Hello again, Mother," said Draco, leaning in to give Narcissa a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello Mrs. Malfoy," greeted Hermione, unsure what to do. She extended her arm for a handshake but was surprised to be greeted with a hug.

"Call me Narcissa, dear."

"Grammy!" said Scorpius, wrapping his arms around Narcissa's legs.

"Hello, dear!"

"I do love your dress, Hermione," commented Narcissa. Hermione looked up from where she was playing with Scorpius.

"Oh thank you! It's from a muggle brand, Lilly Pulitzer."

"Well then, you must take me shopping in the muggle world. Their clothes are quite lovely. I expect we'll be seeing more of each other in the future?"

"Of course; I'd love that," replied Hermione. Tea had gone much better than anticipated; Narcissa was much nicer than she let on. With the expansion of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour to include a café and bakery, the fingerfood was delicious as well.

Noticing that the adults were getting ready to leave, Scorpius pulled on Hermione's hand. "Mummy, can we go to Honeydukes?" They had opened up a store in Diagon Alley after the war, and it fast became one of Scorpius' favourite stores.

"Why, aren't you full from tea?"

"Yes, but I promised Antonia and Emmett I would get some candy for them! Please, mummy, please?"

Hermione looked up. "Draco? Narcissa?"

"I've no problem with it," affirmed Narcissa, smiling at how Scorpius called Hermione 'mummy.' It wouldn't really be a change, then, once Draco popped the question.

"You might want to see this, sir," said Michael Thompson, his assistant, handing Draco today's issue of The Daily Prophet. Plastered on the front cover was "Malfoy heir finds love?" and numerous photos of his excursions with Hermione, Scorpius, and Narcissa. Draco tilted his head in acknowledgement, before going into his office to work. How would Hermione react?

An elf brought in the Daily Prophet along with breakfast. Narcissa opened it and was surprised to see her face plastered on the front cover. "Malfoy heir finds love?" the headline proclaimed. The people at the Daily Prophet were obviously not getting much brighter, she thought with an eye roll. She went on to read the article, which put them in quite a favourable light, commenting on how happy they all seemed and how healthy Hermione appeared. Narcissa examined the photos—Hermione did look much healthier than when she was last in the news, celebrating the end of the war. She also appeared to have barely put on a few pounds around her waist and bust. Thank Merlin—all the overwork was making her too skinny! thought Narcissa. Her eyes noticed one photo, where Hermione appeared to be lightly touching her stomach... It couldn't be indigestion or cramps, because Narcissa would've noticed the emotions marring Hermione's face. Instead, she looked quite content and blissful. Come to think of it, Hermione had almost been glowing, hadn't she? Narcissa called for a house elf.

"Yes, Missus Narcissa? You called for Harper?"

"Yes, Harper. Could you go to Miss Hermione Granger's office at the Ministry of Magic and invite her to lunch at the cottage?" Harper nodded before bowing and disappearing with a 'pop!'

Hermione entered through the floo, and stumbled slightly. "Hi Narcissa, how are you? You called?"

"I did, Hermione. I'm quite well, thank you. I assume you've seem today's issue of The Daily Prophet?"

"Of course."

"I'm going to ask you a question, and I'd like you to think about it seriously before you give me an answer." Hermione nodded. "Do you think that you may be pregnant?"

A pregnant pause filled the air. How could she know? I thought she was going to ask about Draco…

Hermione opened her mouth. "Yes, I am."

Narcissa's eyes opened wide. "How far along are you?"

"About 5-6 weeks." Narcissa nodded.

"Have you told Draco yet?"
"No, I don't know how to break it to him. I was going to wait until after I finished my first trimester…"

"I agree. I think you could wait. But I do think you should tell him when the time is right, else he'll explode if he finds out in other ways. Your first trimester is the most sensitive though—it's possible to have a miscarriage. Mrs. Potter, Ginevra, is it? She and I could help you; we want the best for the baby."

"Maria Zabini could help as well."

"That's great! We should arrange a meeting this week, perhaps on Saturday, to discuss your…ah…condition."

Hermione nodded. "I'm free around 3, would you like to come to my flat for tea?"

"No, no that's not necessary. We can accommodate here. You're taking all the necessary vitamins and such?"

"Yes, of course."

"Great, I'll see you then."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait again! Thank winter break l o l. I'm *3 reviews away* from 100 reviews on Runaway! And I know ff has been kind of dead lately, but please, if you're reading, leave a review, even if it's only a sentence! Much love, PenofaPhoenix

A/N 2: thoughts? :) I wanted Narcissa to be really nice; I hate it when she's portrayed as a pureblooded-bigot who sticks to the old ideals. I always portrayed her as someone who truly wanted what was best for the family—like how in DH she lied to the Dark Lord to protect Draco. :3 So we now know that people other than Ginny will find out she's pregnant...but how do you think Draco will find out? :O

Please review!~

~xx PenofaPhoenix ( 97)