Chapter Five
The next morning, before the light of dawn peaked through the window, Hermione woke to a rustling in her bed. Startled, she sat up quickly, and came face-to-face with a tiny blonde toddler. Suddenly, the night before came crashing back to her.
With a groggy voice she choked out, "Carina?"
The little girl wrapped her arms around Hermione's neck and nestled her head under her chin.
Lying back down, Hermione pulled the blanket up over the girl and wrapped an arm around her. Just as she began to drift back to sleep, her tiny voice brought Hermione back to attention.
"Where's Dadda?" she asked innocently.
Hermione sighed tiredly and said, "Erm… he is sleeping in another room."
"Oh," she responded, "Why?"
Hermione closed her eyes and tried to think of a good response. She started to drift back to sleep, but Carina woke her up again.
"Mamma?"
She opened her eyes. Remembering the child's question she said, "We're at school right now. Boys and girls can't sleep in the same room."
Carina seemed to contemplate this for a minute before asking, "Why not?"
With a yawn she responded, "Because that's the rules, sweetie. Let's just go back to sleep now."
Hermione closed her eyes, but before she could fall back to sleep, she heard Carina murmur, "I don't like rules."
A few hours later, Hermione woke with the sunrise. She sat up, yawned, and stretched her arms above her head. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she suddenly remembered the toddler in her bed. She shot her eyes opened in an instant, and looked around the room wildly. Where had she gone?
Heart racing, Hermione jumped out of bed. Without grabbing a dressing gown, she ripped open her bedroom door and yelled, "Carina?"
No response. She rounded the corner to the sitting room, and was relieved to find her on the floor, playing with a doll.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She'd have to ask Professor McGonagall about wards and safety precautions.
Carina caught sight of her and jumped up, "Mamma! Mamma! I'm hungry."
"Okay," she said, "I'll just…."
Hermione peered at the small kitchenette. She'd hardly cooked anything in her life. She wondered what kind of food a three-year-old should eat.
"What do you want to eat?" she asked.
She made a show of looking like she was thinking really hard for a moment, and then said, "Papa Lu's spesh—sal."
"Papa Lu's special," Hermione repeated. What on Earth is that?
She began to inquire, but there was a knock at the door. Still contemplating the breakfast situation, she opened the door to find Professors McGonagall and Snape on the other side.
"Miss Granger!" the stern woman chided, giving her a once-over look.
Hermione looked down at herself and blushed. Devoid of appropriate undergarments, she was clad only in a thin pink tank-top and pair of black cotton shorts.
"Erm…" she started, "Come in."
The two professors entered, and Carina's little feet came pattering across the floor in a hurry.
"Uncle Sev! Uncle Sev!" she wrapped herself around his leg with a smile.
Hermione snickered at the expression on his face, and excused herself to grab a robe. Hoping it was at least as long as her uniform skirt, she tied it at the waist and rejoined her visitors.
Turning her attention to Professor Snape, she said, "Malfoy is still sleeping."
He peeled the child off his leg, and left the room to go wake him. Professor McGonagall directed Hermione and Caria to the sitting area.
"How was last night?" she inquired.
Hermione contemplated it briefly and said, "Chaos. Obviously. But after you left us here, she slept most of the night, and then climbed in my bed early this morning," she glanced at the curly headed girl at her feet, "I meant to ask you... I was terribly worried when I woke up this morning, and she had disappeared. I've never cared for a child before. Are there wards or alarms we can set, so she doesn't get hurt or end up lost and wandering around the castle?"
Professor Snape and a tired looking Malfoy joined them in the sitting area.
Smiling knowingly, Professor McGonagall replied, "Yes, we'll set a few wards to protect her from things like falls and the fireplace, one to keep her from escaping, and one that alerts you if she does get hurt. Other than that, you'll just need to make sure you don't leave any choking hazards or poisonous substances within her reach."
She wondered if the library had any child development or parenting books she could borrow.
Hermione sighed, "I just feel like there's so much I don't know."
"Must be unbearable for you," Professor Snape sneered.
Professor McGonagall scolded him, "Now Severus. Why don't you make yourself useful, and go put up some protection wards. All the standard family wards should suffice."
Professor Snape grumbled, but complied.
Turning back to the two teens, she said, "I wanted to inform you that Madame Pomphrey is at your disposal anytime you have questions about childcare, as am I. Also, we've enlisted a few house elves to assist with watching her, while you two attend classes."
As if waiting to be summoned, the two elves appeared with a pop.
"This is Winky, and this is Doris," she introduced them. "Winky has spent most of her life helping to raise children. She's very qualified for this task. And Doris has volunteered to help prepare meals for the child."
Though Hermione was apprehensive, the two elves looked beyond thrilled.
"We is happy to be helping!" Winky insisted.
"Yes! Anytime you is needing," said Doris.
"Actually," Hermione thought out loud, "Carina wanted breakfast."
Doris jumped with excitement, "I can make anything Miss is wanting!"
Hermione furrowed her brow, "Erm… Papa Lu's special?"
Professor Snape returned, taking a seat near Malfoy.
Carina squealed and jumped to her feet, "Yes! Yes! Papa Lu's spesh-sal"
Doris's ears lowered a bit, and she looked unsure.
"I is not knowing what that is Miss…." Doris said.
Hermione was unsure as well.
Speaking for the first time, Malfoy said with a groggy voice, "It's crispy peanut butter toast, with fire-roasted marshmallows on top. Dobby knows."
Looking reassured, Doris disappeared with a pop.
Hermione locked eyes with Malfoy as realization dawned on her. Papa Lu— Lucius. Suddenly their situation felt much more real. They had a daughter. She had a grandfather. In some distant future, they were a family. She sighed again, feeling overwhelmed.
Breaking eye contact, she turned back to Professor McGonagall, "So, we just go about our daily lives? What do we tell people when they ask why we left our dorm? What about our friends?"
Professor Snape spoke, "The Headmaster is making an announcement at breakfast, which should divert any questions regarding the child, and your situation. As for your housemates, their breakfast was spiked with a mild confundus potion, which should keep them from questioning where you are."
At the shocked expression on her face, Professor McGonagall leaned over and patted Hermione's knee, "It's just a mild potion, dear, until we can figure out a more permanent solution. Remember, we don't want any excess attention directed at Hogwarts during the war. It's for everyone's safety."
She nodded, "I understand."
She glanced over at Malfoy to see he had dozed off. Figures, she thought, it wasn't exactly like he had real friends he'd want to confide in, just goons he liked to order around. She could imagine this conversation was terribly uninteresting to him. Why would he care if everyone in his house was drugged to forget him?
Doris returned with a pop. She had a large metal cart with plates full of peanut butter and marshmallow toast, and cups of milk.
Professor McGonagall stood and said, "We'll leave you to your breakfast then. I expect to see you in class, and maintain your grades, as usual. You're both top students; I have no doubt you'll carry on just fine. If you find yourself in need of more help or more elves, my door is always open," she glanced at Professor Snape expectantly.
He cleared his throat, "As is mine, though I reserve the right to issue detention, should you come knocking at ungodly hours."
Professor McGonagall scoffed and berated him, as they left the room.
From the dining table, Doris called, "You's food is ready."
Hermione scooped up Carina and carried her on her hip.
"Thank you, Doris."
Hermione sat and propped Carina on one knee, wrapping an arm around her. She pulled a plate closer, and the child immediately dug in, getting sticky marshmallow all over her hands and face. Hermione eyed the unusual food curiously, and reached for a slice of toast. Admittedly, it was tasty. Though, she preferred a savory breakfast over a sweet one.
Moments later, Malfoy joined them at the table, and pulled a plate of toast toward him. She stared at him for a moment, and it crossed her mind that in all their years at Hogwarts, they'd never shared a table, never shared a meal, never worked on a project together, or sat close in the library. Every memory she had of him was associated with negative feelings: being called a mudblood, being taunted for her teeth, or her hair, or her brain.
She glanced down at the child in her lap—their daughter- and wondered how that ever possibly came to be.
He caught her staring. For a moment, it looked like he was about to curl his lip, and say something foul to her. It was a behavior she expected. He paused, his eyes settling on Carina. He took a deep breath and caught her eye once more.
Lifting his toast into the air and eyeing it, he said, "My father used to make this for me. Usually the elves cooked all our meals, but this was something special he made just for me, when I was a kid."
He took a bite a looked away as she fought the urge to show a visible reaction. He was making an effort to be cordial.
"It's tasty," she said in a small voice, taking another bite.
She was willing to be civil if he was. It would make living together much easier.
A/N:
Leave a review to let me know what you think! I need ideas for meals that would likely be served at Hogwarts, if anyone has suggestions. Thanks for reading!