Two days away from the office was not a great idea. I've worked straight through the morning, then lunch, and probably the rest of the afternoon. It was a time for a break though. I had every intention of posting this yesterday, but by the time I got home I just wanted to shower and crawl into bed. First I let my mom feed me because it's been too long since I've bestowed that privilege upon her. She actually thanked me. It was weird.

Chapter 11
"Honestly, Draco, this isn't necessary," Hermione exclaimed as Draco set about unpacking a few of her belongings in the guest room of his house. She'd refused everyone else's offers - Molly, Ginny and Harry, and even Ron - but Draco would not take no for an answer.

His insistence bordered on annoying as he told her once more that she couldn't be alone. "If something happened to you or the baby, I..."

"I get it," she replied softly, pulling him away from the task of turning down the bed. Draco kissed her softly before helping her into bed. It was then that she felt the baby kicked for the first time. Delightedly, Hermione grabbed Draco's hand to let him feel the small foot that moved against her skin.

"That's incredible," he murmured, following the foot with his fingers. The door opened further to reveal a smiling little boy. Turning to his son, Draco beckoned him closer. "Want to feel Hermione's baby?"

Curiously, Scorpius climbed onto the bed and stared at Hermione's stomach. "I don't see a baby," he stated, turning to look at his father.

Laughing, Draco took his little hand and placed it where his had previously been. "Do you feel that, buddy?" Draco asked, receiving a nod from his son.

"Why her does that, Mimi?" he asked, a look of concern flashing through his gray eyes.

"It's sort of her way of saying hi," Hermione explained, which seemed to appease the little boy.

"Daddy, is Mimi gonna live here?" Scorpius inquired, shifting closer to Hermione until he could lie down by her side.

Draco nodded, but added, "For now." Deep down, though, he hoped the living arrangement could one day become permanent. Her presence always seemed to make him happier, and it was a feeling he'd come to like. A smile quirked up the corners of his lips as Scorpius settled further into Hermione's side. She held him close and used her other hand to smooth back the blond locks that fell in his face. Closing his eyes, Scorpius easily fell asleep. "Give him a couple of minutes and then I'll move him to his own bed," Draco whispered.

"He's alright," she assured him. "He's such a sweet boy."

Draco laughed. "He'll show his true colors soon enough," he warned. "Just wait for bath time, or if there's something on his plate he doesn't want to eat. He's young, but his magic is beginning to develop. I tried to get him to eat brussel sprouts once, and he made them explode."

It was Hermione's turn to laugh now. "Well, sure, what kid wants to eat a brussel sprout?" she wondered. "Speaking of brussel sprouts, I'm a bit hungry."

Nodding, he rose from the bed. Leaning over her he whispered, "Brussel sprouts it is," before lowering his lips to hers. Pulling away, he left the room for the kitchen downstairs. Before his feet touched down on the bottom step, a knock on the front door deterred him from his task. Furrowing his brows in confusion, for he was not expecting company, he turned the locks and pulled open the door.

"Potter?" he asked. "What are you doing here? Why do you know where I live?"

Pushing past him, Harry entered the foyer and demanded, "Where's Hermione?"

Draco shut the door and turned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Nice to see you too, Potter. Won't you come in?" he mumbled.

"Where is she?" Harry asked once more, his voice rising in pitch.

"Will you keep it down?" Draco snarled. "My son is sleeping. If you intend to speak with her, at least have the courtesy to not wake the toddler. She's upstairs, second door on the right." He stalked away then towards the kitchen without glancing back at his former schoolmate.

Quietly, Harry climbed the stairs and knocked hesitantly on the ajar door, second on the right. Hermione opened her eyes as he let himself in. "Feeling okay?" he asked, taking hesitant steps closer to the bed. Hermione shrugged and averted her gaze to the still sleeping Scorpius who remained curled up by her side. "I'm sorry, Mione," he said softly, bracing himself against one of the bed posts.

"What for?" she asked, struggling to sit up without disturbing the child. Scorpius stirred, but rolled onto his other side without waking.

"For the way I acted when you told us about the baby," he replied, studying the pattern of the bedspread instead of meeting her eyes. "It shouldn't have taken me this long to apologize, and I'm sorry for that too. I'm used to being the protector, but you've always been the one person who rarely ever needed me for that. I know you can take care of yourself, and your baby is lucky to have you for a mother. I just wish I could help in some way. I went about offering my help all wrong though."

"Why did it take so long?" she wondered.

A blush colored Harry's cheeks as he finally looked her way. "Because I'm a stubborn, stupid git," he replied.

"Got that right," Draco muttered as he entered the room. Careful not to wake his son, he set a tray of food by Hermione's left side and took a seat by her side. He thought they looked like the picture perfect family, and had Harry Potter not been standing there, he would have smiled. Instead, he glared at the man he once considered his nemesis, and waited for him to leave.

Harry returned Draco's glare before settling his gaze on his friend again. "I should probably be going," he said. "We're okay now?"

Hermione smiled. "We will be. It was good to see you, Harry." He gave her foot a gentle squeeze and showed himself out. The adults remained silent until the front door closed. Hermione picked up half a turkey sandwich and bit into it, chewing slowly. "I don't know why I thought you'd be nice to him. I'm not surprised that you weren't."

Draco was sure her nonchalant tone held a bit of disappointment, and he knew why she thought he'd be kind to her friend. After all, it was he who befriended the woman he'd once teased for not having a wizarding background. He had been the first to put their past behind them and extend the olive branch. She had hoped he could do the same for Harry.

"Potter's not the same," he said, biting into an apple slice. "You and I, for as much as we hated one another as kids, managed to get past it all. I have changed, I know I have. But your friends, especially Potter and Weasley, will never believe that. I don't know that we'll ever get along, but I'll try."

Hermione reached out and rested a comforting hand on his arm. "I know you will," she replied reassuringly.

And he would. For her.