Disclaimer: Anything you recognize I do not own.

Saturday November 18, 2006

Draco was always amazed by how well Blaise got along with children. By this point he wasn't surprised when he found the grown man playing games like 'Dragon Attack' with Scorpius, but he was surprised when upon meeting Rose Weasley for the first time it was only a matter of an hour or two before he was playing with her just as he did Scorpius.

Therefore, Draco felt like he was going to the Quidditch game with three children, instead of two. However, he was happy to see both of the children smiling and laughing so openly with Blaise. Blaise had brought both of them children size Puddlemore jerseys and had helped each of them put one on. Scorpius' supported Janelle Estore, and Rose' was a Wood jersey. How fitting given the situation, but he was sure that was exactly what Blaise had in mind when picking out the jerseys for the children.

However, if he mentioned it, it would only get Blaise started, so he ignored it and hustled the three of them out of the flat so they could apparate to the stadium.

Once at the stadium it was easy work finding their seats. All were contained in a special box marked for family and friends of players, so Draco had no doubt that Hermione wouldn't show up at this box to meet up with her daughter.

Sure enough only a few minutes later he saw her enter the box and look around for them. She spotted Draco first before her gaze shot past him and to where Blaise was holding Rose and Scorpius up against the paneled glass so they could get a better look at what was going on in the rest of the stadium. Seeing that her daughter was alright, she returned her gaze to Draco and made her way over to him.

"Thank you again for last night." She began. "How were they?"

"Tiring." Draco replied. "I should tell you though; Rose did have a night terror last night."

Hermione sighed, "Was it bad?"

"Scorpius came in to wake me up and when I found her it wasn't too bad and she calmed down and settled into sleep pretty quickly." Draco replied.

"I hope this doesn't scare you into not having her over again. Now that she has slept there this shouldn't happen again."

"It wasn't bad, honestly. Scorpius was concerned, but didn't seem effected by it at all this morning. So, I would be happy to have Rose back for the night any time."

Hermione smiled, "Good. Now where did she get that jersey?"

"Blaise bought them for the two of them."

"Who's Estore?"

"She's a chaser and Blaise's girlfriend's sister."

Hermione nodded but said nothing more. Draco read the silence well though; she didn't want to comment on the fact that Blaise had been apt in picking out the appropriate jersey for her daughter.

"Mom!" Rose yelled excitedly as Blaise placed her down on the ground. "Look what Blaise got me!"

Once the game began it was clear to Draco that Hermione wasn't much of a Quidditch person, however, she knew enough to get by. Both of her two best friends had played in Hogwarts, and Draco was sure that Weasley probably had taken her to a few professional games at some point in their marriage. But it was clear that Rose had inherited a passion for Quidditch that could only have been passed on by her Father. She had abandoned sitting next to her Mother and migrated to where Draco, Blaise, and Scorpius sat yelling at the officials and players.

Draco noticed she was much more interested in watching Rose have a good time with them than the game itself. A small smile played about her lips as Rose mimicked Blaise's cry to the Puddlemore chaser and Draco realized that this was something she could not give her daughter. And it made Draco feel good to know that he and his friend were able to give this to her.

When the game ended in victory for Puddlemore United, Blaise dragged the whole gang down to the locker rooms. Hermione had protested that they were surely not allowed down there, but apparently his relationship with Estore's sister was enough to get him past the guards and into the heart of the locker rooms.

The locker rooms were split up into two sections; the men's side and the woman's side. Hermione was relieved to note that they were currently in the woman's side and since there were only two women on the team, the room wasn't crowded or uncomfortable at all. In fact, it was pretty inviting.

"Blaise!" Janelle greeted heartily, still in her Quidditch uniform. "I see you've brought everyone down. Good to see you Draco."

Draco nodded in return.

"Yup, I decided the kids needed the full experience." Blaise answered.

"And who are these adorable children?" Janelle asked. "Wait, it's obvious who this little boy is; you must be Draco's son. But who is this lovely little girl?"

"I'm Rose Weasley." Rose replied proudly.

Apparently Janelle was familiar with who Rose was because her eyes widened and then locked on Hermione's immediately.

"Hermione Granger? It's an honor. Truly." Janelle said, walking over and extending her hand out to Hermione.

Janelle could hardly believe she was meeting Hermione Granger, member of the Golden Trio, and widow to another member of the Golden Trio.

"It's nice to meet you." Hermione smiled.

Once Janelle snapped herself out of her stupor she turned back to Blaise, "You should really take them over to the guy's side. However, make sure they're decent before you let this little lady in; I've been scarred for life by them and that's saying something."

Hermione wasn't so sure that going to the guy's side was a good idea, especially after a victory, and given what had happened after her date with Oliver last night. But, the kids and Blaise were adamant, which left her and Draco tailing along behind.

Blaise barged in first to make sure it was safe for them to enter and a minute later he reappeared with a wide smile on his face and ushered them into the dressing room.

The five men inside the dressing room were in various stages of undress. Thankfully none of it was too scandalous for Hermione or her four year old daughter to see. Many of them were shirtless, but all of them had their pants on.

Of course, Hermione noted almost immediately, Oliver was one of them who had his shirt off. And bloody hell if it wasn't appealing. Oliver seemed to notice her immediately and smirked at the sight of the blushing Hermione. Then he seemed to realize who she was with in the locker room with and hurriedly shuffled back into a shirt, covering his toned chest once again.

"Did you guys enjoy the game?" Oliver asked as he knelt down to face the children.

"Yes!" Both of the children cheered as they stared up in awe at the famous keeper who had contributed, quite significantly, to the win today out on the field. If it wasn't for his amazing saves, the other team may have won by sheer points.

"Brilliant! And who may you two be?" Oliver asked, although he knew very well who each of these adorable children were.

"I'm Rose Weasley and he's Scorpius Malfoy." Rose answered confidently, reminding Oliver very much of her Mother that was standing behind her watching them.

"Well Rose and Scorpius, what do you say to me signing your jerseys?"

It was adorable. After Oliver had signed their jerseys he gestured that the rest of the guys do the same while he stood up and walked over to where Hermione stood.

"It appears someone takes after her Mother." Oliver grinned.

"I've heard that a lot lately." Hermione blushed. "Though she certainly has the look of a Weasley about her doesn't she?"

Oliver nodded, "She's beautiful, Hermione. Just like her Mother."

If it was even possible the blush staining Hermione's cheeks grew even darker. Thankfully everyone else in the locker room was absorbed in the children and therefore were not witness to the flirtation between Hermione and Oliver.

"I really enjoyed dinner last night." Oliver continued, immediately reminding Hermione of what had happened at the end of their dinner the night before.

He had kissed her good night, and while she had been expecting a simple peck on the cheek, Oliver had gone straight for her lips, kissing her as she hadn't been kissed in years now. Initially she was surprised at his forwardness, but as his lips tugged at hers she found that it felt too bloody good to protest it.

"Me too." Hermione confessed.

"We'll have to do it again soon."

Hermione could only nod her head in agreement as she noticed that they did, in fact, have an audience in Draco Malfoy. The blond was staring at them out of the corner of his eyes intently, wondering what the bloody hell Oliver was saying to her getting her to blush so!

Draco's gaze knocked her out of the spell Oliver had put her into and with a smile in goodbye she walked back over to the group and waited for the players to finish signing Rose's jersey.

Xxx

Monday November 20, 2006

Draco Malfoy was not proud of himself; not after the turn his weekend had taken. After he had observed Oliver Wood and Granger flirting there in the locker room he was determined not to let Hermione dominate his sleeping hours again. So, after she had left with Rose in tow, Draco had entrusted Scorpius into Blaise's care and headed back to the women's locker room.

Only Janelle was still there, the other female chaser had already taken off, and she had smiled up at Draco invitingly when he walked in alone with a look of determination on his face. He didn't need to tell her what he wanted; it was quite obvious. So after a quick shag right there up against one of the tiled walls of the locker room, the two had parted ways quite amicably and he had taken his son home for the day.

He was not proud of it, but he hadn't had a wet dream about Granger since and that had been his goal in the first place. Did he intend to shag Janelle again? No. He could not, in good conscious, shag her without any sentiments behind it whatsoever. He simply was not that guy anymore, and even though it certainly had been pleasurable it was not worth the shame he felt.

But it was inevitable that Granger would get back into his head again. He had just gotten a case that was going to need extensive research and cooperation between them; more so than even the Haversham case had called for.

This was an inheritance case; which not only involved genealogical issues, but land, and a lot of money. So, with a deep breath Draco entered Hermione's domain with his information in hand and walked up to her desk where she sat organizing papers.

She looked up at his approach and smiled in welcome at the blond.

"Good morning, Malfoy."

"Morning. I've got a new case that should pose quite a challenge for your talents as researcher."

"Really? I've been bored around here lately."

"Well, prepared to get really busy." Draco replied as he handed her the file. "This case is going to require a lot of time and energy between the both of us, Granger. The clients want it settled before Christmas, but I don't see that happening, so take your time."

Hermione nodded and started to sort through the file, glad that she finally had a challenge before her.

Xxx

"So how was it?"

Draco looked up from his sandwich and into the face of his best friend sitting across the table from him at lunch.

"How was what?"

Blaise quirked a brow, "Don't play dumb with me. Even if Jackie hadn't told me, I knew immediately what you were going to do when you left Scorp in my care Saturday there in the locker room. However, I got the details from Jackie. Up against the tile 'eh? How was it?"

Draco ran a frustrated hand through his hair, "Brilliant, at the time. But I'm not proud of it and its never happening again."

Blaise sighed, "Janelle isn't the type of girl who expects anything, mate."

"I know, but I'm not that guy anymore."

"What changed your mind in the first place?" Blaise asked curiously.

Draco's silence was answer enough for Blaise.

"Granger huh?"

"I didn't want to have another dream about her again and I didn't."

"Well, you probably will again. It sounds like this may be something more than just your subconscious."

"I don't know what is wrong with me!"

Blaise shook his head, "Nothing is wrong with you. She's an attractive, intelligent woman, and its natural that you should be attracted to her. Especially given your close proximity to her lately with Rose and Scorp hanging out."

Draco nodded his head; everything Blaise said made sense.