Disclaimer: Anything you recognize I do not own.
I'm sorry this update has taken so long, but sadly, that is how it's going to go from now on. I only have about 5 weeks until I graduate and I have a huge paper to write, as well as other projects to work on. Just know that I do plan on finishing this story. Thank you for all of the continued support! Also, please forgive any mistakes in this chapter; I wrote most of it tonight and only edited it once because I wanted to get this up as soon as possible for you guys.
Saturday July 28, 2007
With the court date set for late next week, Draco and Hermione wanted the weekend to be all about relaxation for the two of them and the children. Relaxing did not usually come easily to Hermione, who always liked to have her mind occupied with something constructive, but with an enormous belly bogging her down, the idea of relaxing and doing nothing was simply intoxicating.
Draco insisted on pampering her lately and that included today. He had set up a lounge chair for her outside. It was overflowing with pillows and next to it sat a table stacked with romance books, snacks, and fresh lemonade. He also made sure her chair provided a good view of their children playing on their fort.
After playing with Rose and Scorpius for a while, Draco joined Hermione on the deck with a wide smile. She looked beautiful lounging there with her wavy brown hair around her shoulders, and the bridge of her nose freckled from being out in the sun.
"What are you staring at?" Hermione asked as she set her romance down on her belly.
"My beautiful wife." Draco answered with a grin. "That sounded really cheesy, but it's the truth."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I don't believe you, but it's nice to hear, anyway."
"What could be more beautiful than you pregnant with my child and freckles on the bridge of your nose?"
Hermione laughed and ran a finger over her nose subconsciously. She knew they were there: they always came out when she had been in the sun for a little while. She was just surprised that he liked them so well.
"Have you heard from Blaise and Pansy?" Hermione asked curiously.
After the discovery that they were tied together for the rest of their lives a few weeks ago, Pansy and Blaise had been through quite a bit. The first two days after the revelation they avoided each other and pretended their time in Greece never happened. Then, they both received notification from the Ministry of their bonding and were forced to meet up and discuss the implications. As a bonded couple, their rights were a bit different from other regularly married couples, especially since they had been bonded out of the country. They could live apart, but only after living a full year together. If after that time they decided to go their separate ways they could, but neither would be able to marry another- their souls were bonded for life. If, after their year together, they decided to stay with each other they would go through with the legal marriage ceremony performed by the Ministry in the UK.
"They seem to be settling in nicely together." Draco replied. "After they resigned themselves to their fate, it got a lot easier. Plus, they shag like rabbits so the first year will fly by for them."
"They better be careful not to get pregnant if they want to separate after a year." Hermione sighed.
"The Ministry can't force them to live together after a year if they don't want to, even if they have a child."
"I know that, Draco, but think of the child."
Draco nodded his head in understanding, "They're smart. Besides, I think they'll stay together forever."
"You do?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Thinking back, it was always pretty obvious that they would be good together. Okay, well, maybe not always. Like when Pansy hung all over me, but after that, yes."
Hermione chuckled, "You're right. I haven't known either of them as long as you obviously, but they do mesh well together now."
"Kind of like us." Draco smiled.
The two were interrupted a moment later when their children ran at them shrieking with laughter. Apparently, they had decided to race to Mommy and Daddy and the victor was the one that got to sit on Hermione's lap. Hermione and Draco had only discovered the children's love for sitting on her lap a few nights ago when the two fought for the opportunity. Apparently, the size of her belly and breasts was extremely comfortable for the little ones to snuggle against. Draco could sympathize: her breasts were amazing at the moment.
As Rose was the victor of the little race, Scorpius pouted as he watched his sister snuggle into Hermione's belly with a contented smile on her face.
"You two are ridiculous." Hermione laughed. "Rose, make some room for your brother."
Rose sighed, "I suppose I can."
Hermione and Draco exchanged a look as Rose scooted over and made room for Scorpius to snuggle in on Hermione's lap. Together they ran their hands over Hermione's belly and then started talking to their little sister. They had never done that before, but with Rose's lead, Scorpius joined right in.
"Maddie is in there." Rose whispered to Scorpius. "She's our baby sister."
Hermione felt her eyes water: darn these hormones. A look at Draco revealed he was not immune to the cuteness going on either, however, he was not turning into a waterfall like Hermione was. Instead, he had a content smile on his face.
Xxx
Thursday August 2, 2007
The day of the trial arrived bright and clear. The children were sent to the Burrow and Hermione and Draco headed into the Ministry early to meet with Blaise and Harold. Even though they were sure they had the case in the bag, the air was still thick with tension. Astoria had proven to be unpredictable before, and she could pull something else today just when they were ready to get this over with.
"Today we are here to determine the permanent custody of Scorpius Malfoy between his biological parents, Draco Malfoy, and Astoria Greengrass. Let the record show that Ms. Greengrass previously signed over her parental rights and is now opposing her previous actions on grounds of temporary insanity."
"Temporary insanity?" Draco hissed through his teeth at Blaise and Harold, who sat at the table beside him.
Blaise nodded his head as he looked over his materials, "Turns out she somehow got a Healer to say she had post-partum depression. Don't worry, mate, we've got this covered. All we have to do is show how bad a Mother she is and what her real motives are."
Thanks to Astoria's fancy Spanish lawyer, the case lasted hours. First, both Astoria and Draco had testified on the events that led up to Astoria walking out of Scorpius' life and leaving him in the complete care of Draco. Obviously, the stories differed. Unfortunately, there was no solid evidence to support Draco's story, but thankfully, there was none that supported Astoria's side.
After that it was time to discuss how good of a parent each of them was. Draco was first. He watched as Hermione and Harry both testified on his skills as a Father and about his change from the infamous youth to the respectable man he now was. Astoria countered Draco's weighty testimonies with her exploits volunteering with sick children and helping the elderly. Draco smirked at how fake the people testifying on her behalf were. They were obviously being paid, and the courtroom would have to be blind not to realize that.
The time came for Blaise and Harold to present the information they had discovered. Astoria had no idea what was about to come to her. In fact, not even Draco knew what Blaise and Harold had been up to in their last days of preparation for the case. So, it made sense that when Blaise called their next witness to the stand, that Draco was just as shocked as Astoria was.
"We call to the stand Kostos Stavros."
Kostos had been hidden at the back of the courtroom with a concealment charm so Astoria would not know he was there. In the meantime, Kostos had heard everything presented in the case, including how Scorpius had been in his Father's care the entire time he had known Astoria.
"Please tell us your association with Astoria Greengrass, Kostos." Blaise began.
"She is-was my fiancé."
Blaise snuck a quick peek at Astoria and was pleased to see her crestfallen face at Kostos' harsh words. Served the witch right.
"Is it true that Ms. Greengrass had you believe that Scorpius Malfoy was in her care?"
"Yes."
"And is it true that after the two of you were married Astoria planned on moving her son to Greece with her to live with you?"
"Yes."
"Is it true that you were looking to have your own children with Astoria?"
"Yes, and it was important to me that the mother of my children be a good mother, as well as a pureblood. Not only was I attracted to Astoria because she is beautiful and pureblooded, but she had also proved to be able to carry a pureblooded child to term."
"And what would Astoria gain upon marriage to you?"
"She would have received complete access to my monetary assets and her own vacation home upon the delivery of our first child." Kostos replied.
Blaise whistled, "That's quite the motive. Tell me…would you have been interested in marrying Astoria if you had known that she had willingly given up custody of her son to her ex-husband?"
"Objection! It was confirmed that she was temporarily insane." Alejandro, the Spanish lawyer, yelled.
"Sustained."
"Let me rephrase that: would you have been interested if you had known Astoria did not have custody of her son for whatever reason?"
Kostos shook his head, "No. I made it very clear from the beginning that I wanted a very involved and loving Mother for my children. A woman not having custody of her own child, in my mind, does not fit those qualities."
"Thank you, that's all I needed." Blaise smiled.
"Do you have anything to add, Mr. Rodriguez?"
Astoria's lawyer, the charming Spaniard, looked completely defeated. "No."
Blaise exchanged a grin with Draco and fist bumped him under the table. They had this in the bag.
"Alright, those in favor of taking Scorpius Malfoy out of his Father's care and awarding full custody to his Mother please raise your hands."
Not one of the officials raised their hand. However, even if they had somehow awarded custody to Astoria she would have given it right back given her chances with Kostos were shot. Draco grinned at the thought. Not only would Astoria not be able to get near his son ever again, but she would black listed amongst all the rich pureblooded families in the world.
"Alright, custody of Scorpius Malfoy remains with his Father, Draco Malfoy . Astoria Greengrass is to have no contact with Scorpius Malfoy unless given the permission of Draco Malfoy. The courtroom is dismissed."
Hermione ran into Draco's arms as soon as he cleared the table he had been sitting behind for three hours. It was getting harder and harder to hold her tight with her pregnant belly, but when he could feel their daughter kicking he had no objections to not being able to hold Hermione as close as he would have liked. And little Madeline was kicking, indeed; she was just excited as his wife was at the news.
"We won!" Hermione grinned. "You know what this means, don't you?"
"It means we never have to deal with Astoria again and that you are Scorpius' real Mother."
Xxx
After a celebratory dinner with Harold, Blaise, and Pansy, Hermione and Draco had gone to the Burrow to pick of the children and to share the happy news with the Weasleys. Molly had been overjoyed and had completely shocked Draco by pulling him in for a hug. It had been strange at first, but after a moment or two he had actually enjoyed it.
When the two of them arrived at home with the children in tow, they found his Mother waiting for them with a huge smile on her face.
"I heard the news! Why didn't you tell me the trial was today, Draco? I would have come." Narcissa said with her hands planted on her hips.
"I didn't want you to worry about it." Draco replied.
"Not worry about the fate of my grandson?"
Draco was saved from having to grovel by his children, who decided to attack their Grandmother with hugs. Narcissa effectively turned to goo at having two little sets of arms wrapped around her legs and paid Draco no attention as he slipped out of the room. Instead, he decided to follow Hermione upstairs where she had gone after a brief greeting to Narcissa.
When Draco found her she was standing shirtless in front of the bathroom mirror, examining her belly. Her fingers ran over her stretch marks lightly. She had had them before and hadn't paid them much attention, but with this pregnancy she seemed to be more sensitive about her appearance than she ever had been when she was pregnant with Rose.
"You are beautiful." Draco stated as he walked up behind her, placed his hands on her hips, and placed a kiss on her shoulder.
"For some reason I'm more sensitive about how I look than I was with Rose." Hermione sighed.
"Pregnancies are different. You've said that yourself a thousand times." Draco replied. "Are you tired? Lie down. Mother is with the children and I can easily whip something up for the two of them to eat while you take a nap."
"I don't want your Mother to think I'm ignoring her, but I could use a nap."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of Mother and the children tonight. You take care of yourself and Maddie."
Hermione smiled and turned around in Draco's arms to place a quick kiss on Draco's lips. Before he could deepen the exchange, Hermione pulled out of his arms and headed towards their bed, pulling on her sleep shirt as she did so.
When Draco returned downstairs his Mother was in the kitchen with the children, making them sandwiches the way she always had with him: With a wave of her wand and with lots of giggles at all the objects moving of their own accord in the air before them.
"Thank you, Mother." Draco smiled.
"You're welcome, dear. I'm making one for you and Hermione as well."
"Hermione is napping, but we can put it in the fridge for her. She doesn't want you to think she's ignoring you, but-"
"Say no more, Draco. She is seven months pregnant, I completely understand. In fact, why don't you take care of her tonight and I'll take the children home with me for a sleepover?"
"Sleepover!" Rose yelled excitedly.
Narcissa smiled and turned her attention to Rose and Scorpius, "Do you two want to come spend the night with Nana Narcissa?"
"Yes! Yes!" They chorused.
"Can we, Daddy?" Rose asked sweetly.
Draco's heart melted at that, "Of course you can."
"Alright Rose, after you and Scorpius finish your dinner go upstairs and pack the things you'll need for tonight. Rose, you'll have to help Scorpius."
"Okay, Nana."
A minute later the children sprinted up the stairs, leaving Draco alone with his Mother.
"She calls you Dad now."
"Yes, and Scorpius calls Hermione Mom."
Narcissa smiled, "I'm glad. You guys are truly a family now."
"I won't let Rose forget about her real father, though, Mother."
"Of course not." Narcissa nodded. "But as far as I'm concerned, Scorpius doesn't have to know about Astoria ever."
Draco nodded his head in agreement, "There will be a time when we'll have to sit down and tell him that Hermione is not his biological Mother, but we have a while before that time comes."
Xxx
After his Mother left with the children, Draco headed back upstairs with Hermione's sandwich. She was stretching when he entered the room and her eyes lit up when she saw that Draco had food for her.
"My Mother took the children for the night." Draco stated as he handed the plate over to Hermione.
Hermione took a bite of the sandwich, "Really?"
"Yes. We have the house to ourselves." Draco grinned. "So eat up, because I have plans for you that require you have some energy."
"Do you really, Mr. Malfoy?"
"If you're not too tired."
"I had a nice nap."
"Good."