Chapter Three

Downstairs in the pub's kitchen, Draco's mind was racing.

I have Hermione Granger in my loft, she just gave birth.

I proposed to her! Merlin, what was I thinking?

I told her I loved her. I thought of her daughter...Rose...as my daughter.

Bloody hell, I do love her. What am I going to do when she comes to her senses and leaves with Rose, forever? Gods, I'll never forgive myself if I lose her again.

Upstairs, Hermione was having similar thoughts.

Okay, I'm in Draco Malfoy's loft. He helped me give birth to Rosie.

Did he mean that proposal? Did I really say yes?

He told me he loved me, and I, him. Merlin, I must be losing it.

What if he tells us to leave? I don't want to lose him...I do love him.

Just then, Hermione remembered her promise to her former nemesis-turned-confidant, Lavendar. She wasn't sure if Cobble would come, but she called for the house-elf anyway.

"Cobble?"

The elf popped into the room almost immediately. "Yes missus?"

"Could you please go downstairs, into the kitchen of the pub and ask Draco Malfoy if he could come up here?"

"Yes, missus. I's be back fast."

"Thank you Cobble. Oh, and if Draco has an elf, could you send them here?"

"Missus, Master Draco indeed has an elf. His name is Dobby, after Great Dobby the Free Elf. Master Draco named him that after yous and your friends got rid of the mean Lord. He told Cobble he wanted to help yous and your friends at his Manor, but he was forbidden," Cobble said. "Oh noes! Master Draco ordered Cobble not to tell yous!" She began hitting herself with a solid brass paperweight on the bedside table.

"Cobble! It's okay! I'll talk to Draco about it, I'll tell him I ordered you to tell me why his house-elf was named Dobby!" Hermione whispered loudly. "Cobble stop!"
When the poor elf finally did stop, she had the Malfoy crest imbedded in her wrinkly forehead. "Cobble is sorry Missus."

"Don't be Cobble," Hermione smiled. "Could you please get Draco?"

"Yes Missus." And she disappeared.

Hermione waited a moment and called Draco's elf.

"D...Dobby?" she said uncertainly.

The elf popped into the room. Hermione almost fainted.

"Sorry, but erm...you...look just like..." she trailed off.

"Dobby does look like Great Dobby the Free Elf. Master selected me, because I am Dobby the Free Elf's nephew. Is yous needing something Missus Hermione?" Dobby said.

"Yes, could you retrieve roughly a foot of parchement and a quill and ink for me? I'd like to write a letter."

"Right away Missus."

Almost immediately after Dobby disapparated, Draco returned with two grilled cheese sandwiches, cut in half, and a glass of the Muggle soda, Coca-Cola.

"Your elf...Cobble, I think she said, told me you wanted to see me?" he asked, placing the plate and glass on the bedside table.

"Yes, could I borrow your owl?" she said. "I promised Lavendar Finnegan the exclusive when Rose was born."

"Sure," Draco replied. He then called for his owl. "Hyperion!"

At her strange look, he said, "Hyperion is my owl. I trained him to come to me when I call his name."

Just then, a beautiful owl came swooping into the room, landing on Draco's shoulder. He was snow white, much like Harry's dear owl, Hedwig, with the exception of his coal black belly. Draco transferred the owl to his perch by the window and walked back over to Hermione and Rose.

"Want me to...erm...hold Rose while you eat and write Lavendar?" he asked uncertainly.

"Please?"

He reached down and gingerly picked the small infant up. As he settled her against his chest, Rose sighed and turned her head so her face was close to Draco's neck. As she breathed, he could feel the butterfly-soft breath against his skin. He smiled at sat in the rocking chair he conjured out of a spare pillow.

He rocked slowly as he watched Hermione write the letter, every so often taking a bite of the sandwich, or a sip of soda.

Finally, she gingerly walked over to him and said, with a smile, "Trade?" He took the letter and she was handed Rose. "You can read the letter if you want, since you'll be getting so much press because of it."

He sat down and read the eloquent letter silently.

To: Lavendar Finnegan
Daily Prophet

Lavendar,

As promised, I am giving you the exclusive on my daughter, Rose Jane's birth. Let me first begin by saying this is not a typical birth announcent. I am not in Saint Mungo's. As I write this, I am sitting in a rather comfortable bed in none other than Draco Malfoy's loft. I sought Draco out for a support of some kind when I left Ronald, and en route to his quaint pub, I went into labor. I placed glamours on myself, and entered the pub. I spoke the code to Draco, and he directed me to a booth. After closing the pub, he approached me. Being the wizard he is, he detected something was off about my magic. I told him of the glamours and he removed them.

After a moment, I started having excrutiating pain, contractions. He levitated me to his loft, where I soon gave birth to a 6lb, 8oz, 18 inch long baby girl.
Draco and I are going to the Ministry soon, I believe, to finalize my divorce from Ronald, and to...how to put this...sod it. Consider this a birth / divorce / engagement / wedding announcement.

I had Rose Jane earlier today, tomorrow, my divorce from Ronald will be finalized, I am currently engaged to Mister Draco Malfoy, and we are to be married minutes after the divorce is considered finalized. We will also be having a legal blood adoption, after Ronald signs his rights over to Draco. By legal, I mean we will be having Kingsley Shacklebolt preside over the adoption.

Hope you and Seamus are doing well,

Hermione Granger-Weasley (soon to be Malfoy)

"You almost sound like a bloody school-girl with a crush for a bit, there," Draco said, smiling. "Want me to write a brief note on here to verify that this is true?"

"Please?"

Draco took the quill and ink from Hermione, and began writing.

Lavendar,

Everything Hermione said is fact. I did help her, and birth her child, I am going to assist her in divorcing Weasley, and I am going to marry her and adopt Rose, whom I deeply care for.

Wishing you, Seamus, and your child well,

Draco L. Malfoy

He let Hermione review his statement. When she smiled and nodded, he tied the letter to Hyperion's leg and told him, "This is for Lavendar Brown-Finnegan at the Daily Prophet."

The next day, Draco, Hermione, and Rose set off for the Ministry. First on the to-do list was to finalize the divorce and get Ronald to sign his rights over.

They entered the Ministry and walked straight to the elevators. Draco spoke in a clear voice, "Office of Wizarding Marriage, Divorce, and Child Law."

The elevator shot down two floors and abruptly stopped. Hermione almost toppled over, but caught herself. "Thank Gods Draco's holding Rosie," she thought.

They walked to the receptionist's desk, and before they could say anything, she said, "Place your hand on the parchment, it'll print out a name label and give you information on where you're supposed to go."

Draco placed Rose's hand there first. Her label came out, it read:

Rose Jane Granger-Weasley
Daughter of Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley
Soon to be daughter of Draco Malfoy

Draco placed his palm on the parchment next. His read:

Draco Lucius Malfoy
Son of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy
Husband-to-be to Hermione Granger
Father-to-be to Rose Granger-Weasley

Hermione was last, hers read:

Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley
Daughter of Wendell and Monica Wilkins (caused by an irreversable memory charm placed on them in 1997.)
Wife of Ronald Weasley
Mother to Rose Granger-Weasley
Wife-to-be to Draco Malfoy

Another slip of parchent followed her nametag:

In order, please proceed to Divorce Finalization, office 265,
Then to Parental and Custodial Rights, office 345
Then to Marriage Licensing, office 302
And finally, Infant (Legal) Blood Adoptions, office 468.

As they set off for Divorce Finalization, Draco muttered, "I don't see how someone so little can be so hard to carry for a long period of time, and I don't see how you do it."

"Easy," she said. "Feather charm. Watch."

He stopped walking, and she slid her wand out of her sleeve slightly, and muttered the charm. Instantly, Draco's arms felt immensly better.

"Ready?" he asked her.

"Let's just get the over with."

A/N I know I said I'd put the divorce, wedding, and adoption, as well as Ron's reaction in this chapter, but it seemed like so much happened in this chapter. I didn't want to overload it. I'm writing chapter 4 now, so it won't be much longer until we see Ron's reaction, which I'm sure will be priceless. :)