Chapter 6
Hermione woke up on Monday morning to the bright sun light that poured through the window. Sunday had passed uneventfully and Hermione was ready to get back to classes after a relaxing weekend. She looked over towards Draco's bed, but he wasn't there. Slowly getting up, Hermione walked over to the drawer to grab some clothes. She left the bedroom and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Once she was done, she walked downstairs and noticed that Draco was reading a book on the couch. He looked like he was really into the book and was really absorbed in it. Hermione had a bright idea and slowly crept behind him. She slowly lifted up her hands and….
"Mommy!" Owen exclaimed and jumped up and down with his arms in the air signaling for Hermione to pick up him. She hadn't noticed him sitting there and he had spotted her before she had a chance to scare Draco. Hermione groaned at her failed attempt and pick up Owen in her arms. Draco turned around and smirked.
"Granger, that was a sad attempt to scare me."
"What? I almost had you if this little guy didn't see me." Hermione said and gave Owen a kiss on the cheek.
"Actually, I knew you were behind me all along."
"How?! I made sure to be extra sneaky"
"Yea, if you call stomping down the stairs like an elephant sneaky."
"Are you calling me fat? Cause if you're calling me fat as an elephant then….then you're as big as a planet!" Hermione defended herself and walked away towards the other side of the room. Draco chuckled and walked over to her.
"Calm down, I was just implying that I heard you coming down the stairs. You're not fat, no where near it so don't be so sensitive."
"Oh...well, you didn't have to say elephant."
"Okay, I apologize for saying that."
"Good." Hermione said while trying hard not to smile, but couldn't really help herself as a small grin formed on her face.
"We should probably head down to breakfast, remember we have to go to Dumbledore's meeting right after." Draco said, now heading upstairs to grab his books.
"Wait, where's Eliena?" Hermione scanned the room, but there was no sign of the little girl anywhere. Draco stopped just before he was about to walk up the first step and turned around with wide eyes.
"I left her in the bathtub and forgot to take her out!"
"How could you leave a one year old child alone in the bathtub!?" Hermione screamed and put Owen down on the couch as she raced passed Draco into the bathroom, but when she looked around, it was empty. She instantly slapped herself for falling for Draco's trick. How silly of her to forget that she was in the bathroom right before so how could've Draco put Eleina in the bathtub. Hermione became embarrassed as she walked out the bathroom and saw Draco standing there laughing hysterically with Eleina standing by his side with a look of confusion.
But Hermione's embarrassment quickly turned into anger as she stomped over to Draco and punched his arm.
"Hey! What was that for?" Draco said while holding his hands up for protection from Hermione's incoming punches.
"That was for pulling that trick on me and making me act like an idiot and this," she punched him again, "is for almost giving me a heart attack."
"Okay, okay, would you stop?! I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself. I needed to get you back for what you did earlier."
"But it didn't even work when I tried to scare you! You knew I was there."
"Yes, but you tried to and that's enough for me to get you back."
"Fine, but beware, I will get you for this. Sleep with one eye open, Draco Malfoy." Hermione whispered that last part to him as she walked backed down the stairs to grab Owen. Draco laughed and followed her. They both gathered their books and supplies and headed out the portrait hole to the Great Hall for breakfast.
The Great Hall was filled with students' voices as they chatted over breakfast. Hermione and Draco walked over to their table and sat down next to their friends. It was a nice peaceful breakfast until a loud argument was heard at the entrance of the Great Hall. All the students turned their heads to see Ron and Millicent yelling at each other over what seemed like a missing child.
"Weasley! How many times do I have to tell you to keep an eye on our children?! We're probably going to end up losing all four of them by the end of this term because of you!"
"Why is everything always my fault?!"
"Are you serious? Are you really asking me that question?!"
"What does it look like I'm doing, singing?!"
"Weasley, if you don't shut it I'm going to…" Millicent began but was interrupted by a tug on her robes. She looked down to see a small boy with red hair looking up at her.
"Mommy, why are you yelling?"
"Oh goodness! Alex where did you go off to?" Millicent grabbed her child and squeezed him in a tight hug.
"I saw really pretty unicorn picture and I went over to talk to her."
"Never ever walk away from us, do you understand?" Ron said. He walked over towards them right after Millicent had picked up Alex. The boy nodded, a little frightened by Ron's tone. They walked over to the table and sat down to eat their breakfast. Draco smirked at Ron who sat across from him.
"Jeez Weasley, you should take some classes on how to be a better parent."
"Don't talk to me, Malfoy." Ron responded through gritted teeth.
Draco was about to add another sly remark when Hermione elbowed him and gave him a stern look. He glared at her, but left Ron alone and continued to eat his breakfast while feeding Eleina, who was sitting on his lap, as well. Hermione began to scoop spoonfuls of porridge into Owen's mouth while she ate, too.
After breakfast, they dropped the kids off at the children center and headed to the classroom for Dumbledore's meeting. They ended up being one of the first couples to arrive and took a seat in the middle of the room. It didn't take long until all the couples had arrived and Dumbledore arrived shortly afterwards. He walked up to the front of the classroom and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for coming to this meeting. I promise it will be short and you may go back to classes afterward."
"Take all the time you want, Professor!" A student yelled from the back of the room.
Dumbledore chuckled at the comment and continued on without a response to it.
"First of all, I wanted to talk about your journals. As you know I've been reading them every week and I'm so glad that this project has been going well for all of you. I've read at least two good entries from every student which makes me extremely happy because it let's me know that this has been going well and hasn't been a waste of time. And since I've been getting a good response from this, I think you all would like to know that now the journals are not required. I know it's on the contract, but since I've been getting good responses it confirms that this program was a good idea. "
Students cheered at this announcement. They were happy because not having to write in the journal meant one less assignment to worry about.
"However, if you would like to continue writing in them, it would be fine with me." Dumbledore continued.
"Now, on to the next thing, Saturday evening I made an announcement concerning the Halloween ball. You all are invited of course, but the only thing is that you may not bring your kids. It's much too dangerous having so many students out and it would be rather hard for you all to have a good time if you had to watch over them. The children center will be open that night just for this occasion so feel free to drop them off there."
"Aww, but I was looking forward to dressing them up in little costumes!" Parvati said with a glum look on her face.
"Not to worry Miss Patil, that was the next thing on my list," Dumbledore responded, a twinkle in his eye. "I'm sure most of you would like to have a party of some sort that could involve the children so I'm allowing one the evening before the day of the ball. It will only be a small simple party since there are only a few of you, so there is no need to dress up too fancy, save that for the ball, but of course you may dress up your kids in a costume if you would like. It would still be a Halloween theme, but more of a children environment."
Most of the students responded well to Dumbledore's news and happily whispered to their friends about how cute their kid would like in a little cat or pumpkin costume, but there were still some groans, mainly from the boys.
"Are there any questions?" Dumbledore asked as he looked around at the students with no raised hands and continued, "Well then you are all excused. Thank you again for taking the time out of your class for this meeting. Have an exceptional day." With that, the students all got up and filed out of the classroom, but walked extra slow to waste more time.
Hermione and Draco walked out of the room together, but Hermione stopped suddenly when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she looked up and saw Blaise smiling back at her. She gave him a confused look, but returned the smile. Draco, who had walked ahead, stopped when he noticed that Hermione was no longer walking beside him. He looked back and frowned when he saw Blaise and Hermione together. He walked back just in time to hear Blaise ask Hermione to be his date for the Halloween Ball. Draco and Blaise stared at Hermione, waiting for her reply, both wanting to hear the complete opposite answer.
Hermione stared at both of the boys standing in front of her. I should probably say yes, I mean I don't have a reason not to, Hermione thought and turned to look at Draco…but Malfoy…wait, why does it matter how Malfoy feels. We are supposed to be a couple, but the contract doesn't say anything about having to attend parties together. Hermione decided she better make the decision quick since they were already half an hour late for their class and didn't want to miss anymore of the class time.
"Um..sure, Blaise. I'll be your date." Hermione said, giving him a weak smile.
"Great! Well, I'll see you two later." Blaise said as he walked off in the other directions towards Divination.
Hermione looked at Draco, who had a frown on his face. He turned and walked away without saying a word to her. Hermione held a confused face as she watched him walk down the corridor. I wonder why he's upset, she thought, but quickly brushed her thought away as she ran to the Herbology room hoping that she didn't miss too much work.
Draco walked towards the Divination room slowly so he wouldn't catch up to Blaise. He thought about what had just happened, feeling a little sick to his stomach that Hermione had agreed to be Blaise's date to the ball. Why should I care if Granger wants to go to the ball with Blaise? He thought suddenly, as he entered the Divination room ignoring Professor Trelawney's stare. If she wants to go with Blaise, then she should.
He sat next to Pansy who obviously got there earlier than he did. She looked at him strangely which made Draco a little uneasy.
"What?" Draco asked in a whisper.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong. Why would you think something's wrong?"
"Draco, I've known you for how long? I can tell just by looking at you that something's on your mind, now tell me what it is."
"Honestly, it's really nothing."
"Is it the fact that Blaise asked Granger to be his date for the Halloween Ball and she accepted?"
"Wait..how did you know he asked her?"
"Well, Blaise came in here grinning like an idiot, so I asked him why he had a dumb smile plastered on his face and he told me what happened."
Draco glared at the back of Blaise's head who was sitting at the table in front of him.
"Draco? Hello?" Pansy waved her hand in front of Draco to get his attention back.
"Sorry," Draco replied as he snapped back into reality. "It's ridiculous, really. I don't even know why it bothers me. I'm probably getting sick or something and it's putting me in a bad mood."
"I don't think you're getting sick, Draco. Getting jealous is more like it."
"Why does everyone think that I'm jealous? Because I'm not. I have no reason to be jealous."
"Are you sure, Draco? Are you absolutely positively sure?" Pansy raised her eyes at him.
"Yes! Now will you leave me alone?"
"Okay, okay. Whatever you say." Pansy said as she returned her attention back to Professor Trelawney.
I'm not jealous, Draco thought to himself or rather, tried to convince himself.
Hermione rushed into the Herbology room just as Professor Sprout was handing out pots of strange looking plants to each student.
"Ah, Miss Granger, nice to have you finally join us."
"Sorry Professor." Hermione said and walked over towards Harry and Ron.
"Hermione, what took you so long? We walked from the same classroom and still made it fifteen minutes before you." Harry asked with a look of concern on his face.
"Yea, Hermione. Usually, you'd be the first one here coming from a meeting that was taking up class time. You'd rush here right after Dumbledore excused us." Ron added.
"I was walking to class right behind you guys, but Zabini stopped me on the way." Hermione told them.
"What? Why? What is that git up to now?" Harry asked protectively.
"He..um..he found my quill that I dropped." Hermione lied. She wasn't ready to tell them about Blaise asking her to the ball just yet, especially since she had accepted. She didn't want them to have a fit in the middle of class, and then everyone would find out.
"Is that all?"
"Yes…Um, we should really finish our assignment. We've already wasted enough time." Hermione avoided eye contact with them and began taking notes on the plant that was in front of her. Harry looked at Ron who just shrugged and continued on working. Harry just sighed and followed his friend.
The rest of their classes flew by and Hermione was thankful that Ron and Harry didn't question her further about Blaise. They ate lunch quickly so that they could get back to their dorms to relax. Hermione hadn't seen Draco since that morning. She had hoped to see him during lunch. When he didn't show up, she began to worry.
Heading back to her dorm, Hermione stopped by the children center to pick up Eleina and Owen, but inside she didn't see them anywhere. She began to panic and rushed towards one of the ladies standing near the door.
"Excuse me, where are my children?"
"Names?"
"Owen and Eliena."
"Let's see…oh yes, Mr. Malfoy arrived earlier to pick them up."
"Oh okay, thank you." Hermione smiled her thanks and left the a little confused. Draco and her had made a deal that they would take turns picking up the kids everyday after classes and today was her day, so why did he decide to do it?
Hermione walked back to her dorm, gave the old lady in the portrait their password, and walked in. The room was empty. She was about to leave to look for them, but heard laughter coming from upstairs and hurriedly walked in the room. Inside she saw Draco sitting on the floor with Eleina and Owen, who were playing their toys. She walked in and sat down next to them. Draco looked at her, a little startled. He had obviously been thinking about something and didn't notice Hermione had come inside.
"I thought it was my turn to pick them up." Hermione said.
"Sorry, I should've told you before hand that I was going to."
"I didn't see you at lunch."
"Wasn't hungry."
Hermione looked at Draco who was staring at the doll he had in his hands. What's wrong with him, she thought to herself. He looked so out of it.
"So…you never really told me how you felt about me going to the ball with Zabini." Hermione said, trying to start up a conversation, but Draco wasn't in the mood, especially if it was about her and Blaise.
"I don't care, good for you both. I'm going to take nap, wake me up when it's time for dinner." Draco stood up and left the room without another word. Hermione frowned when Draco left, she picked up the doll that he was holding and began to punch it.
"Stupid Malfoy and his mood swings." She said while punching the doll at the same time.
"No hitting. Bad mommy." Owen said when he walked over to picked up the doll and gave her a scolding finger. Hermione's bad mood subsided when she looked at the little boy and smiled at him. Her kids always made her feel better whenever she was in a bad mood.
"Owen, what should we dress you up as for Halloween?" She asked him, but it was more like asking herself since Owen turned around to play with his other toys.
"How about you, Eleina?" Hermione turned to her other child. Eleina looked over to her mother when she heard her name.
"Look mommy!" Eleina said and held up one of her dolls, but it seemed to be missing an arm. Looking around on the ground, she found it lying a few inches away from her. Hermione laughed, she got up and walked over to Eleina to pick her up.
"Don't do that to your toys, sweetie." She told her daughter and walked over to Owen just as he let out a yawn. "I think its nap time for you two."
"But I'm not tired." Eleina said, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hands. Hermione smiled and pulled Owen up with her other hand. She held on to his hand while they walked over to the cribs. She put Eleina in her crib first and kissed her on the forehead. Then she picked up Owen and did the same.
Hermione walked out of the room, leaving the door a little opened. She walked into her and Draco's bedroom and saw him asleep on his bed. She stared at his sleeping figure for a while before she walked down to the living room to do her Potions assignment. Hermione sat on the couch and opened up her book. After a couple of minutes, Hermione felt a little tired herself. Setting the book down on the table in front of her, she lied on the couch, closed her eyes, and slowly felt herself falling asleep.
Hermione woke up a few hours later and suddenly realized that she had slept longer than she had wanted. Dinner had probably already started. Quickly getting up, she walked upstairs to wake up Draco, but he wasn't there. She walked over to the children's room where the door was wide open and assumed that Draco had already woken them up. He needs to stop doing this, Hermione though just as she heard the portrait hole swing open.
In walked Draco with Owen and Eleina by his side. He was holding a plate of food and a cup with his other hand. Hermione walked down the stairs towards them.
"I got you some food and pumpkin juice." Draco said, setting the plate down on the table and sat down on one of the comfy chairs. Eleina and Owen scrambled over to the couch and climbed up on it.
"Did you eat already?" Hermione asked as she sat down next to her kids and picking up the plate of food.
"Yea, I took these two down to get some dinner. I saw you sleeping and didn't want to wake you."
"Oh…Well, thanks for the food."
Draco just nodded. They sat in silence as Hermione ate, neither one knowing what to say. The only noise going on was Owen and Eleina who had got off the couch and began to chase each other. Hermione finished eating and set the plate down on the table.
"Jeez Granger, you should enter an eating contest or something." Draco said when he saw her put the plate down.
"What? I was hungry."
Draco just laughed as Hermione took a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"Are you feeling better?" Hermione asked him and set her cup down.
"Was I sick?"
"No, but earlier you seemed like you were in a bad mood."
"Oh," Draco remembered their brief talk earlier in their children's room, "I wasn't in a bad mood, just tired."
"Okay…"
Eleina ran up to Draco and put her arms up, signaling for him to pick up her. He did and put her on his lap where she began to play with his tie and he looked down at her, brushing her blonde hair with his hand. Hermione smiled at the scene in front of her, but quickly turned when she heard a ripping sound. Owen had grabbed a hold of one of her books that she left on the table and began ripping the pages.
"Owen, stop!" Hermione shot up and grabbed the book from her child which made him start to cry. Hermione sighed as she looked down at the Potions book. Professor Snape is going to kill me, she thought.
Draco pulled Eleina off his lap and walked over to comfort Owen.
"Granger, you didn't have to raise your voice like that. You scared him." Draco picked up Owen who immediately stopped crying, but buried his face on Draco's shoulder.
"I know I was a little too loud, but look at the book. It's destroyed." Hermione threw it down on the couch.
Draco took out his wand and aimed it at the book. "Reparo"
The book began to lift up and slowly the ripped pages began to slip back inside. Draco walked over to pick it up and threw it towards Hermione who caught it before she got hit in the face.
"There, good as new." Draco said and set Owen down on the ground, but the little boy was still a little scared and held on to Draco's leg.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione said as she flipped through the book and noticed that the book was in fact good as new.
"Because I'm smarter." Draco smirked. Hermione snorted, but had no comment. "Oh, so you agree with me."
"No! I would've thought of that, if I wasn't so frustrated and worried about what Snape would say if he saw it."
"Sure…"
"Shut up!" Hermione glared at him, but she couldn't help herself as a smile grew on her face when Draco turned around to pick up Owen again. She was glad that Draco wasn't in his bad mood. She hated to admit it, but she enjoyed Draco more when he was joking around than when he was trying avoiding her.
"Bed time." Draco said as he walked over to Eleina and stuck out his hand for her to hold.
"Let's have them sleep in our room tonight." Hermione said.
"If you want."
They walked up to their children room and quickly got Owen and Eleina changed into their pajamas, and then went back into their bedroom. Hermione grabbed her pajamas and went to the bathroom for a quick shower. She walked back inside the bedroom to see Draco sitting on his bed with just his pajama pants on. Owen sat next to him under the blanket and Eleina sat on the other side of him.
"Aren't you going to shower?" Hermione asked, walking over to sit on the end of his bed.
"I took one before dinner."
Hermione looked at the three of them before she began to speak.
"Hey, I have to sleep alone?"
"You could sleep here." Draco smirked and patted the spot in front of him.
"In your dreams, Malfoy."
"Why don't you push your bed over so we can connect it to mine."
"Good idea….for once."
Draco rolled his eyes as Hermione stood up and walked over towards her bed. She began to push it, but it barely moved.
"It's too heavy!" She said and plopped down on the bed. Draco sighed and got up. He walked over and pushed the bed over with Hermione on it.
"Grow some muscles, why don't you?" He said and crawled onto the bed again. He put Eleina on the other side of Owen so that the kids were sleeping in between him and Hermione.
Hermione had ignored his comment as she walked over to turn off the lights. She got under the covers and scooted closer to Eleina. She was about to fall asleep when she heard Draco begin to say something.
"I asked Pansy to the Halloween ball during dinner." Draco said suddenly. Hermione turned her head towards Draco's direction.
"Oh…that's nice. It's fun to go with a good friend." Hermione replied.
"Yea…are you okay with that?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, since we are supposed to be a couple and all."
"Did you forget that Zabini had asked me this morning?"
"Oh right…" Draco said, he did indeed forget.
"Um, well, goodnight."
"Night."
Hermione turned her head to face the ceiling and thought about Draco going to the ball with Pansy. She tried to fall asleep, but couldn't stop thinking about it. What's wrong with me, she thought to herself, Why am I fussing over this? They should be going to the ball together. It's the perfect couple. But Hermione couldn't get over it. She had begun to feel like something was brewing between them. She couldn't help herself, but felt a pang of jealousy. She abruptly shook the feeling away and closed her eyes, I need to stop this. He probably doesn't even feel the same way.
But little did she know that Draco felt exactly the same.