Chapter 12

The Great Hall had transformed into something no one had ever seen before. All the tables were gone and replaced by hundreds of booths. Each booth either consisted of games where the children could play and win prizes or gave away food. Small tables could be found along the side of the Great Hall where the students could sit and eat dinner. The decorations were simply magnificent. Thousands of jack-o-lanterns were lit and hung above everyone. It was dark inside, but there was orange lighting and moonlight which made it look like they were all outside. It felt so real, that one might even forget they were inside all along.

Hermione wheeled Draco and her two kids inside. She gasped as she saw what was inside. Owen and Eleina also gasped and their eyes became wide with wonder. It was every kid's wonderland! They both stood up on Draco's lap and started bouncing with excitement. Draco, however, did not feel the excited as the soreness from his legs overwhelmed him with each bounce the kids took. He couldn't even say anything. Hermione, who was at the moment staring off into the Great Hall, felt someone pulling on her arm and looked down to see a pained Draco.

"Oh my goodness!" Hermione exclaimed and quickly pulled them off of Draco's lap. "No more jumping." She told them.

"Granger, keep your eyes on your kids would you?" Draco said.

"They're your kids, too! Why didn't you say anything?"

"I could barely move let alone talk!"

"Is the pain that bad?"

"What do you think? Stupid weasel, I'm going to get him for doing this to me."

Coincidently, Harry, Ron, Millicent, and Pansy, along with their kids, came to greet them.

"Speak of the devil…" Draco mumbled.

"Ron, I think you owe someone an apology." Hermione said.

"What?! Are you serious, Hermione? It was an accident! I don't want to apologize to Malfoy!" Ron rambled, but Hermione just stared at him with a 'you better apologize' look.

"Ron, just do it." Harry said.

"Not you to, Harry. Come on, you were there. It was an accident."

"Weasley, it doesn't matter if it was an accident. It happened. Just apologize. Sheesh." Pansy said, getting impatient.

"Stop being so stubborn." Millicent added.

"You stay out of this." Ron pointed at her. Millicent just stuck her tongue at him. "Fine, fine! Malfoy…I…"

"Apology not accepted." Draco said before Ron could even finish.

"Wait a minute! I didn't even say anything yet! And if I'm going to apologize he better accept!"

"I've had it up to here..." Hermione started, "Ron, apologize! Malfoy, would it kill you to accept his apology?! I mean, you've been asking for it all day! Both of you stop acting like a bunch of immature children so we can go and have some fun!"

Everyone stared speechless at Hermione as she closed eyes and took some deep breaths to calm herself. Even the kids stopped playing and looked at her. After a few seconds, she opened them again and saw everyone's stare.

"What?!"

"Nothing!" They all said at once and looked away, afraid of what Hermione might do.

"Sorry, Malfoy." Ron mumbled while staring at the floor.

"Okay" Draco mumbled back while looking off to the side.

"Alright, now that that's over with, can we go play some games?" Pansy asked picking up Isabelle in her arms and not wanting to be in the tension anymore. Everyone nodded and followed her actions. Each family went their separate ways and decided to meet up later for dinner.

Everyone had fun that night. Even Draco, even thought he didn't want to admit it, had a grand time. Owen and Eleina played almost all the games and they won so many toys. Well actually, Draco and Hermione won the toys for them. Not that they need anymore toys, Draco had told Hermione in which she responded with a shrug.

"Let them have whatever they want. It's their night." She said to him.

"You shouldn't be spoiling them."

"Look whose talking, spoiled brat." Hermione mumbled.

"What?"

"Oh! Look, we haven't played over there yet!" Hermione quickly said and wheeled him and the kids over to the booth.

They spent another hour playing games until the kids got hungry and they decided to get dinner. It was almost nine anyways and they were going to meet up with everyone else. They grabbed their food from one of the booths and quickly found Ron and Millicent. They looked absolutely tired and drained. Well, who could blame them? Dealing with four crazy, hyper kids isn't the easiest thing in the world, plus the fact that Ron and Millicent can't get along. Ron had his head down on the table while Millicent looked like she was near tears as their kids ran around the table. Hermione and crew approached them and took a seat at the table.

"You two look exhausted." Hermione mentioned as she sat Eleina down on her seat to her left and Owen to her right.

"We've been running around like mad dogs." Ron mumbled, his head still down on the table.

They ate in silence until someone tapped Hermione on the shoulder. She turned around and a big smiled appeared on her face. Draco saw her smile and looked over to see who it was, but groaned once he saw the person. He turned his attention back to his food, but he was slightly angrier than he had been earlier and started stabbing his dinner in annoyance.

"Jacob! How are you?" Hermione said to him and turned around so she was fully facing him.

"I'm great, Hermione. Thank you for asking. And yourself?" Jacob replied. Hermione smiled at his kindness.

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Good to hear."

Eleina peeked at Jacob from behind Hermione and caught his eye. She quickly hid behind her mother while Jacob just chuckled at the little girl. Hermione turned to look at Eleina and smiled. She grabbed her daughter and sat her down on her lap. Eleina was still shy so she hid her face in her mother's robes, stealing little glances.

"It's okay, sweetie. Don't be shy." Hermione said to the girl. "Jacob, this is Eleina."

"Nice to meet you, Eleina. My name is Jacob." Jacob said to her and stuck his hand out for a shake. Slowly, but surely, Eliena stuck her little hand out and place it on top of his. Hermione smiled at their exchange.

"My name is Owen!" Owen, who had jumped off his chair and walked over to them, said.

"Hello, Owen." Jacob greeted the little boy.

"Look at this! This is my new toy! Daddy won it for me. It's a dragon, see! He flies around and he's green. Green is my favorite color. I'm a dragon too! Roar! I'm a scary dragon. Even mommy thinks so! I bited her earlier, but I didn't mean to hurt her. She had a booboo, but it's okay because daddy kissed it to make it fell better. Daddy has a booboo too. Mommy you should ki.."

"Okay, Owen, go back to your seat and eat your food, please." Hermione interrupted. The little boy looked up at her with sad eyes, but Hermione gave him a strict look that told him he had no choice. Owen did as he was told. Jacob laughed at the scene.

"Hermione, I can tell that you're a great mother." Jacob said. She smiled at his comment, but Draco, who had been listening the entire time, snorted. Both of them turned to look at the blond wizard.

"Jacob, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced you. This is Draco Malfoy." Hermione began, "Malfoy, this is Jacob Franklin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Jacob said to Draco. Draco in return mumbled something that no one quite heard. Hermione kicked him in the leg from underneath the table. He glared at her, but turned to Jacob.

"The pleasure is all mine." Draco said to him, but there was a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice. With that he turned back and ignored them.

"Sorry about him. He's always moody, I'm sure it's nothing personal. And he's not much of a people person; not very social." Hermione said.

"It's alright." Jacob replied with a reassuring smile, "Well, I guess I'll be leaving now. I've already taken enough of your time."

"Okay, it was good talking to you."

Hermione stood up and gave him a light hug before he left. She was almost fully turned around when he called back to her. She looked over her shoulder to see him walking back.

"What is it, Jacob?" Hermione asked.

"I forgot to tell you that I'll pick you up tomorrow at six for the ball. Is that alright with you?"

"That's perfect. I'll see you then."

"See you tomorrow." Jacob said with a wave and left again.

Hermione sat back down and began to eat her dinner again when she felt someone staring at her. She looked to her left and saw Malfoy's intimidating stare. She felt uncomfortable for a moment before she reminded herself that it was just Malfoy. She'd gotten use to his stares.

"What are you looking at?"

"You're going to the ball with him?" Draco said, like it disgusted him.

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No. Why would I?" He asked her before turning away and ignoring her, not waiting for her response.

Hermione stared at him a little longer and went back to eating her food. Every once in a while Hermione would feed the two children on either side of her as they played with their favorite toys that Draco won for them at one of the booths. They each got a plush that, when squeezed, would become real. Owen, who introduced this new toy to Jacob earlier, had a green dragon and Eleina had a fairy, matching their costumes. The green dragon hopped all over Owen as he giggled every time it tickled him. The fairy flew around Eleina and would sprinkle her with fairy dust once in a while.

Some of the fairy dust got onto Draco's soup and that did it. He was already grouchy, hungry, tired, sore, and fed up with all the hyper kids running all over the place, not to mention Jacob rudely interrupting their dinner with his unwanted appearance, though only to Draco. So when he saw little shiny dots on his spoon he had had enough. He tried not to yell too loud, but that didn't work out so well.

"I've had it! I'm done!" He said, pounding his fist on the table. Ron shot his head up in alarm, Millicent stared wide eyed at him, all the kids stopped what they were doing and had scared looks in their eyes, and Hermione just looked at him with annoyance. There he goes again being his moody self and ruining the happy mood. She got up that moment and took Eleina to get more food and to escape before Draco made a scene. Ron and Millicent decided to leave before their kids destroyed everything in the room and to escape Draco before he made a scene. Who would want to be around him when his mood is like this?

So Draco was left with Owen at the table, but not for long.

"What's wrong with you, Draco?" Someone said over his shoulder. He turned to see Pansy. "Someone missed their nap time." She continued.

"Shut up, Pansy" Draco shot back.

"Daddy, don't be grumpy." Owen said.

"I'm not grumpy."

"That's the underestimate of the year." Pansy said while she took a sip of pumpkin soup. Draco shot her a look, but didn't say anything. It was true, of course. He was grumpy and tired, but he couldn't help himself. It's probably a side effect from all those potions he had to drink to heal his wounds. Yeah, that's probably it.

"Daddy, do you want to play some more?" Owen asked while tugging on his robes.

"No, I'm really tired right now." Draco replied.

"Please?"

"No."

"But.."

"I said no!" Draco yelled. Owen jumped at his father's raised voice and began to cry. Pansy grabbed the little boy in her arms.

"Draco, what has gotten into you?" Pansy said in an angry, but hushed voice so she wouldn't scare Owen even more. Draco groaned at his mistake and tried to grab Owen from Pansy's arms, but the boy wouldn't budge. He wouldn't even look at Draco.

Hermione, at the exact same moment, returned with Eleina and saw that Pansy was holding Owen and Draco with his head in his hands. Something was wrong by the looks of this picture in front of her.

"What happened?" Hermione asked as she walked over to Pansy and picked up Owen in her arms.

"Draco, here, decided to yell at the poor child." Pansy kindly informed Hermione.

"Malfoy, what is wrong with you?!"

"Stop asking me what is wrong! I'll tell you what's wrong, I'm tired of this!" Draco said and got up from his wheelchair not caring that he was still sore. He walked away from them and walked out of the Great Hall. Hermione stared at him in disbelief. Why is he acting like this? She was about to get up and follow him, but Pansy beat her to it.

"I'll check on him." Pansy said and walked out of the Great Hall. She found him right outside the doors sitting on the floor with this back perched against the wall with his eyes closed. Pansy sat down next to him.

"Draco, are you okay?" she asked in a soft voice to let him know that she wasn't here to lecture him, but to listen to what he had to say because she was truly worried about him. "Why are you in such a bad mood?"

"I don't know, Pansy." Draco sighed. "I was fine, until…"

"Until…?"

"Until that idiot showed up. I don't know why, but when I saw him my mood just turned. There's something about him that I don't like."

"Who?"

"Jason, Josh, whatever his bloody name is."

"Oh, I see what's happening here. I know why you don't like him."

"What are you getting at?"

"You don't like him because he and Hermione are close."

"Ha! Please, Pansy. That's hardly it."

"Do you really think that? Because I have a feeling that that's pretty much it."

"You don't know anything."

"I know a lot more than you do, obviously. Stop kidding yourself, Draco, and accept the truth. You care about her. And honestly, it's okay if you do."

Draco thought for a moment with the one thought that lingered through his mind. He didn't want to admit it, but he did have something towards Hermione. Something he didn't like at all, but couldn't help it. He wasn't supposed to feel like this and if there was anyway to get rid of this feeling he would pay all the galleons in the world to get it.

"But I'm not supposed to feel this way towards her. I'm not supposed to get annoyed when some bloke comes along and decides to flirt with her. I'm not supposed to care, but why do I feel like this? Why me? I didn't ask for this, but it came anyways and I can't help, but be angry."

"I think it's quite interesting that you feel this way towards anyone let alone Granger." Pansy responded and received a snort from Draco. "But that's how it is, Draco. You care for her because she means something to you. You can't help that feeling. And the only reason why you are angry is because you've never felt this way before and you don't know how to handle it and you can't control it."

"But I don't want to feel this way towards her. I can't."

"Why not?"

"I…I just can't, okay. I don't want to."

"If this has to do with the fact that she is a muggle-born, then you need to get a reality check. Nobody cares about that stuff anymore."

"You don't get it, Pans. I've been raised to believe that her kind is wrong, that I'm not even supposed to associate myself with them. I can't just throw all that away in an instant."

"You're a good person. I know you are. You can get past all that load of bull."

"I can't just forget everything. It doesn't work like that."

"Then make it work because if you don't you're just going to suffocate yourself with all the confusion in the end and because as long as you're with her or around her the feeling won't go away and it will probably grow bigger and bigger."

And with that as her final statement Pansy got up and left him to sit alone in the cold corridor.