Chapter 6

Hermione looked at the clock next to her bed. She groaned, it was 9:12, and Malfoy should have already been here with Aria. 'Why aren't they here yet?' she thought as she pulled back the covers to stand up.

"Granger, Pomfrey clearly said to stay in bed, and not stand up. You're not supposed to be putting pressure on that foot. "Malfoy yelled as he entered the room.

She plopped back on the bed and pouted. "What took you so long to get here?"

"Aw, did you miss me?" He smirked

"No!"

"Relax, you're boyfriend Pothead was just giving me trouble about having Aria. I was ready to hex him. Lucky arse Pomfrey interrupted us."

"Watch your language around Aria!"

"Sorry. You're still pouting." He pointed out. Hermione just gave him a look, making him sigh. "You were worried I did something to her. Look she's not hurt. She's happy."

Hermione's face softened as she watched Aria pat Malfoy's face, and make gurgling noises. She reached out her arms. "Can I have her now?"

"Of course." He walked over and handed Aria over, along with a paper bag.

"What's this?"

"Homework, and I also dropped by the kitchens to have Dobby prepare you some food. I know you're probably starving. There's a turkey sandwich, butterbeer, and a slice of apple pie."

"Oh, thank you." She sat Aria up next to her, and opened the bag. She closed her eyes and inhaled as the smell of apple pie wafted up her nose. "Mmmm"

Malfoy looked away blushing, and cleared his throat. "Isn't it about time for Aria to go to bed."

She put down the bag, and picked up Aria. "Oh yeah. I still have to give her a bath, change her diaper, and give her milk. I guess the apple pie will have to wait."

"No, eat. I'll take care of Aria." He said

"I don't know..."

"Granger, it's just a bath, which will be in the bathroom, which is just through that door. You can't give her a bath anyways since you can't get out of bed. Just let me take care of her."

Hermione bit her bottom lip, looking at Malfoy, then Aria, then the bag. "Alright, but only because I'm stuck to this bloody bed, and I'm starving." She held Aria tight a moment longer before reluctantly handing her over to him. "Her pajamas should be in my closet in our bathroom." She bit her lip as she watched them disappear into their adjoined bathroom. 'They'll be fine, she'll be fine. It's just a bath' She thought as she reached for the apple pie.

Malfoy looked down at his soaked robes. 'I'm going to need a lot more practice with giving her a bath.' He smiled as Aria stuffed her fist into her mouth. He lifted her up from the changing table, and picked up the bottle, leaning against the bathroom counter. He watched her eye lids droop as she drifted off to sleep, only drinking half the milk. He sighed 'First, she couldn't sit still in the tub, seeming to have an endless amount of energy, and now she falls asleep just like that...that's my kid' He thought as he entered the bedroom. He smiled as he noticed Hermione fast asleep on the bed. She didn't even finished her food. 'Like mother, like daughter'

He put Aria in her crib, and walked over to the bed. He noticed that she only ate half her sandwich, but the pie was all gone. With a flick of a hand, he cleaned up the small mess. Grabbing the covers, he pulled them over Hermione, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. 'I could get used to this' He smirked. He made his way to the rocking chair next to the crib. He closed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion. 'But it was worth it' He thought as he drifted off to sleep himself.

Hermione yawned as she sat up. Looking at the clock, she noticed it was only seven in the morning. She glanced at the crib to make sure Aria was still fast asleep... and still there. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed Malfoy also fast asleep on the chair nest to the crib. His hand held onto to Aria's small hand which stuck out between the crib bars. She grabbed her wand from under her pillow, and whisked a blanket to cover him. She sighed I'm not going to get used to this. I shouldn't. I can't let this last long. Just until I get better.'

She stood up, and started to hop toward the bathroom. She stopped halfway, feeling her muscles start to strain with all her weight on one leg. She was about to put some weight on her injured leg, when a pair of arms went under her, and lifted her up. "Granger, do you not understand what it means to stay in bed?" Malfoy asked tiredly

Hermione pouted. "I hate staying in bed all day."

"You're such baby sometimes. Just say where, and I'll simply carry you there."

"I don't really want to e carried anywhere, especially by you."

"Well you can't hop much anywhere without getting tired, so either I carry you around, or stay in bed."

"Then I guess I'll stay in bed."

He glared at her "Fine!" he said carrying her back to bed.

"Wait!" She screamed

"What?"

"I have to go to the bathroom. Really badly."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Just take me there, Malfoy."

He carried her to the bathroom, and put her down next to the toilet. "Here you go."

"Okay, you can leave the room now."

He smirked. "What's the matter? I've already seen everything?"

She glared at him. "Just go!"

"Okay! I'm going." He said as he flicked his hand, the faucets on the tub turning on, creating a warm bubble bath, and he walked out.

"Malfoy?" Hermione called

He peeked his head in. "Yeah?"

"Thank you" She mumbled, staring at him in awe as he gave her a real genuine smile before popping his head back out.

"Seriously, Granger, you need to calm Scarhead down." Malfoy said angrily, entering her room, and Harry came rushing in behind him.

"Mione! I've been so worried about you!" He sat next to her on the bed, kissing her forehead

Hermione smiled. "Harry, it's a small sprain. It's nothing." She said kissing is lips.

"It wasn't the sprain I was worried about. It was that having to spend so much time with you." He pointed at Malfoy.

Malfoy slammed the baby bottle he was holding onto the bedside table. '"Potter, if you have a problem with me, don't be such a fucking pussy, and say it to my face." He sneered

""I think we both know you're a huge problem in general."

"Both of you! Stop it!" Hermione hissed. "Right now you're both my problem. It's late and Aria's trying to sleep."

Harry reached for her hand. "I'm sorry. It's just the thought of him hurting you gets to me. Anyone hurting you gets to me."

"Don't worry, Potter, I'm not hurting her. She enjoys my touches." Malfoy smirked

She glared at him, holding tight onto Harry's hand so he doesn't launch at Malfoy. "Don't worry he hasn't done anything to me. He's actually been taking care of me and Aria."

"Well, now I'm here to take care of both of you." Harry said

She sighed. "You know that I'd love that, but you're not even supposed to be in the prefects dorm. Now go! Ron will get mad at me if we spend to much time together. He would hate being a third wheel."

"He is a third wheel." He replied. "Alright" He leaned in, giving her a long hard kiss, making sure Malfoy noticed. He nibbled her bottom lip to take the kiss deeper. She opened her mouth in shock , not expecting to be so rough and demanding as he connected his tongue with hers.

Malfoy cleared his throat, making her pull away. "Go potter, before I take points off Gryffindor." He said forcefully. Harry stood up and gave her a final kiss, before walking out, giving a Malfoy a smirk on the way."Are you actually dating that fool?" He sneered

Hermione shot him a look. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Harry makes a great boyfriend! He's sweet, romantic, caring, loyal, handsome, and he's great with Aria."

His eyes flared. "Is he this supposedly good man of a father Aria's going to have?"

"I haven't even thought that far ahead in our relationship." She said exasperatedly, mirroring his anger. "But you know what, now that it's on mty mind, yeah! He would make a great father to Aria!" she yelled

In a flash, Malfoy was towering over her, trapping her between his arms. "There is no way anyone is going to replace me in Aria's life, especially not Potter!" He forcefully kissed her, making her freeze. Pulling away he hissed. "I'm am not going to let anything come in between the three of us!" and he walked out of the room.