Okay, so I thought: Screw Maths, I'll write the next chapter…so officially blaming Fan fiction if I fail =P

Thanks to: Arabella-Minette // Esmerelda2134 // CFCRockAngel // Joseph Santiago // dancerox421 // rupertgrintlovesmeandonlyme // jessirose85 // Crossy // fallingstar93 // xcheerios// cyiusblack // Samara Longbottom

You ALL Make me Smile! And update faster :)

Much Love

Natalie xxx


In the last chapter:

"Please Hermione; I've said I'm sorry. What more can I do?"

"You can get a time-turner and fix what you did. We were starting to get along and then you reminded me that you cause nothing but trouble and heartbreak," Hermione snapped.

She wrenched Cara away from him and held her close- as if seeking comfort from her. She sat down while Cara snored gently and Draco watched on. He was completely at a loss of what to do.


Chapter 8: The Bets

"Oh Merlin! I knew he was bonkers, right from the start. What in blazes does he think he's doing? I can't be a mother! I don't know the first thing about Muggle babies! Let alone wizarding babies!" Hermione ranted as she walked out of PRC with Ginny, Blaise. Draco trailed behind them, knowing that his company wouldn't be appreciated.

"Hermione, I know this is a really inappropriate time to say this, but that is really clever what you have done with your robes, can you do the same to mine please, Will is making my arms ache," Blaise asked her.

Hermione looked down at her robes which she had charmed to now be bigger so she had fabric to support Cara to keep her arms free, without having to give her to Draco.

"Oh, um sure, come here. It has to be folded in a certain way though. My auntie did it with a pashmina when my cousin was little; she taught me how to do it and I'm kind of grateful now!" Hermione smiled. Blaise handed Will over to Ginny, who now had trouble walking since she was carrying two babies in her arms. Hermione pointed her wand at the front of Blaise's robes and muttered Weiter. Blaise's robes grew baggier and she proceeded to show him how to tie it so Will wouldn't fall out. Ginny watched intently, passed both babies to Blaise and did it to herself.

"So, if this is Will," Hermione said, indicating the baby that was now in the front of Blaise's robes. "Who is this?" she asked to the baby, wrapped in Ginny's robes.

"Jasper," Ginny answered grinning "We seem to have nice names upon us, too bad for Ron, his and Luna's is called Ethel!" she said laughing.

"My Great Nan is called Ethel…." said Blaise pretending to be hurt.

"Oh! Umm-" stuttered Ginny, blushing with discomfort.

"It's fine," Blaise chuckled. "I never did like her. Anyway, we're off to dinner, coming?"

"Of course I am. I'm starving," said Hermione happily, completely ignoring the fact that her fiancé was trailing miserably behind her.

Draco continued to follow at a distance. He felt infuriated that his closest friend had decided to be the Weaslettes' puppy- following her around. If that's what love does to people, I don't want it. Yes, I like Hermione but only as a friend, I couldn't love her. I just want her to forgive me because it wasn't my fault!


"Wow! This is awesome!" said Harry sitting down and joining them with Jamie in his arms, "Have you guys read the manual yet?" he asked excitedly. Pansy sat down quietly. Everyone ignored her, which she didn't like but at least they didn't yell at her.

"Please Harry, like anyone ever reads the manual…" Ginny said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, read it now! Page 3!"

Everyone exchanged glances and did as they were told.

The growth of your baby:

You will find that your SimKid will age faster than a usual baby, but it will also be charmed to have features of you and your partner. It will age three months every day, and you will need to hand it back well looked after and undamaged by magic in two weeks time. Any magic used on it will stunt it's growth, by estimation, your child should be a toddler by the time the two weeks is up, and you will have had to deal with teaching it to talk, walk and be potty trained. Good Luck.

Hermione looked up and waited for the others to finish.

"No way," said Draco simply, forgetting that the others may not want his opinion, "I do not want to have to potty train my daughter, let alone deal with her when she develops the Malfoy traits and screams her way through being a toddler."

"Awww, your daughter will have Hermione's brains, figure, eyes, magical talent…It will be cute!" Ginny smirked.

"And what do you suggest she inherits off me?" asked Draco offended.

"Your hair" she smiled sweetly, "though Hermiones' colour is much nicer than yours," Draco glowered and continued eating. Hermione glanced at him. He does look miserable….no Hermione! He doesn't deserve our pity.

"Anyway….." said Hermione as she stood up, "I'm going to go inspect our new dorm, feed, change, and bath Cara, do my Potions essay, then go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Hermione waved and walked out the Great Hall. Draco immediately gulped down the rest of his dinner then ran after Hermione. Ginny and Blaise glanced at each other, smirked, and then returned to their meals.

"Wow!"

The view of the new dormitory made Hermione double take, "This is unbelievable." Draco followed a few seconds later; his eyes widened but he didn't speak. He walked past Hermione and into their room.

The drapes were now pink and blue, and there was now a play pen in the corner filled with toys. A kitchen now resided where the fireplace was and next to it was a door with an engraved door knob in the middle. The plaque upon it informed them it was the door down to the school kitchens. A list on the wall showed them where to find essentials such as nappies, bottles, formula, and wipes. A banner hung across the roof bearing the words "Congratulations New Parents". Hermione walked into her and Draco's room to find the bed spread had been replaced with a baby pink colour. She gasped at crib in the corner of the room. It was white, with pink stars across the headboard surrounding the name Cara which was emblazoned with gold. The sheet was pink and a white knitted shrug was placed on top. The changing table next to it was equally magnificent as was the wardrobe. Hermione placed Cara on the bed and opened the door to it. Inside were several sleeping suits, socks, shoes, undershirts and a box of nappies. In the doorway to the bathroom there was a baby bouncer that un- hooked so you could get through.

"Wow, they really did go all out." she muttered. She turned around to see Draco lying on the bed with Cara laid out next to him, kicking her legs out in happiness. She smiled slightly before realising she was still mad at him and stalked off to the bathroom dodging around the baby bouncer and walked over to the sink, where there was a notice stuck to it reminding the reader to use wand guards around babies and toddlers because, "they can't control their magic as it is, the last thing you need is a fight with a stroppy two year old over handling your wand." She smiled remembering the toddler at the world cup exploding the slug with her father's wand. (A/n Thank you crossy ; P)

Suddenly, the cry of a child pulled her back to her senses and she ran out into the room. Draco was sat staring at the screaming baby, who was very red in the face.

"Merlin Malfoy, what did you do?!" Hermione screamed over the wailing then picked up Cara and held her against herself.

"Nothing I swear! She was happy, I looked away and she started screaming. It's not my fault!" He said defensively.

"Oh! That sounds familiar!" She shouted over the wailing. "Shush" she cooed to Cara. Cara calmed down slightly but she was still very loud.

"Hermione, I know you're mad but I really don't think this is the time to discuss this," Draco said loudly as he indicated to the screaming child.

"But it's never a good time for you is it Malfoy? I thought you were as glad as I was when we were getting along. But no. Nothing is ever good enough for you. Is it?" she said. She placed Cara onto the changing table to see if Cara was wet. Cara seemed to be tiring, and her screaming had changed to murmurs and wails.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, "I was glad we had finally made a break through! I still am! How many times does it have to be said Hermione? She came on to me!"

"I know Malfoy! That I get. What I don't get is why you didn't stop it sooner!" Hermione shouted. She had changed Cara and then she picked her up and was now heading out the door to the kitchen. Draco followed her.

"You don't think I tried? You think I encouraged her? Well I didn't. I don't know what your issue is Hermione, but I sure hope you sort it out real soon, because it is impossible to reason with you when you are acting like this!" Draco finished furiously.

"I'm not the issue here Malfoy, you are! I sure hope Dumbledore sorts himself out real soon, so I won't have to marry someone who cheats the second I turn my back!"

"It wasn't me! What is with you? Potter has forgiven Pansy! Why can't you do the same?" He said.

"Because I'm not as forgiving Malfoy. I need to know you won't cheat again! I know we aren't in love Malfoy but I don't want to have to live with you when I know any second you could just go behind my back," Hermione replied calmly although her voice shook slightly. It was much quieter now because Cara had a bottle of warm milk which she sucked on greedily.

"I won't. I didn't even do it last time, it was all her," he said frustratedly. How many times must I say it?

"I need more than your word Malfoy! I don't think I can trust you like I did again." she admitted.

"What do you want then? I can't give you much more than my word."

"God Malfoy! Must you be so transparent?" She turned away.

I can't let Hermione leave without solving this.

"Hermione," Draco said softly. She turned around, still feeding Cara.

"Hermione. Please, move back in, I will prove you can trust me, but I need some trust to start with," Draco pleaded, his eyes full of emotion.

Hermione debated this, and for a while all you could here was Cara sucking on the teat of the bottle.

"OK," She agreed.

"OK?" Draco repeated with his eyes wide.

"I'll move back in. But please don't do this again." she begged..

He crossed the room in 3 strides and hugged her tightly.

"Draco," she said in a constricted voice. You're squashing Cara against me, and now I'm spilling milk all down my robes."

"Oops," he said looking guilty. "Give her to me, while you go and change."

He took Cara smiling to himself, suddenly feeling very light and happy for the first time in his life.

"I don't know," Ginny said to Blaise as they walked to their common room. "I think it will be short lived. I mean, I think she really likes him. Deep, deep down," she added sheepishly.

"No way. She was really upset yesterday. I reckon at least another day," Blaise retorted. "And I think Will is on my side," He added winking.

"Well, Jasper is on mine! Aren't you buddy?" Ginny cooed to the baby strapped to her chest. Blaise smiled and grabbed her hand. Ginny looked at him questioningly but didn't pull away. Blaise could see himself being utterly happy for the rest of life, with Ginny by his side and lots of children with her beautiful red hair.

"I reckon he will say I love you before the engagement party," Blaise said smiling.

"But that's only six weeks away!" Ginny gasped surprised.

"I will bet you 10 galleons that it happens," Blaise said cheekily.

"I'm willing to take you up on that bet. And I also bet you 10 galleons that they have made up by the time we get up to our dormitory," Ginny replied grinning.

"You're on!" Blaise smiled happily; thinking himself ten galleons richer.

They climbed the stairs and said the password: Veneratio. They opened the door to find Hermione and Draco sat opposite each other with Cara leaning against Hermione's stomach whilst Draco was entertaining her by making spirals of coloured ribbon fly from the end of his wand.

Blaise turned to look at Ginny who was grinning widely with her hand held out. Sighing he reached into his pocket and counted out 10 Galleons, placing them purposefully in the centre of her palm. With a triumphant smile she put it in her pocket and walked over to Hermione and Draco.

Love it? Hate it? Review it?

Still to come:

Who wins the bet?

More Legilimency!

The babies cry : S

And I'll throw in some Luna/Ron Harry/Pansy ; )