Hey guys! I didn't realise Claire had updated, and then took the time to pretend to revise. Then I had god knows how many exams on my plate, so that kind of took priority. Then realised you guys had been waiting like weeks for an update, so sorry! Story now on alert!

Listening to Take That put me in the mood to write. How odd…

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Natalie xxx


In the last chapter:

"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.


Chapter Nine: The Almost Moment

Quidditch Season had fallen upon Hogwarts along with a bitter southerly autumn wind that whipped around the corners of the castle's grounds, causing people in places of shade, to have goose bumps raise on their arms and shiver.

As the days rolled by, Hermione and Draco were soon as close as they had been before, and Cara was aging 10 times faster than a normal child. It was good fun, Hermione thought. As someone who had previously looked after small children she found it fairly easy. Except for the night feeding, raising a SimKid was going quiet well. Give or take the odd screaming fit, Cara was a good child and as she grew she was gradually learning to sleep at nights. Lessons went about in the usual manner, except for the odd screaming burst from Ethel, who apparently, "Cries for the sake of crying!" whined Ron one day on the way out of PRC one day with Ginny. "I swear to Merlin, if a real child screams this much, I'm giving it to Luna! And our bloody mother!" He added as an afterthought.

"What?" asked Ginny, who remembered with guilt that she hadn't actually written to her mother since the marriage law first came out and made a mental note to do so as soon as she got back to her dorm.

"I haven't heard from her," she said, expertly hiding her guilt so it came across like her mother hadn't been writing to her, not the other way around.

"You haven't? Count your blessings on that one! I haven't had a day gone by without a letter advising me on being a father! It's a toy for Merlin's sake! And I think Percy is in on it as well! As if he has a right to give advise because his Penelope is already pregnant! Ronald," He started imitating his mother's high pitched voice. "You must remember to give dear Luna a hand with Ethel. I must say I'm so looking forward to having her as part of the family! I swear! If she goes on about her much more I think she's gunna ask Luna to marry her!"

Ginny grinned as they turned the corner to find Luna stood with Ethel, who, not surprisingly, was crying. She was being held at arm's length and stared at Luna with a bemused expression.

"Um, Ron, she won't stop again. I was on my way to find you; she seems so much calmer around you." She talked quickly and awkwardly, as if apologising. But Ron took this in his stride, ran over and took Ethel from her. He reached into his backpack and took out a bottle of milk that had been charmed to stay warm and put it in her mouth. Will, who was on a rare day strapped to Ginny's chest instead of Blaise's saw the milk and started crying. Ginny sighed.

"I'll see you around Ron. Evidently, Will is now hungry and I promised Blaise that I would meet with him at dinner, after he gets out of practise anyway, he'll be getting worried." She smiled and turned to leave, to be stopped by a hand on her upper arm.

"Hey Gin, I miss you. Since we haven't been in the same dorm, we haven't been talking much, I feel like I don't know you anymore. We should go out to Hogsmeade sometime. All of us, It's not just you I miss," Ron said meaningfully.

"I know, I miss you too! It's just I've been so busy with Blaise, and Jazz and Will. It's been hectic! You should sit with us tomorrow lunch. I know I'm not the only one that misses both you guys!" she said now indicating Luna who beamed at being acknowledged.

"Sure! I'd love too! I'll see you tomorrow," he grinned.

"Most definitely. See you Luna, Bye Ron, tell mum I said hi," Ginny smiled at Ron's resounding groan and turned away.

The next PRC lesson could be described using one word. Loud. The teachers thought it would be "helpful" to the class to give them a list of scenarios, with their children, and they had to sort them out. This resulted in a lot of screaming one year olds and parents who were very close to pulling out there wands and casting a sleeping charm on themselves -something Goyle hadn't hastened to do, resulting with him be levitated to the hospital wing, leaving a startled Ashlee with the baby, being held at arm's length.

Cara was starting to get less …. Well baby like and more like a child as each day passed. She had started to grow hair, dark brown, but straight, much to Draco's and Hermione's relief. Neither wanted Cara to grow hair like her mothers. She had grey eyes, but unlike what was predicted, she had inherited Hermione's traits of being a baby, and actually slept through nights which thrilled Draco because he apparently, desperately needed his beauty sleep. He was vainer than a girl sometimes.

Harry and Pansy were not doing so well. Unlike Hermione and Draco, after Harry forgave Pansy, their relationship did not progress again. It was like they had taken 3 steps forward, two steps back. It wasn't good, as it made lunchtimes extremely awkward between the group, as she and Harry were required to sit by each other. Mostly everyone just ignored Pansy, and talked amongst themselves.

"Hey guys, Blaise still at practise?" Ginny asked sitting down at their table in the Great Hall and helping herself to a turkey sandwich.

"Yeah, with Harry and Draco. I don't even know how we are going to have a tournament this year, what with the most experienced players in rooms not houses." Hermione replied.

"Yeah, not quite sure how that's going to work. I'm really going to miss it," Ginny said.

"How come you didn't sign up this year?" asked Hermione.

"Well, to be honest, I didn't see the point. I can see myself being pregnant by the end of the year, so as soon as I sign up, I will have to quit, I've heard riding a broom with a huge bump is no joke." she smiled.

Hermione nodded in understanding.

"Hey," she started, "I've just realised you only have one baby. Where's Jasper, if Blaise is at practise?"

"Well, I asked him about that. Apparently, there is a teacher on hand at every practise to look after the babies. I offered to take Jasper with Will to the library with me, but he said it would be fine," Ginny explained, "which for some reason, has just reminded me, I've just seen Ron. We got talking, and we decided to go out to Hogsmeade together on the next trip. You guys are welcome to come."

"Sure! I wouldn't mind it. Except, will he be alright with Draco? I mean they hate each other."

"Well, he will have to suck it up and act like an adult. The SimKids will be gone by then so there should be no other distraction." Ginny smiled.

"Okay, sounds good. I'll be there. I need to go shopping soon anyway."

It was only 3 weeks into term and already Draco was on Hermione's back about wedding plans, engagement plans and his mother insisting on taking her shopping, something she really was dreading. Being born in a middle class family she had learned to live with what she could afford, and save up for things she couldn't. Draco, having never known this side of life, had always got what he wanted, when he wanted it, and didn't understand why on earth Hermione wouldn't want to go shopping with his mother and have the wedding she had dreamed of as a little girl. After the first few "talks" they had had with each other ended up with them both shouting and Cara getting startled and screaming, he had taken to not bringing it up, however, his mother was getting impatient and if he didn't bring it up soon, she would come in and drag Hermione out herself. The time for this came when Cara had been put to bed, a few nights before the assignment was over, and they were sat on the bed doing homework.

"Hermione…" Draco paused.

"Mmm," She murmured without looking up from her text book.

"I would like you to meet my mum," he said cutting straight to the point. At this moment she looked up.

"Meet her? As in have lunch or something?"

He nodded

"But she won't like me! I'm a Gryffindor! And a mudblood. Not to mention my hair and my social status! She will hate me!" Hermione panicked, starting to get hysterical.

"Shush, shush, shush" he said putting his hand over her mouth. "She won't do anything bad. Unlike Father she has always worked in my best interest, and as you are my interest now, she'll have to like it or lump it. Besides, she is dying to see your skin tone." he finished taking his hand away from her mouth so she could answer.

"She's dying to see my what?!" she said starting to laugh.

"Your skin tone. She wants to take you shopping, as well you know, and she can't reserve things in the stores if she doesn't know your skin tone. I told her red would suit you fine but she wants to see herself. And don't even think about protesting because I have already set up a meeting for next Hogsmeade trip," he added as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I wasn't going to say that," she said, "I was actually going to agree to meet her because the engagement party is soon and I'm not really an evening dress person, and we still need to go ring shopping. When is the next Hogsmeade trip?" Hermione asked brightly reaching for the diary they had been given during the first PRC lesson. Draco, startled at her sudden co-operation on the matter of shopping, took a moment to get his mind to register what she had said, and a tad longer for him to remember when it was.

"Umm, the 7th. Yeah because it is 3 days after we give the SimKids back."

"Cool, 7th it is then. Do you reckon Ginny can come as well? She can bring her mom, I don't think my mum can come and that's the closest I have."

"Sure. We can make it a double date. Blaise doesn't get on well with his mum either. So my mum can represent his. He won't complain."

"So that's sorted then."

"Yep, sorted…" she agreed.

Then something happened which she would never have expected. They just sat there. Staring into each other's eyes. Not saying anything. Just staring. Gazing. Draco smiled and started to lean in towards her.

At that moment Cara woke up wanting her 10 o'clock feed and snapped them out of their trance. Hermione stood up and shook her head, confusedly.

"Oh, she'll be wanting her feed, I- I'll just..." she stammered.

"Yeah. Yeah, you do that…" answered Draco turning back to his parchment trying to stop himself from blushing.

Hermione smiled to herself as she went towards Cara's bed.

Hermione's POV

What happened there? Well nothing happened you idiot! Well what Almost happened? If I didn't know any better… I would say Draco and I had a…moment? Possibly? No we can't have. It's not possible! Your being stupid Hermione, just stupid. Nothing happened-nothing was going to happen.


Draco's POV

Draco! You were about to kiss her! No I wasn't! Yes you were! You were going to kiss her! No… No! I wasn't! I can't have! Because I don't like her! I can't like her! Not for real!


Ooohhh! They almost had a moment! Maybe later! I don't think they are ready yet, I mean they have only just made up! =P

Anyway! Please don't hate me for not updating for ages and please review me! (Well not me… The story… But you got that) =D

Love it? Hate it? Review it?

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