Chapter 7:
The afternoon went quickly and soon the babies were back asleep and the head boy and girl were trying to read as they sat together in the common room. They barely paid each other any attention. They were both incredibly tired. It had been a long day. Draco yarned, "bloody hell. Tomorrow is going to be even harder."
"Yeah, we're going to have classes and patrols too," Hermione thought.
"I meant to ask, who are you going to have look after Curtis whilst we are on patrol?"
"I was thinking about asking Ginny or maybe Harry," Hermione replied.
"Oh ok," Draco replied.
"What about you? Hermione asked.
"Possibly Blaise but I'm not sure I trust him with my little angel."
"If you like I could ask Gin to take them both. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. But then again, you're probably less likely to trust a Gryffindor with her."
"I trusted you with her didn't I?" Draco retorted.
"That's different. You were only up the stairs," Hermione laughed.
"Maybe. If you could ask her that would be good. If you trust her, I trust her."
"Are you seriously saying you trust my judgement?" Hermione was gobsmacked.
"With babies yes… with friends less so but the Weaslette seems alright. She's certainly better than her brother," Draco replied. "Right I think we should both get an early night."
"But they are going to be due feeds in about half an hour," Granger yarned.
"Get yourself ready for bed, Granger. Then in twenty minutes you can feed him and then you can both go straight to sleep."
"Oh right. Yeah that makes sense."
Draco laughed slightly, "do you want me to take Curtis upstairs for you?"
"Please."
Hermione followed Draco up the stairs as he magically lifted both cribs up the stairs.
When Hermione woke up in the morning, she was exhausted. Curtis had woken up every hour on the hour. He isn't supposed to do that – not for another two weeks, Hermione thought to herself as she got ready for class. She had sat up most of the night with the small boy in her arms. Hermione checked on the little tyke in his crib before rushing into the bathroom for a quick shower. She left her door slightly ajar so that she would be able to hear him cry but luckily he didn't. She quickly dried her hair before putting some make up on. She didn't look bad for someone who had gone without sleep. Curtis was making happy noises in his crib when Hermione returned to her room. She changed his nappy and put him in a cute little outfit before taking him downstairs for another feed before she went to breakfast. Draco was already sat in the common room with Aurora. He looked as tired as Hermione felt, "Did Aurora keep you up too?"
Draco didn't reply. He merely yarned. Hermione sat next to him and began feeding Curtis. Both babies were quiet as they drank their milk. Draco lent his head against Hermione's shoulders. "I don't know how my parents did it."
"Teamwork," Hermione replied. "It's slightly easier when two people are working together to look after the baby."
"Slightly?" Draco raised an eyebrow. "How was Curtis?"
"A nightmare," Hermione replied honestly.
Draco laughed gently before leaning in to talk to the baby in Hermione's arms, "are you being difficult for your mummy? That used to be my job."
Hermione couldn't stop herself giggling, "That's still your job Malfoy!"
The head boy and girl made their way to the day centre to drop the babies off. "I'll be back at about 4pm. Is that ok?" She asked the member of staff.
"Not a problem. And you Mr Malfoy?"
"Er… the same, thanks." They quickly exited the room, leaving their children for the first time. Hermione frowned, "don't worry Granger. Your little tyke will be fine."
The day went slowly for most of the seventh and eighth year students as they were all anxious to get back to their babies. Hermione had asked Ginny if she could look after Aurora and Curtis for an hour that evening and she had agreed. She would come to their dorm for about 11pm. Hermione informed Draco during one of their free periods. They had been working together in the library – they were study buddies after all. When their last lesson was over Hermione and Draco rushed to the day centre to pick up their children before dinner. They took them back to the dorm and fed them a quick bottle before heading to the Great Hall for dinner.
Draco sat with his own friends and their babies but he found his own attention drifting. He often found himself looking towards the Gryffindor table where a certain muggleborn and her baby were sat. Hermione on the other hand was very distracted by some of the stories her friends were telling her about their babies. All the students around them were cooing over the babies. Hermione quickly got bored of it all and went to leave, "I'll see you guys later. See you at eleven Gin."
"Will do," Ginny said as the others just nodded their goodbyes.
"Let's go little tyke," Hermione said to Curtis.
"Looks like my nickname for him is staying," Draco said as he followed her out of the Great Hall. "Got bored of those pesky Gryffindors pretty quickly didn't you?"
"I… I just wanted to feed Curtis and it was awfully loud," Hermione lied. The truth was she had brought a bottle with her so she could feed him in the Great Hall.
"Lies. All lies. I know for a fact that you took a bottle with you," Draco smirked. He was happy with himself.
"Fine. I got bored. I wanted to go home," Granger frowned, "What's the big deal?"
"There isn't one," Draco replied. "Come on then Granger. Let's get these two… home."
Hermione noticed the way he said it, home, and for some reason that she didn't know or understand, she really liked it.