Chapter 10:

October flew by. Hermione and Draco were working harder than ever, what with planning the Halloween party. When Hermione woke up on the morning of the 31st she heard crying coming from the nursery. She went to stand up but she really struggled. She felt incredibly sick. She could barely open her eyes, it was too bright. Her muscles were aching and her head was pounding. She sneezed as she crossed the corridor to the nursery. She walked in to see both children clinging to the bars of their cots, screaming for attention. She tried to walk towards them but she blacked out and collapsed onto the floor.

Draco had been in the shower when the children had started crying. He was surprised that Hermione hadn't woken when the children had cried. She was usually the first one to respond to the babies. He walked into the nursery and saw her passed out on the floor. He looked at the babies. He didn't know what to do. He lent down and picked Hermione up. He carried her back to her bed, "Hermione?"

She mumbled a response so he decided to go and deal with the children. He quickly changed their nappies and put them into the outfits that Hermione had laid out for them the previous night. He put Curtis into the play pen so that he could feed Aurora her milk. He then put Aurora down for a nap whilst he fed Curtis. Soon both babies were asleep. He called for a house-elf, "Miss Granger is unwell. Can you ensure that she receives breakfast, lunch and dinner brought to her here. She will probably be spending the day in bed. If she gets worse please fetch me."

"Yes sir," the house-elf replied.

Draco rushed upstairs and into Hermione's room, "Hermione?"

"Mmmm," she mumbled.

"I'm going to take the babies to the day centre. Stay in bed. I'll check on you later."

"But I've got to…"

"No. You've got to rest. I'll look after everything else. A house-elf will bring you food."

Draco made his way to the Great Hall with the two babies. He sat with his friends at the Slytherin table. "How come you've got the muggle-born's kid?" Pansy asked.

"She's sick," Draco replied.

"Oh," Pansy replied.

Draco ate quickly before taking the children to the day centre. He checked that Hermione had organised for the children to stay late at the centre. He told them of the children's routine before making his way to his first lesson.

He went to check on Hermione during lunch. He ate his dinner ridiculously fast so that he could check on her properly. He walked straight into her room without even knocking. She was still in bed but at least she was awake. "Granger – how are you feeling?"

"Slightly better," Hermione replied.

Draco looked around and noticed that she hadn't eaten her breakfast and lunch had yet to arrive. At that moment there was a pop as a house-elf appeared with a plate of food. "I'll take that, thank you. If you could remove the breakfast."

"Yes sir," the house-elf bowed.

Draco put the plate down on the bedside table and picked Hermione up slightly so that he could sit next to her with his arm around her to support her, "you need to eat Hermione."

Hermione whimpered. She didn't want to.

Draco picked up the plate once more and began to feed Hermione like he would Curtis or Aurora. She ate the food that he gave her and leant into Draco's arms, leaning her head against his chest. When Hermione had finished eating, Draco sighed, "I better go. I'll be back soon. Just make sure you rest."

Draco left the room, rushed down the stairs picking up his bag as he went and went to his next lesson. Draco attended the feast with all the other students but for the first time in ages his eyes didn't once land on the Gryffindor table. After the feast he ordered the prefects and house-elves to organise the hall for the party and quickly rushed back to his dorm to check on Hermione. She was sat up in bed, trying to get ready for the party when he arrived.

"No you don't," Draco said as he walked in.

"I've got to," Hermione replied, "I'm head girl."

"I know but more importantly you are sick," Draco replied as he placed her legs back in the bed and covering her with her duvet. "And I know that a certain little boy very much wants to see his mummy."

"Is he okay?" Hermione asked, suddenly worried.

"Oh he's fine. They both are but they miss you," Draco replied. "They were slightly whiney this morning and I just know you won't want to miss Curtis' check up tomorrow."

"Is it already time for them to grow up?" Hermione asked, a slight smile on her face.

"It is indeed. Now get some rest before I have to force you to," Draco winked at her.

Draco didn't stay long at the party. He made an appearance and then went to pick up the children from the day centre. Both babies were asleep when he arrived. He quickly took them back to the dorm and put them straight into their cots. He then returned to check on Hermione. She was feeling much better but she still looked very ill. "How are you feeling?" Draco asked from the doorway.

"I'm bored," Hermione replied honestly.

"Come on then," Draco stretched out his hand for her to take. She almost jumped out of bed at the chance. She walked across the room and took his hand. He led her down the stairs and into the common room.

"What are we going to do?" Granger asked.

"What would you like to do?" Draco asked as they sat together on the sofa.

"I… I don't know," Hermione replied honestly.

"How about I read to you?" Draco offered.

Hermione grinned, "please do."

Draco smirked. He picked up the book that Hermione had left on the table and began to read out loud. He pulled Granger towards him until her head as resting in his lap and he was stroking her hair. He magically placed a blanket upon the Gryffindor.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters…" Hermione fell asleep in his lap as Draco read her favourite story to her. Draco couldn't help but continue reading even after the Gryffindor was asleep.