Chapter 13:
The new little families that had sprung up were eating most meals together in the Great Hall. It had completely changed the dynamic of meal times. Hermione and Draco usually sat with Ginny and Blaise at the Gryffindor table. Ginny was the perfect motherly influence that Alina needed and as for Gofreddo, Blaise had managed to get him under control automatically. Ginny and Blaise and their children had even joined Hermione and Draco on their little family outing to Hogsmeade.
Occasionally Harry and Daphne would sit with them at the Gryffindor table. Although they often sat with Daphne's friends at the Slytherin table. Ebony was still a bit of handful but Daphne was very persistent with her and didn't give in nearly as easily as her father. Castore has quickly adapted to having Harry around and was now calling him daddy every two minutes.
Ron and Pansy were the only couple who seemed to be having problems. Ilenia absolutely loathed Pansy and the same could be said with regards to Natascia and Ron. Although Hermione and Draco were certain that if their parents could let go of their own prejudices the children would quickly follow suit. Parvati and Theo seemed to be getting on swimmingly if the love bite on Parvati's neck was anything to go by.
When the time came for the students to leave for the holidays, most of the seventh and eighth years stayed. They wanted to spend Christmas with their new little families. Hermione and Draco spent the first few days of the holiday getting all of their school work done. Just as Hermione was completely the final sentence on her last essay it began to snow. She jumped to her feet much to the children's and Draco's surprise, "It's snowing! Come on! Let's go outside!"
They spent the next hour introducing their children to snow. Aurora loved it straight away whilst Curtis was less sure but soon they were both running around in it happily. Hermione and Draco were very attentive to the children. They were quite nervous. Hermione had a list as long as her arm running through her head of all the things that could possibly go wrong. Draco pulled her into his arms. He stood behind her with his arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder, "stop worrying love. They will be fine."
Hermione sighed. She knew he was right but she couldn't help be a bit concerned. Parvati and Theo walked over to them holding hands. Hermione expected for Draco to let her go now that their friends were approaching but he didn't. If anything he pulled her closer.
Parvati was the first to speak, "hey guys. How's it going?"
Hermione blushed slightly but replied confidently, "swimmingly. Aurora and Curtis seem to be enjoying the snow."
"Fancy making a snow man, Drake?" Theo asked.
"Sure. Why not," Draco went to let go of Hermione but first he kissed her on the cheek. He winked at her before turning and walking away with Theo. Hermione tried not to look at Parvati. She knew that the other girl was just waiting for an opportunity to question her.
Hermione smiled when she saw Curtis and Aurora, "come to mummy."
They quickly ran over to her, "let's make sure you are both wrapped up warm." She fiddled with their coats before releasing them. "Why don't you go see what daddy is doing with Uncle Theo."
"Yes mummy," the pair replied.
There was an awkward silence until Parvati started her questioning, "so… you and Malfoy?"
"Yeah… I don't really know what's happening so do you mind if we don't…" Hermione began.
"You like him though?" she pressed.
Hermione thought about it, of course I like him she thought. "Yeah I do. Come on lets go see what the guys are up to," Hermione began walking towards Draco and her children, "unless you want me to ask about that hickey on your neck?"
It was Parvati's turn to blush.
That evening, Hermione and Draco followed their routine perfectly but their children seemed adamant that they were not going to go to sleep. They were both stood up in their cots, crying. Hermione walked in to see Draco frowning, "I don't know what's wrong. They always go straight to sleep."
"I think our little angels are excited," Hermione smiled. "Who wants to hear a story?"
"Me! Me!" They both called.
Hermione picked Aurora up and Draco followed suit picking Curtis up. She led them over to a comfy sofa that was in the corner of the room. They sat together, the whole family and Hermione began to tell them a story, "One night, much like tonight, when the wind was howling and the snow was falling, Father Christmas was out delivering presents…" She told them all about Santa and his reindeer Rudolph and all the different presents that would be waiting under the tree for them in the morning. Eventually the children fell asleep in their parents' arms. Draco and Hermione returned them to their cots and returned down stairs to set up their presents under the tree. When they were finished Hermione sighed, practically throwing herself onto the sofa. Draco came and sat down next to her, "Do you remember when Aurora called you mama for the first time?"
Hermione nodded. How could she forget? "And I told you that I wasn't going to correct her…"
Hermione grinned at the memory, it had meant a lot to her. "Well I just want you to know that out of all the witches I know there is no one I would rather raise Aurora or Curtis for that matter, with… I… I love the fact that you are the mother to my children… even if it's not real."
Hermione laughed before whispering, "you'd probably feel differently if it were real."
"No. No, I wouldn't," he looked her straight in the eye and Hermione had the strangest feeling that he wasn't lying to her.
He leant down and for the first time nothing stopped him closing the distance between them. Soon his lips were on his and he couldn't get enough of her. She tasted like heaven or at least what he imagined it to taste like. They kissed for what felt like an age, melting into one another until they had ran out of air. Draco had something he wanted to tell her but he couldn't tell her without saying something else first and he didn't want to ruin this perfect moment with horrible memories even if he was apologising for them.