Chapter 16:
The following morning the small family made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The rest of the students were due to arrive back that evening so the seventh and eighth year families were making the most of a quiet Hogwarts. Hermione didn't want to make a fuss about her and Draco's engagement so instead she just smiled at her friends before piling food on Aurora and Curtis' plates. The couple sat down on the bench between their children. Draco filled his own plate before laying a hand on Hermione's knee. Ginny gasped from her seat across the table causing several people to stare at her. Her eyes were on Hermione. Hermione shook her head sending a pleading silent message across the table, Don't make a fuss. Not yet.
Draco grinned as he heard the weaslette tell the people around her that she had burnt her tongue. After breakfast, the Weaslette demanded that their families spend the day together. Hermione smiled slightly, "how about spending the morning in the grounds?"
Ginny nodded. They agreed to meet in the entrance hall once they had put on warm coats, scarves and gloves. Fifteen minutes later the four children were running around outside in the snow whilst the four parents walked together. Draco knew that Ginny wanted to talk to Hermione alone but Hermione was holding onto his hand pretty tightly so he decided to stay with her. He chuckled at the thought. Curtis and Gofreddio came up to Draco, "daddy!" Curtis began.
"Yes Curtis?" Draco replied. He had a feeling he knew what was coming and if the way Hermione's grip tightened around his fingers she did too.
"Daddy, will you make me a snowman?" Curtis asked.
Hermione sighed and her grip loosened, as much as she didn't want to be alone with Ginny, she couldn't resist making her son happy. Draco didn't let go of her hand, "of course son." He pulled Hermione's hand to his lips and kissed her ring, "Come on Zabini."
The two eighth year boys walked away, following after their sons. "So?" Ginny asked.
"So?" Hermione replied.
"Come on Hermione! There's a bloody engagement ring on your finger! Spill!"
"Draco asked me to marry him last night," Hermione whispered.
"I didn't even know you were together," Ginny replied, clearly slightly annoyed.
"We weren't. Well not really."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Well we hadn't even kissed until Christmas eve. He'd kissed me on the forehead and stuff like that," Hermione began, "it all happened so fast and yet so slow."
Hermione grinned, "we'd almost kissed a few times but something always got in the way. On Christmas Eve we put the kids to bed and then we talked and he said that there was no one he'd rather be the mother to his children. I told him he'd feel differently if it were real. He didn't seem to think so and he kissed me."
Ginny smiled just as Alina came running up to her, "look mummy! Look Aunty Hermione! Daddy and Uncle Draco are making a snowman."
"Very good Alina," Ginny said as she pulled the five year old into her arms, "gosh you are getting heavy. Mione, carry on… tell me everything."
"We fell asleep on the sofa," Hermione smiled, "and in the morning I went to get up and go to the kids but he wouldn't let me until I'd kissed him good morning."
Ginny giggled, "But how did he ask?"
"Well, his parents came to visit," Hermione continued.
"Yeah, how was that?"
"It was nice… strange but nice. Anyway, they apologised and when they left he told me that he needed to apologise as well. He said the sweetest things and then he asked me to marry him," Hermione told her, "We haven't told anyone yet."
"Wow," Ginny giggled again.
"What about you?" Hermione asked.
"What do you mean?" Ginny frowned.
"Well you and Harry are still together right? I never see you together," Hermione replied.
"Yeah… I care about Harry but spending so much time with Blaise… it's not helping," Ginny complained. "I think I like him, Blaise I mean, but I don't know what to do about it."
"I'm sorry Gin. It looks like you are stuck in the middle of it," Hermione frowned.
"I'll work it out," Ginny smiled, "What makes it even stranger is, I'm not even jealous of Daphne. I see the way Harry is with her and I'm… I'm actually happy for them."
"I think that might be your answer Gin," Hermione hugged her friend.
Draco and Blaise were walking towards them, "What are you two talking about?" Blaise asked with a wink at Ginny.
"Nothing," Ginny blushed.
Hermione smirked, "this and that."
"Congratulations by the way Hermione," Blaise smiled, "Drake just told me."
"Thanks," Hermione smiled happily.
Draco came to stand beside her, taking her hand in his, "let's go home," he whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Do you think we can get lunch in our dorms?" Hermione yarned.
"I don't see why not," Draco replied. "Do you guys want to join us?"
"Sure, why not," Ginny and Blaise smiled.
The two families made their way back to the castle and up to head dorms. Hermione got the children ready for lunch with Ginny while the boys set the table and asked a house-elf for the food. When the two families were both sat together at the dinner table, the children started eating happily as their parents talked happily.
"Have you got a babysitter for tomorrow night?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, one of the sixth year prefects," Hermione replied. "Have you?"
"Nope completely forgot," Ginny frowned.
"Well ask one of the younger prefects or you could bring them here. I'm sure Lucy wouldn't mind looking after a few extras. Aurora and Curtis will already be in their bed so they shouldn't be any trouble at all."
"That might be a plan," Ginny smiled. "Right, we better go. Say thank you to Aunty Hermione and Uncle Draco."
"Thank you," the small children said as they hugged Hermione and Draco.
"We'll see you later," Hermione said as she walked them to the portrait hole. When she turned around Draco had already cleared the table. Aurora and Curtis asked Hermione if they could go and play upstairs.
"Of course you can," Hermione grinned as the two children ran upstairs.
Hermione yarned, "I'm tired."
Draco smiled at her, "come here love." He kissed her softly on the lips pulling her down onto the sofa. "Do you fancy a nap?"
Hermione nodded her head. Draco pulled his legs up onto the sofa and lay down pulling Hermione with him. He flicked his wand and covered them in a green blanket. Hermione leant her head on his chest and Draco wrapped his arms around her. They closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep. "Mummy, Daddy," Aurora poked her daddy's arm as she cried.
Draco opened his eyes, "what's the matter princess?"
"Curtis is being mean," Aurora complained.
"What did he do?" Draco asked quietly, trying not to wake Hermione.
"He took my dolly," Aurora replied.
"Aurora, go upstairs and tell your brother that daddy wants to see him," Draco sighed. He looked at his watch. He hadn't been asleep for twenty minutes.
Aurora quickly returned with Curtis. Draco frowned, "What happened Curtis?"
"Aurora took my train so I took her dolly," Curtis replied.
"Right – listen to me both of you, do not take each others' toys or I will take then all off you."
"You'd take away all our toys?" Curtis looked unhappy.
"Yes. If you can't play nicely together then you won't be allowed to play at all," Draco said, "now go upstairs and play quietly before you wake up mummy."
The children went back up the stairs and Draco closed his eyes once more, hoping to get at least a few more minutes sleep.
Sometime later Draco woke up to the sound of talking. Hermione and the children were sat at the table painting. She was trying her best to make sure they whispered but Aurora kept raising her voice so that Hermione would have to tell her to be quiet. Draco smiled. He stood up, folding the green blanket over the side of the sofa. "Daddy! You're awake!" Aurora squealed excitably. Draco laughed. He kissed the children on their heads and then kissed Hermione on the lips.
"What time is it?" Draco asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Almost time for dinner," Hermione smiled.
"No way," Draco laughed.
"You must have been tired, love," Hermione giggled.