Chapter 17:

After dinner, Harry asked if he could come round to the head dorms for a chat. Hermione agreed. Harry walked with Hermione and Draco to the head dorms. The children were getting tired so Aurora was in her father's arms whilst Curtis was in his mother's. Draco took the children straight upstairs when they got home for their bath. Hermione sat down on the sofa and smiled at Harry. She wondered what he wanted to talk about. "So… I've got something I want to talk to you about but you clearly want to talk to me about something so…"

"You go first," Harry smiled. "I don't really know what I want to say."

"Oh okay. Draco's asked me to marry him," Hermione whispered.

"I know. I saw the ring," Harry smiled. "You are happy, aren't you? You seem it but…"

"You just want to check?" Hermione laughed, "I'm very happy. It doesn't make sense but it feels right."

"No… I know what you mean. Just look at Parvati and Theo," Harry replied. "I need to tell you something. I…"

"Harry, you can tell me anything," Hermione smiled kindly.

"I accidentally kissed Daphne," Harry looked ashamed.

"Do you like her?" Hermione replied.

Harry nodded his head, "but what about Ginny?"

"How do you feel about…?" Hermione began.

"She matters but its different now… besides I kind of get the feeling she isn't that interested anymore anyway."

Hermione nodded, remembering her earlier conversation. "I think you need to talk to her," Hermione told him.

"What if she hates me?" Harry replied.

"She won't."

"How do you know?"

"I just do," Hermione smiled.

Draco walked down the stairs a little while later to see two friends laughing happily. He sat down next to Hermione, "were they ok?" Hermione asked.

Draco nodded, "I think Aurora is coming down with a cold or something. She seems to have a bit of a runny nose."

Hermione frowned, "okay. We'll see what she's like tomorrow."

"Alright Potter," Draco smirked at the boy-who-lived.

"Not bad, Malfoy," Harry grinned, "I hear congratulations are in order."

Malfoy smiled a real smile. "Well, you better look after her, Malfoy, or I promise I'll kill you."

Malfoy smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow, "I'll do my best."

The next day, Ginny rushed into the head dorm as the family were reading a story, "Hermione! Hermione!"

"What's wrong Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing… well I don't know… he's asked me to the bloody ball," Ginny replied.

"Language, weaslette," Malfoy frowned. The children were looking up at their aunty in shock.

"Sorry Malfoy," Ginny frowned.

"Right, so what's the problem?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I want to go with him!"

"Has Harry asked you?" Hermione frowned.

"No."

"Go speak to him," Hermione laughed. "You might just get the answer you want."

"Huh?"

"Go!"

Ginny left the room once more. Hermione sighed before looking at Aurora, "Aunty Ginny can be awful silly."

Aurora sneezed. "Are you feeling alright?" Hermione asked.

Aurora rubbed her nose and smiled. Hermione put her hand to her head, checking her for fever. "She's slightly warm, Draco. Maybe I should stay home…"

"No. No, you don't." Draco almost laughed, "She'll be fine. We'll see how she is in the morning."

Hermione pulled a face. "Stop worrying love."

An hour later, Hermione decided to go and have a shower, leaving Draco to organise the children an early dinner. They were expected to have dinner at the ball so the children needed to eat early. When Hermione came back downstairs it was six o'clock. She'd dried her hair and put some comfortable clothes on. Draco was reading the children a story when she came down the stairs. "Aurora, bath time," Hermione smiled.

"But mummy, I don't want to. Make Curtis go first," Aurora complained.

Hermione lifted an eyebrow at her daughter, "Upstairs now monkey."

Aurora frowned but did as she was told. Half an hour later both children had had their baths and were in their pyjamas. Draco kissed them both good night and went to grab a quick shower. Hermione kissed them both and placed them in their little beds, "mummy, why are we going to bed early?" Curtis asked.

"Because… tomorrow is a big day because mummy and daddy have to go to school," Hermione half lied. She told them she loved them, turned out the lamps and left the room. She rushed into her room and put her makeup on. She did her hair and put her dress on. It was a beautiful green, strapless dress. She just knew that Draco would love it. She looked at her watch, 19:25. She wasn't sure how she'd managed it. They weren't going to be late.

She walked down the stairs and smiled when she saw Draco waiting for her. He grinned, "you look beautiful, Hermione."

"Thanks Draco," Hermione smiled, kissing him on the cheek, "You're looking pretty fine yourself."

"Well, yeah… but that's just Draco Malfoy!" Draco smirked, allowing his more arrogant side to show.

"If your hair didn't look so good I would hit you round the head," Hermione flirted.

"Oh I can think of better things for you to do with your hand," Draco winked.

"Come on. We better go," Hermione laughed. She turned around to see Lucy, the sixth year prefect sat on the sofa, "we won't be late."

"The Weaslette and Zabini might drop their kids round in a bit," Malfoy told her. "If they do, I'll pay you extra."

Hermione and Draco made their way to the Great Hall.

Several hours later Hermione, Draco, Blaise and Ginny were making their way to the heads dorms. Hermione yarned as Draco told the dragon the password. They walked in to find Lucy sat with Aurora on her knee. Hermione went straight up to them and Aurora whimpered for her mother, lifting her hands up for her to pick her up. Hermione pulled her into her arms and held her close, "what are you doing up?" she asked. She felt her forehead again; she was a lot hotter than before. "Draco, I think she's got a fever."

Draco came over to sit next to them. He touched her head to see. He sighed, "poor baby," he then turned to Lucy, "was everything else ok?"

"Yeah. Not a problem. Easy as pie." Lucy picked up her bag. Draco paid her and walked her to the portrait.

When he came back he looked at Hermione, "do you want to take her to the hospital wing?"

"She's probably just got a bug or something but I…"

"You're worried," Draco nodded. "Do you guys mind staying a few more minutes?" he turned to Blaise, "we won't be long."

"Sure thing," Blaise and Ginny nodded.