Chapter 23:

The rest of the holiday passed without incident. The children didn't raise the topic again. It was almost as if it had never happened. When they finally arrived back at school, Hermione and Draco sat their children down in the common room. "We need to talk," Draco told them.

Hermione sighed, "You remember what you found out at grandma and grandpa's house?"

Both children nodded their heads sadly. Draco sighed, "We need you to promise us that you won't tell your friends. They should find out from their parents."

"Can you promise that?" Hermione asked.

Aurora and Curtis nodded their heads again. "Thank you," Draco sighed.

"Right – bed time. Go up and change and we'll be up to tuck you in, in a moment," Hermione watched the two children retreating up the stairs.

Draco grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, "it will be ok."

"How can it?" Hermione asked, "Eventually we have to say goodbye. I never want to say goodbye." She pulled away and made her way up the stairs. Draco followed closely behind her.

They kissed their children goodnight. As they were turning towards the door, they heard Aurora's voice, "can we get our own rooms on our birthday? I really liked staying at grandma and grandpa's because I had my own room… I love Curtis but he snores."

The two parents chuckled as they left the room. They went back down to the common room. "I don't suppose it's impossible…" Hermione thought out loud.

"Yeah…" Draco yarned. "We could just share… we share occasionally anyway."

Hermione nodded, "sounds like a plan."

Hermione and Draco spent most of their free time over the next few days organising Hermione's things so that it would fit into Draco's room. They had decided to give Aurora Hermione's room and then Curtis could keep the nursery. The rooms were finally ready on the first of March. The family returned from seeing Madam Pomfrey with two children who were dramatically taller than they had been the day before. The two ten year olds quickly went and explored their rooms. Hermione and Draco sat on the sofa in the common room reading the pamphlet Pomfrey had given them.

Physical Growth and Development:

Grow about 2.5 inches and gain about 7Ib in a year.

Have growth patterns related to gender. Girls are usually taller and weigh more than boys. Signs of early puberty may develop in girls, such as breast buds.

Draco almost spat his coffee across the room as Hermione told him their daughter may start showing signs of puberty.

Lose about four baby teeth each year. These are replaced by permanent teeth.

Thinking and Reasoning:

Most children by age 10…

Know the complete date (day of the week, day of the month, month, and year).

Can name the months of the year in order.

Can read and understand a paragraph of complex sentences.

Are reading books with chapters.

Are skilled in addition and subtraction and are building skills in multiplication, division and fractions.

Have learned to write in cursive.

Can write simple stories.

Emotional and Social Development:

Most children by age 10:

Enjoy being with their friends. They often have a best friend of the same gender.

Continue to enjoy team and group activities.

Continue to insist they are not interested in children of the opposite sex. But they show off, tease, or act silly as a way of getting attention from or interacting with them.

Like and listen to their parents. Some children, though, will start to show irritation with or lack of respect for adults in charge.

Language Development:

Most children by age 10:

Enjoy reading. They may seek out magazines and books on subjects of special interest.

Can converse easily with people of different ages.

Have speech patterns that are nearly at an adult level.

Sensory and Motor Development:

Most children by age 10:

Have developed control of their large and small muscles. They are able to enjoy activities that use these skills, such as basketball, dancing and Quidditch.

Have developed endurance. Many run, ride a broom, and enjoy activities that require a degree of physical conditioning.

Continue to advance their fine motor skills, such as those needed for clearer handwriting and detailed handwriting.

Hermione and Draco were surprised over the next few days to see such a huge difference in their young daughters. They were constantly asking if they could go round their friends apartments after dinner and Aurora had already asked if she could sleep round Ilenia and Natascia's apartment on Friday night. Hermione was slightly nervous at the idea of having her daughter away from home for the night, even if it was just down the corridor. "Er… let me talk to your father first," Hermione told her daughter as they walked out of the Great Hall, towards their apartment.

Draco wasn't with them as he had Quidditch practice with the other Slytherins. Aurora frowned, "when will you talk to daddy?"

"Tonight," Hermione replied. "What did you learn in school today?"

"We learnt about magic," Curtis told his mother excitably.

"And dragons!" Aurora continued.

Hermione smiled, "very good."

Curtis told her all about the book his teacher had given him to read for homework.

As soon as they entered their apartment the children set to their homework. Curtis read his book to Hermione as Aurora practiced her spellings. Just as they were finishing there was a knock at the portrait hole. Aurora jumped up to answer it and in rushed Alina and Rosanna.

Alina, Ginny and Blaise's daughter smiled innocently up at Hermione, "Aunty Minnie please can Aurora come to play with us in the room of requirements?"

"Our parents won't let us go outside because it is too dark," Rosanna told her. "But Ilenia and Natascia thought that we could make the room of requirements into a playroom with swings and everything."

"PLEASE!" Aurora begged her mother.

"Er," Hermione looked at her watch, "Oh… ok but you must be back by 7:30."

"YAH!" The girls squealed.

"Or else," Hermione told her.

When the girls had left the room Curtis smiled at his mother, "can I go round to Enzo's for awhile, please mother?"

"Yes son. Just be sure to be home by 7:30," Hermione kissed her son on the head.

Soon Hermione was alone in the apartment. She made use of the time alone to tidy the apartment and do some homework. When all her homework was completed Hermione looked at the clock. There was still forty minutes until the children were due to return. She picked up Hogwarts A History and started reading. She was soon lost within the pages of her favourite book and didn't realise the time passing. When she next looked at the clock it was 7:50pm. Hermione frowned. Both her children were late. She shoved her book down and left the apartment. She knocked on Parvati and Theo's door, "Alright Granger!"

"Is my son here?" she asked softly.

"Yeah… give us a second," He let her in before calling up the stairs, "Curtis, your mum is here!"

Parvati smiled up at Hermione from where she sat at in the corner, "how's things Hermione?"

"Not bad," Hermione smiled, "You?"

"Very good, thanks."

Curtis looked sheepishly at his mother as he ran down the stairs, "sorry mum… I forgot the time."

Hermione nodded her head, "See you both tomorrow."

She led her son out of the apartment and down the corridor towards the room of requirement, "where are we going mum?"

"To get your sister," Hermione replied sternly.

Curtis nodded his head. He knew his mother was angry with him. They walked in silence. Hermione entered the room of requirements with her son on her tail. "Hem. Hem."

The five girls turned around to see Hermione and Curtis. They were swinging on swings and going down slides, "OOPS!" Aurora ran to her mother, "sorry mum."

"Come along," Hermione said sternly, "It's time to leave."

Hermione held her tongue until they reached their apartment. "Sit down," Hermione told them as they entered the common room.

Both children quickly obeyed. "I gave you both clear instructions and you both disobeyed me."

Aurora opened her mouth as if to interrupt. Hermione raised her hand and the small girl closed it once again. "I was worried… anything could have happened to you. I give you rules and instructions for a reason. There will be consequences…"

Both children moaned.

"And if you complain I will make it even worse. You will both be grounded for a week. That means no playing outside with your friends. No going to the room of requirements. No visiting your friends apartments. Do you understand?"

"Yes mum," Curtis and Aurora chorused.

"Very well. I am very disappointed in both of you. Go to bed."

"Will you tell father?" Aurora asked, suddenly fearful.

"Yes. I will."

Aurora and Curtis nodded. They hated disappointing their father just as much as they hated angering their mother.