Chapter 33:

A month later Aurora and Curtis turned one. Hermione and Narcissa worked hard to prepare an amazing party for the two children. Hermione's stomach was larger than ever before. At 28 weeks pregnant, Hermione felt like she'd been pregnant for forever. Aurora would often sit on her lap and put her hand to Hermione's bump and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if Aurora could somehow remember shopping for baby clothes and talking about names. It still seemed so strange that her seventeen year old daughter was a little one year old again. They invited all of their friends around for a birthday tea party. Harry and Ron were sat together talking about their auror training. Daphne was chatting happily to Pansy, Ron's fiancé. "So when are you and Ron going to get married?"

"Next month," Pansy replied, "what about you and Potter?"

"We want a winter wedding," Daphne smiled, "So we're going to wait until Christmas."

"That's nice – hopefully it will snow."

Ginny and Blaise were talking animatedly to Parvati and Theo. Narcissa smiled at Hermione, "mission accomplished, I think."

Hermione grinned back, "it's not too shabby."

Draco was sat on the floor with Curtis and Aurora. Teddy ran over to him and jumped on his back, "Draco!"

Hermione smiled as she stood next to her mother-in-law watching her husband with their children. She felt one of the children kick and squealed slightly. "Are you alright Hermione?" Narcissa asked.

"It kicked," Hermione explained as she took Narcissa's hand and placed it over her belly so that the older woman could feel the kick.

"Wow," Narcissa whispered, as she felt the movement. "Not long now…"

Hermione smiled, "no… I really can't wait to meet them."

"They are going to be amazing."

"I'm a bit scared," Hermione admitted.

"Why?" Narcissa asked.

"It seems so real," Hermione frowned. "Soon I'm going to have four children…"

"That is a scary prospect but you're not alone," Narcissa replied as she wrapped her arm around her new daughter-in-law.

As September came to a close, the Malfoy family fell into a comfortable routine. Draco went to work each day with his father whilst Hermione stayed home to look after the children. Hermione had always planned to work after Hogwarts and not be some kind of housewife but she had agreed with Draco that it would be better for the children if she was at home with them at least for the time being. She would train to become a healer in a year or so but for now she would spend her time with her children after all there were going to be four of them.

Hermione's ankles and feet were all swollen and so she was resting in the living room. Aurora was curled up on her lap and Curtis was sat on the floor playing with his favourite dragon cuddly toy. Draco walked in to see his wife asleep on the sofa. Curtis pulled himself up using his father's legs. Draco took his hand and walked him over to his mother. Curtis started coasting across the front of the sofa as Draco knelt down next to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. He saw his daughter in her arm and kissed her on the forehead. He then placed his hand over Hermione's belly and was surprised when he felt one of the baby's kick.

Hermione stirred and rested her hand on top of Draco's, "hey… I missed you."

"I've only been gone a few hours," Draco teased.

"A few hours too many," Hermione smiled.

"Where is mother?" Draco asked.

Hermione yarned, "I think she went to visit Andromeda."

Draco nodded, "are you ready for dinner?"

Hermione smiled, "sure…" She pulled herself up, handing Aurora to Draco.

Hermione wasn't able to sleep. She'd spent the last few weeks preparing for when the babies arrived. She looked over at the man lying next to her and smiled. His arm was draped over her growing stomach. She sat up and pulled her slippers onto her feet. She began to waddle down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Love," Draco said from the doorway to the kitchen, "Couldn't you sleep?"

"No… Scorpius is sat on my bladder," Hermione admitted.

Draco grinned, "love, come back to bed."

Hermione downed her glass of milk, "being 32 weeks pregnant sucks."

Draco chuckled, "I don't know… I'm kind of attached to your bump."

Hermione smiled, "well that's because your babies are in here." Draco rested his hand on her bump and kissed her gently on the lips.

The following day, Hermione and Draco had another appointment at St Mungo's hospital. The healer checked Hermione over and gave them a picture of what their babies looked like. "Almost there now," the healer told them. "Just make sure you are getting enough rest… or I'll be putting you on bedrest."

Hermione and Draco returned home to their family. Mr and Mrs Granger were coming for dinner to hear about the appointment. They sat eating together and then Draco put the children to bed whilst Hermione told the two sets of grandparents about the appointment. She showed them the magical picture of her babies. Scorpius was kicking his mother's stomach and Katriona was sucking on her fingers.

"They are just so adorable," Mrs Granger told them.

"No wonder you've been feeling like they are kicking you to jiggery. He's got one hell of a kick," Mr Granger grinned.

Lucius and Narcissa smiled happily as they looked at the picture together, "It's so exciting. I really can't wait to meet them."