Granger's Café

Pairing: Draco/Harry.

Disclaimer: Hermione decides that the drama in the wizarding world is growing too much. She decides to open up a café in the muggle world, so as to enjoy simplicity during the day. Little does she know that one of the applicants for a job there, will cause a whole new circle of drama for her. And how exactly will her little café benefit Harry and Draco's lives, and how will it banish the drama from both worlds they live in? You know what they say, about Granger's café; her food is like magic, that's what they say, because it keeps all your problems and troubles at bay.

~000~

Chapter Forty-One:

It's Time

A few days later found a smiling if exhausted Hermione walking along the polished corridors of St. Mungo's to the private ward where Astoria was resting. Her birth had been difficult according to Narcissa and Hermione had decided to take the entire day off and go and visit her. She had closed the cafe for the day too, as Draco and Harry needed to go over to Hogwarts and talk to their children about the new living arrangements in the summer, and poor Mona couldn't hold the fort all by herself even if it was a weekday. So instead, Hermione had given her the day off. It really was a beautiful day.

She knocked on the door to Astoria's room, the bouquet of pink daisies delicately resting over one arm. "Come in!" as soon as she heard the words, she bent the door handle and entered the room.

Hermione entered with a smile, despite her swollen ankles, "Good morning, I thought I'd pop along to see how you were doing," she smiled down at Astoria who -despite the brushed hair and soft blush on her cheeks -looking exhausted at just keeping her eyes open. "I brought you some flowers to cheer you up."

Astoria smiled, "Oh they look lovely!"

Hermione smiled in return and placed the bouquet on the nightstand beside the bed. She eased herself down into one of the guest chairs and leaned in a little to see Astoria better. "So how are you feeling? Draco's been a little worried about you. He says you look really weak and I must say I have to agree with him."

Astoria rolled her eyes, though the pinched skin around them made the effect worse, "It's these white walls!" she exclaimed, waving her hand out, "They even make you look a little peaky right now."

Hermione gave a weak smile, as she watched the corners of Astoria's deep brown eyes crinkle. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly, reaching to touch Astoria's hand, "Honestly?"

Astoria hesitated a moment before shrugging her shoulder awkwardly, "I don't know. I feel exhausted but almost like -a large weight has been lifted. I think a lot of it comes from knowing that I'll be gone soon, and Draco can move on and be happy. He hasn't been happy for a long time, Hermione. I want him to be happy. I've made mistakes in the past, I know that. I'm not proud of that. I was as power-hungry as they come. But it's not worth all the money in the world seeing my husband so unhappy. I love him in my own way and he knows that. We have a mutual respect for one another."

Hermione smiled, "I know that. You have changed Astoria and I believe you when you say you're too tired to fight anymore."

Astoria squeezed Hermione's hand. It was nice to be understood for a change. Some of the nurses had a pretty bitter attitude at the best of times. She blinked away the memories and gave a tight smile, "I just want to get out of this bloody bed. I refuse to die in this morbid hell-hole."

"I know," Hermione breathed softly, "I wish they would just let you go soon."

Astoria huffed before nodding, "So do I, Hermione. So do I."

~0~

"If you don't stop fidgeting right now I am going to get a red hot poker and shove it up your arse you annoying sod!" Draco seethed through clenched teeth as his silver eyes darted around McGonagall's office, his hands clenched on his knees.

Harry cocked an eyebrow at the nervous blonde beside him, "Coming from the calmest man in Britain, right?"

Draco shot Harry a look before rolling his eyes, his shoulders relaxing slightly, "Don't try and be smart Harry. It doesn't become you."

They fell into a comfortable silence and waited for the McGonagall to come back with their children. The silence was a little tense as they anticipated telling Scorpious, James, and Albus that they now had a baby sister. Draco fidgeted even more in his seat. The click of the door made them both straighten up in their chairs, and turn a little to face the door head-on. Minerva walked in, her mostly grey hair pulled back into a high bun on her head, her small spectacles resting on her sharp nose. She stepped to one side and held the door open for their four children enter in behind her. "Have a seat children," she said as she walked around to the throne-line chair behind the desk.

They obeyed and before Minerva could even open her mouth, James jumped in, "Dad, what's wrong? Is something wrong with Aunt Hermione? Or Remus? The baby? T-Teddy? What's happened?"

Harry raised his hand and motioned for James to calm down, "It's alright James. We just came here to tell you all that ... You're all big brothers and sister!"

Four jaws hit the floor and their eyes went wide. Minerva suppressed a smile as all the children started firing questions away without pausing for breath. Draco cleared his throat, "If you lot don't shut up, you won't know what's happened now, will you?" he stated in a loud voice, rising over their din.

With sheepish expressions, they clamped their mouths shut and waited impatiently for them to continue on with their tale about what had happened in the outside world.

Draco cleared his throat once again, "A few days ago Scorpious' mother was taken into St. Mungo's and had her daughter early. She is premature but getting along fairly well in strengthening up," turning his gaze to Scorpius he added, "your mother is recovering from the birth fairly well as well. I was hoping that this weekend you could get permission from your headmistress to come with us to St. Mungo's to see her."

Minerva smiled, "I don't see why it would be a problem. I will sign off the forms for you all to leave the premises for the weekend."

Draco smiled gratefully at her.

Harry eyed his silent children and frowned a little, "I hope you two are as excited as Scorpius seems to be about your little sister?" he asked eyeing how wide Scorpius' grin was on his pale face.

James nodded his head with a restrained smile, "I can't wait to see her! Does she have dark hair or the trademark Malfoy blonde hair?"

Draco smiled, "Believe it or not, this time child has lovely dark hair, just like Scorpius' mother."

James nodded in a somewhat approving manner as Albus shifted forward in his chair, "Where will we be staying this weekend?"

Harry licked his lips, "Well we have some room above the cafe, as Mona is going away for the weekend, if you want to stay there?"

James shrugged, "It has space enough for all of us. I honestly don't mind." Albus nodded his agreement. "Do you have a photo of her?" James asked, eyeing both his dad and his lover.

Draco watched as Harry's face lit up at the mention of a photo. He had been so happy with the photo he had taken of Astoria and Draco and their little girl. He was so happy with the image he had duplicated it over and over so that everyone could have a copy of it. Harry leaned forward and withdrew his muggle wallet where he kept a copy of the photo. He slid it out and passed it over to his children, "There you go, boys. That's your little sister."

"Oh look! She has my dads eyes!" Scorpius exclaimed brightly, pointing a delicate finger at the moving image.

"And your mums dark hair," James observed, "I suppose that will make it easier when you blood adopt her, won't it dad?"

Harry paused for some reason, as did Draco. They shared a look with one another. They had somehow managed to avoid having that conversation completely since Astoria gave birth. Draco gave a dashing smile before he licked his lips and turned to James, "Well we'll leave that for later when everyone is feeling up to talking and out of the hospital."

Harry reached over and slid his hand into Draco's. A year ago he wouldn't have believed that he would have a daughter and be in love with the sarcastic blonde aristocrat who'd bullied him in school. He just hoped that this time next year, he would be just as happy as he was at that moment.

~0~

Hermione was busy washing her dishes that afternoon when the floo opened up, bathing the kitchen walls in a slight green light. She frowned a little as she stacked another dish into the drying rack. She didn't mind doing the dishes the muggle way. She found it oddly soothing especially when she was so bloated and exhausted the majority of the time. She was agitated with every kick from the twins but loved them despite all that. And now someone was coming into her home, just what she needed.

She reached for a hand-towel and started drying the suds off her hands whilst turning around to the kitchen fireplace. Her heart stopped cold in her chest when she saw who was stepping out across her hearth.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" she snapped before her lips curled into a sneer, "Get out of my house!"

Ginny rolled her eyes and looked idly around at her surroundings, a slightly measure of disdain ebbing into her expression, "Well I'm not the on who left my floo network open."

Hermione blinked. Has she really left the floo network open? How had she been so stupid? She sneered at her sister-in-law, "Get out of my house before I send for the aurors, Ginny. I don't want you here."

Ginny shook her head, her sleek red hair swaying around her shoulders, "No, I don't think I will. You see, all thanks to you and your stupid morals, I have lost not only my husband but I have lost the chance for a future with someone else. I lost my child, Hermione. How do you think that makes me feel?"

Hermione felt her muscles quiver and how eerily calm Ginny's tone was, especially in regards to talking about her miscarriage. "You've had Molly to console you. If you were that depressed you would have gone to the hospital."

"Ha!" Ginny shrieked, "Like they would believe me. Didn't you see how I was plastered all over the prophet? I even sold my own side of events but all that managed to get me was hate mail! People are more willing to accept Draco bloody Malfoy fucking my husband up the arse, then his own wife having a miscarriage!"

"Ex wife," Hermione bit out, feeling a cramp rip through her stomach.

"What?" Ginny hissed through clenched teeth, leaning over the large wooden breakfast table. "What did you just say?" her magic seethed around her, like fiery snakes writhing in the air around them.

"I said you're not his wife anymore, Ginny. You're his ex-wife." She reached her hand around discreetly to rub at her stomach.

Ginny sneered, "Not until I sign the divorce papers, I'm not. And I don't plan on signing them for a very -very -long time!" She straightened up and flicked her hair over her shoulder, "Now, give me the code for their floo network."

This time it was Hermione's turn to laugh, "Are you serious? You'd think I would do anything for you, after what you've put Harry through? After what you've done to your own children? Your own flesh and blood?!"

"They're my kids, not yours! I'll raise them as I see fit!"

"But you haven't raised any of them!" Hermione retorted shrilly, "There was even a debate as to whether James was even Harry's son! That's how much you abused Harry's trust of you! He loved you so much and now he's finally moved on, he's finally happy! So why don't you just piss off, sign the papers and then leave him the fuck alone!" Hermione moved to snatch Ginny's sleeve and drag her back over in the direction of the fireplace.

Ginny wrenched her arm free and jabbed her elbow into Hermione's face, effectively knocking the heavily pregnant woman sideways into the large wooden table.

Hermione let out a shrill howl of pain as the end of the table struck her bump, her knees giving way so that she crumpled down to the floor, her hands gripping her stomach as she started to shake violently from the shock. Cold sweat began to bead on her skin as Ginny took two hesitant steps toward her, and once she was convinced that Hermione couldn't get up, she reached down and snatched Hermione's wand that had rolled underneath the table. She jerked back up and backed away to the fireplace, watching through her curtain of red hair as blood began to bead through Hermione's dress.

She turned to the fireplace and made to close the network up. She gripped Hermione's wand and let out a shrill scream when the wand flared red in her grip, burning her hand. She dropped the wand and kicked it away, grasping her singed palm to her chest, saliva foaming in her mouth as out of the glowing tip of the wand, an ethereal glowing blue otter shot out and disappeared through the kitchen window.

Ginny felt her stomach knot as Hermione started to whimper in pain, her forehead damp with sweat. She grabbed onto Hermione's arms and dragged the pregnant witch over to the corner where she flicked her wand and bound her wrists to the stove and the drawer handle. She then snatched the hand-towel from Hermione's clenched fist, rolled it up and stuffed it into the brunette's mouth. "Now you're going to stay here and not make a sound," Ginny hissed in Hermione's face, her breath hot and wet against Hermione's tear stained cheek.

Hermione jerked her head out of Ginny's grip and looked up at her with frightened brown eyes. She was terrified of the streak of blood across the kitchen floor and the stabbing pains in her gut. She needed help, or at the very least something to dull the pain. But Ginny had her wand. She clenched her eyes shut and struggled against the cords around her wrists. They gripped her flesh and grated against her skin. She was starting to shake a little as Ginny paced around the kitchen and adjoining dining room. She needed Ron. She hoped that her patronus could reach him and bring him as soon as possible to her.

~0~

Ron was bent over his desk, a hand clenched in his red hair and his eyes growing tired and scratchy from looking over the same monotonous forms as he had been for the better part of the week. His office was stuffy and made his clothes feel itchy against his skin. He was just about to go down into the cafeteria to get a late lunch when something silvery flashed through his office door. He jerked back in his chair as the otter whirled around his head, flashing red in warning. "What the-?"

"GET HOME NOW. IN DANGER! GINNY! GET AURORS! GO!"

Ron listened to the shrillness of his wife's voice and felt his heart swell inside his chest and a lump clog his throat. How dare she?! How dare that little bitch go to his house and put Hermione and their unborn babies at such a risk! He bolted out of his chair and hurried down one of the marble hallways, his blue eyes scanning for one of his co-workers. He had just turned another corner when he ran into the very person he needed.

"Watch where you're going, Weasley!" Zabini snapped as he straightened himself up and cast a sidelong glare at his co-worker.

"Yeah sorry, whatever. Listen," Ron licked his lips, "My sister's gotten into my house somehow and my wife is in trouble. She might be in labor. I need your help!"

Zabini cocked an eyebrow, though his eyes gleamed with slight panic, "So, call St. Mungo's emergency team."

Ron shook his head, "No. My sister is there. You know the shit she's been up to. It's been in the papers for God sake! I need her arrested! She's endangered my children! Besides, you know you're the best auror around here."

Zabini reached out and gripped Ron's shoulder, "Alright, alright. I'll meet you in your office, now go and fire-call the emergency team at St. Mungo's. We'll need them."

They hurried down separate ends of the corridor. It was only after Ron had fire-called the emergency team at St. Mungo's that the door to his office opened and Zabini entered with his cloak and wand in hand, followed shortly by a young woman with a blonde bob and a cold expression. Ron had always thought she could be related to the Malfoy's. He straightened up and fixed them both with his firm stare, "Alright you all know my address, right?" They all nodded. "Good. I want us to meet in the upstairs bedroom -with a fireplace connect directly to this floo -I want to take my sister by surprise if I can."

Zabini nodded, "Alright, that'll be good. Is the bedroom the only other room that has a fireplace?"

Ron shook his head, "No, the living room has one too. Why? Where you thinking we should each take a different fireplace?"

Zabini nodded, "It was an idea. But if the one in the bedroom is the only one that is directly connect to here, that's our best bet"

Ron nodded in agreement, "Come on, let's go one at a time. Zabini, you go first."

Zabini took a handful of the powder and tossed it into the grate. The flames roared and burned bright green. He glanced over his shoulder at the others, "I'll meet you there." He stepped into the grate and repeated Ron's address, including the specific second floor fireplace they needed, and in a hungry roar, he disappeared among the flames.

~0~

"Why are you doing this?" Hermione choked once she had managed to persuade Ginny that she needed a numbing potion from the small cupboard over the sink.

Ginny scoffed before tossing the phial into the sink and walking around the end of the table. She folded her arms and leaned back, her legs crossed at the ankle. She glared down at Hermione, "Because thanks to you and your stupid cafe, I have lost all chances of getting anywhere in my life."

"Lucius knocking you up is hardly an award-worthy achievement you know," Hermione bit out through her pain.

Ginny kicked at one of Hermione's splayed legs, a wave of hot pain washing through her swollen belly. "Thanks to you I lost my child!"

Hermione wanted to roll her eyes. She would have done if there wasn't a sudden urge to push. "Oh Merlin-" she groaned out as she tried to bend over, the spasms in her stomach and legs throbbing and making her head spin.

"What now?" Ginny sneered.

Hermione looked up through her sweaty fringe and felt her bottom lip tremble, "I -I think the babies are coming!"

A/N: A nice little cliffhanger to tide you guys over!