Hermione was grumbling as she walked into the door after a horrible work day. She was nauseous most of it and the other half she was just almost too tired to want to write reports. Placing her coat down she was walking toward the stairs and Teddy walked over from the living room.

"Mione, do you need help? I can get you tea," he offered and she smiled at him.

"No thank you, little love, I am just tired." She sighed and the boy helped her into the kitchen.

"Come and have some dinner, Mione," he declared and she thought it was so cute that he wanted to take care of her.

Remus had told him a week ago when she moved in that she was having a baby and had to grow it. Since then the boy had been very delicate and attentive to her. He was excited to be a big brother and she couldn't blame him. She was terrified. She actually was debating not having children before this whole thing and even in the dream, she was hesitant until she was brought back from the dead.

Teddy helped her to a chair while Remus grabbed a plate from the counter and warmed it. "Hermione, love, please stop working so hard?" He asked her gently as she held back a wave of nausea.

Remus set the plate down and a cup of light tea. He found that the same thing that cured his waves of stomach unevenness after the full moon was a good choice for her. He would give her ginger tea and she would be able to stomach her food. "Thank you, darling," she murmured and sipped her tea; she was going to ignore his question about work.

Teddy smiled over at her, "I am so happy to see you, Mione. Dad and Uncle Sirius have been talking about a holiday soon. Hopefully we can go before the baby is here." He voiced and Hermione sighed with a smile.

"That would be nice, wouldn't it?" she asked and he nodded.

"Very nice. Maybe we can do something fun." Teddy mused and the witch took his hand.

"I love you, Teddy," she whispered and he grinned brightly at her; Remus watched her with a tug on his heartstrings.

"I love you too, Mione," the boy spoke gently and squeezed her hand before letting it go.

Sirius came in and kissed Hermione's hair, "my wonderful witch, it is lovely to see you." He declared and produced a wrapped gift and set it on the table.

"Sirius, how many times do I need to tell you; I don't need a present every day," Hermione grumbled and he leaned down with a grin.

"I think you will like this one," he replied and walked over to Remus.

"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve," Teddy told her with a nod and Hermione smiled with a nod.

"That is correct. Your Uncle and Daddy are very, very silly wizards. I do not need to be lavished with gifts." Hermione replied and Teddy grinned.

"Dad told me you deserve all the galleons in Gringotts," Teddy affirmed and Hermione blushed. "Uncle Sirius said he would double down and get the gold from New York as well," Teddy continued and Hermione shook her head while chewing.

The fireplace went off and Remus let out a growl. "Granger!" Draco's voice entered the room and Hermione groaned.

"I specifically told you not to come over, Draco," she hollered and he entered the room.

He was frowning and slapped down the letter in front of her, "these types of things you don't tell someone over a letter, Granger. Be honest with me, is this true?" He snapped and Teddy's hair turned red.

"It is not nice to yell at Hermione!" The boy cried and Draco looked startled.

"I am sorry, my apologies," Draco sat down next to her as she continued to eat.

"Maybe you can wait to talk about this later?" Remus offered with a stern gaze and sat down next to his son.

Sirius had his nostrils flared and Draco realized he was making them uncomfortable. "Tell me, you said Ginny gave you that charming necklace and it was laced with a fertility charm?" He asked politely and Hermione nodded.

"Mione didn't know that she was going to grow me a brother, but it is alright now, she is happy," Teddy said with a nod and Remus cleared his throat.

"Son, why don't you head up and take a shower before bed?" He asked the child who pouted.

"But dad," the boy started.

"Hermione will come up and read you a story in a while. Go get ready, we are going to the Burrow to see Gran tomorrow." Remus declared softly and Teddy nodded.

He got up and kissed Hermione's cheek, "I love you, Mione."

She kissed his forehead and ran a hand over his cheek, "I love you, my Teddy Bear. Pick out a book for us to read, my love." She murmured and he smiled, his hair turned pink.

"Alright, good night Uncle Sirius," Teddy said as he hugged the animagus.

Sirius ducked down and hugged the boy while glaring at Draco. "I love you, kid. See you tomorrow."

The child traveled up to his room and Remus listened with a tilted head until he knew his son was out of listening range. "Listen, Draco, she gave you the courtesy of letting you know, but it isn't life-changing for you. No matter the blood of the child, we are going to raise it as our own." Remus voiced gently and Sirius nodded as he stood.

"No matter, it is our," he paused and made a circle gesture around Remus, him and Hermione, "child."

He frowned at Hermione and she chewed her lip, "that just won't do for you, hm?" She asked before he could even respond.

"No! If it is my blood I want to participate." He declared and Hermione sighed.

"The healers told me I had to wait another two months to find out. I will not tolerate fighting. Period, gentlemen. I will take this baby and raise it on my own if you all are going to argue. That is my first rule." She spat and sipped her ginger tea.

Draco folded his arms, "two months? I am supposed to be getting married in six. What happens if it is my child?" He asked and Hermione giggled.

"Then I happen to have a child with your genetics and you can get married. Just because it is your child doesn't mean you need to raise it." Hermione noted and Draco frowned.

"No, Hermione, that isn't going to happen," Draco muttered and Hermione shrugged.

"I am sorry, Draco, but you really have no choice to an extent. If it happens to be your child you will have a chance to come visit and I will not take away your surname, but it is my baby." She declared and the blond blushed.

Sirius gave a nod as he sat down and scooped her under his arm, "We are going to raise it here," the animagus murmured and Draco sighed heavily.

"I won't be able to live it down if my family finds out that I am not raising my child, Hermione," Draco admitted and ran a hand through his hair.

Hermione sighed and shook her head, "your father would try to kill me, Draco. Your mother would detest the idea of you even mentioning it."

Remus scowled and shook his head, "Draco, I don't mind you, most days, but the unfortunate course of events does not need to change your life. We do not mind whose genes are attached to hers... this is our baby. That is our child in her womb. She doesn't need to stress."

Draco exhaled and shook his head, "Listen, I am willing to work with you, but you need to know something. Astoria has a curse on her family. It is a blood curse that will eventually make her weak and possibly bedridden. She is the first in five generations to suffer the malady. The chances of children are slim. If this a Malfoy, it needs to be known for my family's house. I will not chance Astoria's health." When he finished Hermione gasped and covered her mouth.

"Draco, I am so sorry," Hermione whispered and he nodded.

"That's why I came here. I have a stake in this. I haven't told my parents about her curse on purpose. I love her and want to be with her, but children aren't an option as of yet. I have been doing research and looking for possible answers."

Sirius rubbed his face, "well, bugger," he grumbled and Remus nodded.

"Bugger, indeed."

Hermione nodded, "alright, Draco. That is fair then. I am not getting married to you and I am not moving into Malfoy Manor, but if it is your child, I will do my best to make sure it is exposed as such." She compromised and Draco looked relieved.

He took her hand, "thank you," he murmured and she nodded.

"We should be helping you with this curse," Remus muttered and Sirius pursed his lips.

"Oh, alright!" Sirius growled and Hermione giggled. "Under the condition that she stops working. I don't want her at work away from her family. She needs to be home."

Hermione blushed and huffed, "I need to make decent savings."

Sirius laughed and shook his head, "I have more money than our great grandchildren's children will need."

Hermione folded her arms, "Fine, I will finish the next two weeks and go on extended leave. I will take care of myself and I do not need to be babied. I am pregnant, not ill."

Remus exhaled and shook her head, "Hermione, please stop being so stubborn. There's more to this than us now; there's a baby."

Hermione was about to respond when the young Lupin came wandering in the room. "Mione, can you come read to me now?" He asked gently and she gave him a smile and nod.

"Of course, my Teddy Bear," Hermione murmured, "I will be back," she told the men and followed the young boy up the stairs.

Remus and Sirius turned to the Malfoy, "this doesn't change anything. She is still ours and that is our baby." Remus growled dangerously and Draco sneered.

"Whether you like it or not, you both are stuck with me for two months. Mind as well give her something to do while we all have to play nice." He jeered at them with a smirk.

Sirius stood and leaned on the table, "you better watch your tone, cousin."

Draco waved him off, "as of right now, we are all at her whim, Black. Let's play nice, hm?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow and Sirius threw the cup on the table at the wall.

"Don't you cross the line with me, boy!" Sirius snapped and Remus rubbed the animagus's shoulder.

"Keep calm, it is only two months. We both know that is one of ours. He just needs proof," Remus murmured and glared at the blond.

Draco gave them a nod, "this might even be a little fun. For all, we know you did not get back all of your... swagger when you came back from the veil, cousin. It might be nice to have an intelligent offspring from such a remarkable woman..."

Both the marauders flinched at the possibility that the Malfoy might indeed be stuck in their lives forever... if the child was his. He could easily be right about the Veil... That was more than cringe-worthy for them and sobered the evening as they waited for her to come back down.