AN- No I don't own the characters
.
.
Chapter 11
.
.:. 5 Months after Aidan's birth .:.
Draco could feel the heat of the sunrays hitting his face as his mind started to become aware of what was around him in his sleepy state. His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance as the blast of light hit his eyes. Groaning, he lifted up the blanket to cover his face, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep. Merlin, what time was it anyway?
Peeking over the top of the blanket, he looked at the clock. In his opinion, this was probably the only genius Muggle invention. Draco rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes as he stared at the time.
What... it was only eight?
Dropping his head heavily back onto the pillow, Draco let out a few curses. Great, only one more day until he had to officially (and publicly) announce his and Astoria's upcoming marriage. He was actually supposed to get married to that annoying witch months ago, but for some reason Astoria wanted to postpone the date.
Not that he was complaining, though.
It was his mother that was actually upset. She was very impatient about their impending marriage and kept asking them about the date. Oh well, too bad. He didn't understand why his mother wanted to go through with the marriage anyway, now that she knew that he impregnated the Muggle-born.
KNOCK KNOCK
Draco huffed, bringing the blanket up to cover his face again. "What do you want?"
"Draco, are you awake?" his mother asked softly behind the door.
"I don't know mother, am I?" Draco asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he turned on his side. "Actually, no, I'm still in such a deep sleep, so come back when I wake up, will you?"
"Open the door, Draco," Narcissa tutted. "Why must you always lock the door?"
Draco wanted to reply with a crude comment, but he knew his mother wouldn't appreciate it. "Just... what do you need?"
"Draco. Open the door."
Groaning in defeat, Draco threw the pillow away from his body and pushed himself off the bed. He rubbed his eyes again before he finally let Narcissa inside, who wasted no time and rushed inside his bedroom.
"Good morning to you, too," Draco grumbled, throwing himself back on top of his comfy cushions.
"Draco," Narcissa tutted, folding her arms as she glared at her son, "do you know what the date is today?"
"Nope," he shrugged, already regretting his decision to let her in. Couldn't he just have a decent sleep for once? He had been so stressed out recently; he didn't need any more shit at home.
"Not only is it the wedding announcement day, but today you have a job interview for that position in the Improper Use of Magic Office," Narcissa sighed. "Draco, you really need this to go well. You need a new job, especially after losing your old one."
"Mother, I don't a new job," Draco complained, giving up sleep already. "Why do I need a job if we've still got money and –"
"That's not the point, Draco!" Narcissa snapped. "And you know that."
Draco opened his mouth to retort but thought against it. Of course. No matter what, she still wanted the public to think that the Malfoys had truly changed.
What bollocks.
.
.
Hermione patted the pillows near Aidan and watched as he struggled to sit up. She kept her arms near him as he rolled to his side and then onto his stomach.
"Uh oh!" she laughed, a half-shocked expression on her face. "You almost did it!"
Aidan looked up and screamed – or was that a laugh? - as he continued to try to sit up by himself. Hermione watched him with a satisfied smile. Merlin, had it already been 5 months? During those months, Aidan had been showing some progression which not only thrilled her, but made her think he was going to be a bright young child just like she had been.
A Floo alert from the fireplace caught her attention.
"Hey, Hermione!" Ron greeted his friend, dusting off the Floo powder from his hair as he made way for Harry's arrival.
"Ron, you're making a mess!" Hermione scolded, but she grinned back as she was enveloped in a hug. She noticed a bag in Harry's hand and nodded towards it. "What's that you got there?"
"We've got you both something," Harry said, after greeting Hermione with a hug too, "a surprise, actually."
He looked around the room and raised an eyebrow at the sound of Aidan babbling to himself as he rolled over to his side. Chuckling, Harry walked over to him and squatted down.
"Hello there, Aidan," he grinned, putting the bag down the floor, "guess what Aunt Ginny and her mum gave you? D'you wanna see?"
Aidan looked up at Harry and squealed, his hands extending towards him as his gaze flickered from the bag and then back to Harry again.
"I'm guessing that's a yes," Ron laughed, sitting beside Harry.
"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked, sitting behind Aidan and pulling him against her to support his back.
"Oh, she's at home," Harry sighed, "she hasn't been feeling well this morning. She says hello though and plans to see you later at work."
Hermione frowned. "Work? Harry, I haven't gone to work in months. Not since Aidan was born, really."
"That's another surprise," Ron grinned, "Shacklebolt says that you've been owling him about doing something for work –"
"Well, you can't expect me to stay home and not do anything to support Aidan," Hermione snapped, annoyed with the idea.
"Exactly," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Which is why Shacklebolt is letting you come back –"
"Really?" Hermione interrupted excitingly. "I can come back to work?" Suddenly, her face fell. "But what about Aidan?"
"Let him finish, Hermione," Harry said, taking his glasses out of Aidan's grip.
"I know your real job is in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Ron explained, "but since you asked for a smaller position for now, Shacklebolt wants you to work temporarily for the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes."
"Doing what though?" Hermione frowned.
"Well, everything," Ron shrugged. "All the Offices in that department know you've got the brains, so if they need anything, need someone to talk to the Muggles, or even if they need someone who's great at memory spells, they can come to you."
"It's small," Harry agreed, "but it's better than having no job, right? Kingsley will still be paying you the same amount because of your knowledge."
"Which is unfair if you ask me." Ron muttered under his breath teasingly.
Well… she did ask for a smaller position. And the Ministry did tend to call her whenever they needed help, which was almost every other day... So it wasn't really a bad idea, right?
"Temporarily?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed, "and then once you're comfortable enough, or when Aidan is old enough, you can definitely transfer back to Magical Law Enforcement."
"Okay," she nodded, gathering Aidan in her arms as he struggled to crawl away, "when can I see him?"
"Later, if you want," Ron said, "we can watch Aidan for you."
Hermione beamed at him. "Thank you, guys. I really appreciate that."
The tip of Ron's ears reddened, and Harry only mumbled a quick, "You're welcome."
"So, what did you get for Aidan?" Hermione asked, tightening her arms around the squirming boy.
"Oh, check this out," Harry grinned, pulling out a Muggle toy for babies. He tapped it with his wand and watched as the stuffed animals danced and sang.
Aidan stared at the animals and leant towards it. He squealed, trying to reach for the elephant, but stopped when he noticed his mother's arms around him. He turned his head to look at Hermione and made a few incoherent sounds - probably telling her to let him go - before turning back to the toy.
"He loves it," Ron grinned. "Dad had these Muggle things for us when we were small and charmed it to entertain us."
"Thank you, Ron," Hermione laughed, loosening her hold and watching as Aidan reached forward and grabbed the elephant by its trunk.
"S'alright," Ron mumbled, looking at the ground sheepishly.
"Anyway," Harry said, rolling his eyes in good nature, "you should get going. Shacklebolt will be at the office until 10, so best go now."
"Okay," Hermione agreed right away. Merlin, it had been months since she had stepped foot at the workplace. It wasn't like in school where 'months away' were only ever three. Ever since she had found out she was pregnant, Kingsley hadn't wanted her to work, fearing for her health. Now, after all those long months, she could go back and feel independent all over again.
.
.
"Good news or bad news?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked Draco, staring up at him from behind his spectacles.
Draco blinked, confused. "Pardon?"
"That wasn't one of the choices, Mr. Malfoy," Shacklebolt sighed. "Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?"
What an arse. "Er... bad news."
''Unfortunately, you did not get the position at the Improper use of Magic Office." Shacklebolt didn't appear at all sympathetic as he delivered the message.
"I'm guessing that's good news for you?" Draco asked coldly, folding his arms.
"Yes," Shacklebolt grinned, "although that was not the good news I was going to give you. The good news is that I'm going to let you work for me."
"For you?"
"Yes. As my assistant."
Draco stared at the man in front of him. An assistant? "What kind of assistant?"
Kingsley explained. "Well, you'll just do what I need you to do. It's simple really. Since I've been very busy recently, I could use a bit of help around the office. If I need you to Apparate somewhere to deliver something, or make my guests some refreshments, or –"
"What kind of position is that?" Draco snapped. "I'm not going to be anyone's fucking slave!"
"Not my slave, my personal assistant. But, since you don't want it, I guess you'll have to find someone out there who would be willing to hire you with that thing tattooed on your arm," Shacklebolt shrugged, "I'm sure Knockturn Alley would."
Draco's mouth closed shut.
The fucker had a point, but that didn't mean he had to agree. What would mother say? Him, doing what the Minister wanted, as a personal slave? What would the public think?
"Fine," Draco growled angrily, "when do I start?"
Kingsley beamed, "You can start by letting Miss Granger inside. I believe she's waiting for me."
Wait, what?
Draco felt himself freeze. What? Granger? No. He thought he had got rid of her already. He couldn't help but notice the way his heart felt: as if it was beating too slowly and the atmosphere around him was becoming chillier. That was what Granger did to him, every time.
A small knock interrupted his thoughts and he watched as the witch walked inside Kingsley's office, coming face to face with him.
Oh fuck.
.
.
Hermione's excitement and smile vanished at the sight of Draco. He looked equally as shocked about seeing her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked harshly, glancing between him and Kingsley.
Draco smirked, folding his arms. "I happen to work for the new Minister of Magic. What are you doing here, Muggle?"
Hermione glared at him. "I'm going to work for him too! Although, now that I know you're here, I think I'll pass."
"Calm down, Miss Granger," Shacklebolt sighed, "take a seat so I can give you the details for your new job position."
"Temporary job position," Hermione corrected him. She liked her real job and she planned to keep it.
"Right," he continued, "now, ignore Mr. Malfoy please, so we can get down to business."
"First off, I want him gone," Hermione snapped, giving Draco a dirty look.
"Oh please," Draco scoffed, sitting down away from her, "as if I want to be in the same room as you."
"Sod off, prick," Hermione mumbled under her breath.
"What about my prick?" Draco smirked tauntingly. "Do you hear what she's saying, Sir?"
Before Hermione did something she would regret, Kingsley cleared his throat sharply.
"Mr. Malfoy, you are free to go for now," he snapped. "I believe you had an announcement for those journalists in front of the building?"
"They're here already?" Draco asked, clearly annoyed. It was only the afternoon and already they wanted full coverage of this wedding plan.
"Yes. I'll owl you if I need anything," Kingsley said, using his wand to flick the door open.
Draco shrugged and got up before throwing Hermione an infuriating look. Once he left, she whirled around to glare at the Minister.
"Why is he here?" Hermione asked with a groan. "Why did you even hire him?"
"Miss Granger, I know that you and Mr. Malfoy had your differences," Kingsley sighed, leaning back from his chair and giving her 'the look,' "but you both need to put that aside and be professional now, as Ministry employees, do you understand? We don't need school rivalry to get between you both."
If only you knew what happened between us. "Yes, sir. You're absolutely right."
Kingsley's face lit up, causing the mood to lighten. But, no matter how excited she was about this job, that annoying, horrible, and gut wrenching thought that she could run into Malfoy anytime soon almost made her change plans.
.
.
"Are you expecting a grand wedding, Miss Greengrass?"
Flash!
Astoria nervously laughed as she blinked profusely from the sudden lights of the cameras. "Er... Well, I don't mind a small one."
"But a Malfoy always expects the best," Draco said smoothly at the crowd of writers, "so it will be another grand wedding, as you put it."
Flash! Flash!
"Miss Greengrass, how does it feel to be engaged to a former Death Eater?"
Draco's expression remained blank, but Astoria could see the sudden stiffening of his body and his sharp intake of breath from the corner of her eye.
Sighing, she took one of Draco's clenched hands gently. "I am very happy to be engaged to a family who has held grace and pride. This family has gone through so much more downs than ups these past few years. The fact that the Malfoys are still standing here today tells me how strong they are as a family; one who sticks together no matter what, and I, for one, am proud to become part of them."
Flash! Flash! Flash!
"Over here, Miss Greengrass and Mr. Malfoy!"
"Look at the camera, you two!"
Flash!
To her shock, the hand that she was holding squeezed back gently. She glanced at his direction and was taken aback when Draco's face slightly turned towards her with his lips turned upward before it flashed back into a line.
Even though that smile was small and quick, she could still have read the thankfulness behind it. And that small gesture meant a lot to her.
.
.
"Such a faker." Ron scoffed, reading the Daily Prophet. "I doubt Astoria would be thankful having to be involved with that family, quite honestly. Who does she think she's kidding?"
"I don't know, Ron." Hermione shrugged, adjusting her hold on Aidan in a more comfortable position."She may not be thankful, but she seemed genuine when describing how strong the Malfoys' are as a family. That's good, right?"
"Still think the Malfoys' are full of asses." Ron said, tossing the paper to the nearby trash and crossing his arms.
"Oh look there's Ginny and Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, causing Aidan to squirm with excitement at the sight of their friends.
Harry grinned, holding his arms out and laughed as Aidan started to bend forward and lean towards him. "Hello little one, did you miss your Uncle Harry?"
Aidan's hands clenched and unclenched as he kept stretching his arms towards him. When Harry made no move to hold him, Aidan frowned and made a sound before pouting.
"Oh stop teasing him will you?" Ginny said, slapping Harry's shoulder playfully.
Harry just laughed and wrapped his arms around the baby, giving Hermione the chance to ease the ache growing in her arms.
"So how was the meeting with Kingsley?" Ginny asked, after greeting Hermione with a hug.
Hermione beamed with excitement. "Brilliant! Kingsley said there are numerous cases out there where Muggles would see witches or wizards performing magic, and would need me to just sort them out for them to extreme and least extreme."
"That's very simple." Ron complained, "Way easier than what Harry and I have to do-
"That's because this job is only temporarily. If I haven't been begging for a job, I bet you anything he wouldn't have even offered." Hermione explained, watching with a grin as Aidan tried to grab Harry's glasses from his face.
"Hey look who it is!"
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione turned around to see Theodore Nott jogging towards them. Oh Merlin, here comes the joker. During these past few months, Theo had managed to be in civil terms with Harry, Ron, and Ginny but that doesn't mean there isn't any awkward auras around them. Ron would sometimes talk to the former Slytherin in a way as if they were still back in school, Ginny would be indifferent, but at least Harry was trying.
It's probably because Theo was becoming a good friend to Hermione.
She grinned, giving him a quick hug. Ever since Theo found her months ago, he had become quite a gentlemen. He wasn't at all like he was in school. Then again, back when they were in Hogwarts, Theo was very quiet and never really spoke to them.
"Oh Merlin, not you again." Ron groaned, rolling his eyes. "Every time we're with Hermione, you're with her. Can't you just leave us in peace?"
Theo smirked, "It's not my fault Granger enjoys my company."
Ron wanted to retort something back, but the look on Hermione's face made him feel as if he was a child being scolded.
"What brings you here, Theo?" Hermione asked kindly, "Not stalking me, are you?"
Theo smirked but shook his head, "As much as that idea excites me, I'm actually here with Draco. You remember him, don't you?"
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione exchanged looks. Duh. Of course they remember him. How can they not?
"If you're here with him, then where is he?" Ginny asked, trying to ease the tension she thinks Theo was blind to see.
"He's over there." Theo laughed, turning around to nod towards a person who was gazing at what appeared to be a shop for cloaks and robes. "As you can see, he's quite busy at the moment."
"Right." Hermione muttered, glancing towards her friends, "Anyway, we have to go now."
There's no way she wants Draco to see her.
Theo's face fell immediately, "Oh. Why?"
"Busy stuff, mate." Harry said sympathetically, catching Hermione's discomfort and giving her Aidan.
The baby squealed out loud as he felt his mother's arms wrapping around him. He placed his tiny hands on Hermione's face and grinned, letting a few saliva dripping from his mouth.
"Dirty boy." Theo laughed, lifting his wand to magic is the baby's face clean.
Aidan turned to Theo and stared. Yawning but keeping his eye on the former Slytherin, he let his head fall against the crook of Hermione's neck.
"By the way, I didn't know you're working with Draco," Theo suddenly said, "Also, you haven't told me who Aidan's father is yet."
"What the hell?" Ron snapped suddenly, looking back and forth between Hermione and Theo. Clearly this was news to him. "You're working with Draco? What is he talking about?"
"You're working with Draco?" Harry asked also, frowning with confusion. He stepped closer to Hermione and placed a hand on her shoulder in a brotherly gesture.
She opened her mouth but then closed it, shaking her head.
"What, I'm only asking who the father is." Theo said conversationally, raising an eyebrow. "Simple question, really."
What the hell is he doing?
"That's because it's none of your business!" Ginny snapped, before Hermione could reply back.
"I thought we were all friends now." Theo gasped in mock shock, bringing his hand into his chest to feign hurt. He glanced at Aidan and sighed, "Curious. He has blond hair and grey eyes, Granger."
But before Hermione could make up an excuse, a voice that made her heart sink lower than her stomach interrupted her.
"Theo, what the hell mate? I've been looking all over for you!"
.
.
Theo gave Hermione a look she couldn't quite decipher before he turned around to face his friend, "Sorry Draco. Just saw some old friends and decided to say hello again."
Draco frowned and glanced at the 'friends'.
Alright, by 'friends' he thought Theo meant Pansy, Blaise, Goyle, or even Flint. But what the hell? Not the bloody Gryffindors he loved to hate. Damn, he could feel the anger radiating from Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
What's their problem?
But all of that was nothing compared to the look Hermione was giving him now. Her glare was oozing with hate he didn't even know she was capable of holding. He had to secretly admit to himself, it kind of shocked him a bit. But there's no way he's going to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much it affected him.
Just why the fuck was Theo talking to them, anyway?
"What are you lot doing here?" Draco sneered, coming to stand beside Theo and giving them a look of contempt.
However, it was the small thing in Hermione's arms that answered him.
Now it was just a tiny cry.
Completely small.
But Merlin, it's going to do a number on Draco right now.
The sound of a gasp was out of his lips before he could stop it. Nor was the immediate feeling he felt at the sight in front of him.
It was a feeling he was completely unfamiliar with and it made him want to gather it all up and chuck it out of his system. Yes, it was that uncomfortable and foreign of a feeling.
Is that his heart slowing down again? And why is he suddenly feeling so cold that goosebumps is forming on the surface of his skin?
But what confused him the most was that this was the first time he and Aidan laid eyes on each other properly, those striking grey eyes that are so much like his own was staring back at him with curiosity and wonder...
And he couldn't help but feel the same way.
.
.
THANK YOU TO MAGICIS-MIGHT FROM TUMBLR FOR BETA-ING THIS CHAPTER! YOU'RE AWESOME!
REVIEWS = UPDATES!