AN- No I don't own the characters
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Chapter 13
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Ginny grabbed a handful of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans from Harry and stuffed it in her mouth, her eyes locked on number five as he threw the quaffle into the highest loop.
"Yes!" she, Harry, and Ron yelled together.
Ginny laughed happily, clapping her hands. Her eyes drifted away from the Quidditch match and landed on her friend, her excitement deflating as she watched Hermione check her muggle watch for the third time that hour.
"Hermione," she said in warning, "I will not hesitate to hex that watch off your wrist if you're not enjoying yourself. You're not even trying, for Merlin's sake."
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Gin." She tucked her hand in her lap and sighed. "All right, fine. Besides, I have an hour left so I'm sure Aidan's doing fine."
"That's right." Ginny nodded in encouragement. "Nott would have definitely let you know if something was up, right?"
"Of course," Hermione agreed, feeling foolish for worrying, "you're right."
Ginny grinned, taking Hermione's hand and dragging her up. "Now, shut up and enjoy the Quidditch match. Our team is winning! George owes me five Galleons!"
Hermione burst out laughing, letting herself go for the first time in months.
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"Thank you so much, Narcissa," Theo sighed, gently handing her a sleeping Aidan. "I'll be quick, and come back before Hermione gets home."
Narcissa nodded. "Not to worry, dear. Hermione and I are on good terms now."
Theo grinned. "I know, that's why I asked Draco if you could watch him for a few minutes. Anyway, I should be going!"
With that, he apparated, leaving Narcissa alone with Aidan. She looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms and smiled, tightening the blanket around him.
"Where's Theo?"
Narcissa turned to see a confused-looking Draco walking towards her. His eyes shifted to the baby in his mother's hands and immediately his lips curled into a smirk. He extended his arms to reach for Aidan, but Narcissa dodged his reach and walked away from him.
"He left a few minutes ago, Draco," Narcissa told him. "Although he has asked me to look after Aidan, I don't think Miss Granger would approve if I just hand over Aidan, just like that."
Draco scoffed, taking a seat on the sofa, Narcissa following. "Mother, as the baby's father, don't you think I have the right –"
"For Merlin's sake, Draco," Narcissa snapped, carefully placing Aidan on the sofa. "You can't even call your own son by his own name. His name is Aidan, not just the baby."
Draco scowled. "Mother, please."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry dear, but you have to learn how to respect Hermione and Aidan first before she and I can learn to trust you with Aidan."
He watched as she folded the blankets securely around Aidan's body, causing the baby to squirm. Aidan's eyes slowly opened and blinked a few times as he scanned around him. His eyes landed on Narcissa and then on Draco. Aidan blinked again, wriggled and began to cry.
"Oh, it's okay, sweetheart," Narcissa cooed, lifting Aidan up and rocking him gently. "It's all right."
Aidan kept crying. He struggled against his grandmother's arms, making Narcissa adjust her hold on him. Aidan angled his body towards Draco, staring at him. He lifted his tiny arms and stretched towards him, his face red and wet.
Draco's eyes widened. Wait... does that mean the baby wants me to hold him?
Draco and Aidan continued staring at each other. Narcissa couldn't help but notice the exchange between the two boys and decided to try something.
"Do you still want to hold him?" she asked, scooting closer to her son.
Aidan quieted down, his arms still reaching for Draco. When he sensed Draco's hesitation, he began to cry again, only this time harder.
However, Draco didn't move. Narcissa could see the confliction going on behind her son's eyes. She could tell he was confused about his feelings. She knew he was trying to get to know his son, but he also that he didn't know how to do so without having to become the hot headed, short tempered man that he was.
"Draco?" Narcissa asked softly.
"He's crying." Draco frowned, shaking his head. "I don't know if I can –"
"Just try. You said you wanted to get to know him, now here's your first chance."
He blinked and glanced at his mother before looking back at Aidan, clearing his throat and nodding. Merlin, this is it. This is the first time I actually get to hold the baby. My own son, Aidan.
"All right," he murmured, lifting his hand up.
Narcissa gently placed Aidan in Draco's lap, and watched as he curled his hands protectively around Aidan. To both of their surprise, Aidan stopped crying. He looked up at his father's face and yawned, placing his head on Draco's chest.
Narcissa smiled inwardly. She relaxed on her seat and sighed, watching Draco holding the baby with care. She could tell that he was trying. That was always a good first step.
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"Draco, you've been holding Aidan for nearly fifteen minutes!" Narcissa laughed, reaching for the baby. "Let me hold him now, dear. He needs to be fed."
"No," Draco said, one of his hands softly caressing the baby's cheek. "It's okay, mother. Let me do it, please?"
Narcissa sighed. "All right. Let me go and get the baby food from the bag Theo gave me. I'll be quick, be careful with him."
Draco rolled his eyes as she left. He glanced down at the baby in his arms and couldn't help but smile. Aidan had been playing with Draco's tie the whole time, letting out a few utterances, and had even giggled.
"What's so funny?" he asked, but even he was chuckling.
"La la mah da," Aidan drooled, pulling sharply on Draco's tie.
"Ouch!" he winced, laughing. "Careful there, baby. That hurts you know."
However, Aidan continued to pull, not caring about how uncomfortable he was making the older blonde.
Draco swallowed hard as he tried to assess what was going on around him. He tilted his head to one side as he watched Aidan. He could feel a mixture of emotions running through him, yet he couldn't identify what they were.
"Strange," Draco murmured under his breath.
Aidan looked up at the sound of his father's voice and he too mumbled something, his finger reaching up to touch Draco's lips, pinching them slightly.
Draco gently nipped Aidan's fingers and laughed when the baby let out a short giggle. "You are such a weird little boy."
Aidan drooled.
"And nasty," Draco laughed, using his sleeves to wipe the wetness from Aidan's face. He shook his head and continued rocking him. Without thinking, he brought one of Aidan's hands to his lips and kissed it.
He didn't know what came over him when he did it. It was impulsive and it felt... just right. He couldn't help but watch the baby and feel... something.
What was this? What was he feeling? Why did he have the urge to continue cradling this baby and protect him from harm? Before, Draco only cared about himself, but now? It was as if he wanted nothing more than to make sure this baby was safe and... happy.
It was unsettling, this feeling. Completely foreign to him.
But at the same time?
This was something he never felt before.
Blissful.
Content.
Peaceful.
Powerful.
"Aidan," Draco murmured, tightening his arms around him. Merlin, that felt right.
Aidan placed his hand on Draco's cheek before yawning and dropping his head on the crook of his father's. He gently rocked Aidan back and forth, letting the motion send him to sleep. He was glad that Astoria was visiting her friends; otherwise he wouldn't have the chance to be with Aidan like this. She would be the one to do it, seeing how much she adores the little baby. Since she was absent, he could finally get to know Aidan without anyone interrupting him.
He gave his son another gentle peck before he placed his cheek on top of Aidan's head and sighed. What is happening to me?
While his hold tightened around Aidan in a protective manner, he failed to notice his own mother and his friend hidden behind the doors, watching them with a knowing smile on their faces.
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When Hermione apparated inside her house, she sensed something was different. She dropped her bag in the armchair and walked over to the kitchen, gasping at the sight of Theo sitting on the chair and sleeping with his head on the table.
"Theo," she said softly, gently shaking him awake. "Theo, wake up!"
He mumbled a few incoherent words before comically sitting up, suddenly awake. "Merlin, what – Hermione!"
"Hey," Hermione snickered, "where's Aidan?"
Theo's eyes widened. "Aidan?"
She frowned at his confusion. "Yes. Aidan. My son. My son, who I asked you to watch over... where is he?"
He blinked a couple times before flashing a grin. "Oh, of course! Aidan! Well Hermione, you see –"
"Where is he?" she snapped, knowing something was up. Before he could answer, she rushed upstairs to Aidan's nursery and flung the door open. When she flipped the light switch, she gasped at the empty cradle.
"THEODORE FUCKING NOTT!"
Downstairs, the man in trouble winced.
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Draco sat on the sofa next to his mother, his left arm wrapped around Aidan and his right hand tightly grasped Aidan's.
"He looks just like you, you know," Narcissa said softly, watching as Draco caressed Aidan's hand with his thumb.
"Except that he has Granger's nose," Draco complained, but then he tapped the tip of it with a smirk.
"And thank Merlin that he doesn't have the Malfoy infamous pointed chin," Narcissa teased, wrapping her arm around Draco, who scowled.
"Mother," Draco sighed, his head resting on his mother's shoulder but his eyes trained on Aidan.
Narcissa frowned, noticing her son's sudden change.
"What is it, dear?" she asked. That behaviour was so unlike him. What was going through his head?
Draco opened his mouth to say something but closed it. He sighed, shaking his head, and continued to gaze at Aidan for a few more minutes before swallowing hard. "Mother… I don't want Gra-"
A sudden crack of apparition interrupted him, causing the both of them to look up.
"Get out of my way, Nott!" a shrill voice yelled.
"Hermione! Wait, listen to me!"
Draco noticed his mother stiffening.
Out of nowhere, Hermione burst through the door, into the living room, her face red with anger and her wand clutched tightly in her hand. When she spotted Draco holding Aidan, she gasped.
"Give him to me," she whispered.
"Hermione, listen," Theo said gently, "please –"
"Shut up," she spat. How dare he? I trusted him!
"Miss Granger," Narcissa said gently, getting up and cautiously walking towards her as if she was afraid she would spontaneously combust. "Please... can we talk about this?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Please, tell Draco to give Aidan back to me."
A soft cry interrupted them. Hermione looked behind Narcissa and her eyes widen at the sight of Draco's arms wrapping around her son's body, murmuring something in his ear and gently cradling him.
"What's going on?" Hermione said in the calmest voice she could muster.
What was happening? Why was Draco holding Aidan like that? Why wasn't Aidan crying hysterically? Why was Narcissa letting him near Aidan? And why the hell did Theo bring him here?
She felt a hand gently taking her arm and saw Narcissa nodding towards a room on the right.
She shook her head. "No, I'm not going to leave him alone with Aidan." She looked back at Aidan and Draco and was shocked to see Draco holding him protectively.
What the hell? Did he think that she would harm Aidan?
"Hermione," Theo pleaded, "let us explain."
Draco looked up from the sleepy Aidan and stared right at Hermione. He swallowed hard and started to walk towards her, Narcissa and Theo watching in anticipation. He ignored them, his eyes focusing only on the mother of his child. Once he stopped in front of her, he expected her to slap him and he braced, but she remained quiet and stared back.
Sighing, he glanced back down at Aidan and… Hermione blinked at the action Draco had just done in front of her.
Did... Did he just kiss Aidan softly on the forehead? Hermione was stunned. This was so unlike him, what was going on? Finally, Draco looked up at her and nodded, leaning towards her so she could take the baby from his arms.
Still angry but now more confused, she gently took Aidan in her arms and immediately engulfed him in a protective hug. She sighed with relief, kissing the snuffling baby on the head. "Oh, Aidan."
"Mother and I have already fed him the milk you gave Theo," Draco said flatly. He shoved his hand inside his pockets and shrugged. "He was only awake for about ten minutes before falling asleep again."
Hermione didn't know how to feel. Why was he being civil to her?
Not wanting to be rude, she nodded. "Thank you."
She couldn't help but notice the way Draco's eyes kept lingering on Aidan, as if he couldn't bear to not look at him.
Why was he looking at Aidan like that?
Draco blinked, and his expression was wiped off his face, being replaced with the sneer that he reserved only for Hermione.
"Whatever." He gave her another glare before leaving them alone.
What the hell was going on? Hermione was so confused. She didn't know what to think.
"Hermione," Theo started, nudging her arm, "I know you're probably extremely pissed off right now –"
"You have no idea."
"But, please, let us explain everything."
"Where's Astoria?" Hermione asked, noticing her absence.
"Oh, she's with Blaise," Narcissa said nonchalantly. "She needed to pick out new bridesmaid's dresses at the shop he works in."
"Right," Hermione mumbled. It was so awkward, she just wanted to leave.
"Please, Hermione," Narcissa said softly, "just hear us out before you leave."
Hermione looked at Narcissa and Theo for a few moments, contemplating whether she should sit down and listen to whatever excuse they had, or just leave.
"Fine," she huffed, walking towards the sofa, Aidan still in her arms, "tell me."
Theo sighed. "First of all, it was my idea. When you told me that you needed someone to watch over Aidan, I asked Narcissa if she wanted to be part of my plan."
"What plan?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"I..." Theo hesitated before sighing. "All right, I already knew that Draco was the father of Aidan."
"How did you know?" she asked furiously, looking at Narcissa and giving her a questioning look.
"No," Theo laughed nervously, noticing her look, "no, Hermione, I knew because it was so obvious that day we were at Diagon Alley. I mean, come on, Aidan looks so much like Draco!"
"Malfoy isn't the only man in the world with blonde hair and grey eyes, you know!" Hermione snapped, causing Aidan to squirm in his sleep.
"Plus, I saw the way Draco was looking at Aidan that time," Theo said. "It was strange. So, I put two and two together."
"Okay, but what does this have to do with your so-called plan?"
"Well, I knew that Draco wanted to get to know Aidan, because Narcissa told me." He shot Narcissa a glance. "So, I told her that this would be a great chance for Draco to do so! See, my plan was to have him realise that maybe having Aidan isn't so bad as he thinks, and that he would probably learn to... to maybe... well, you know –"
"To love him, Hermione," Narcissa interrupted, cutting off Theo's stuttering. "For Draco to learn to love Aidan."
Hermione stared at them in silence before bursting into laughter. After a while, she quieted down, seeing Aidan shifting in his sleep. "You're joking. Really, you two. Draco Malfoy? Love? Rubbish."
"I beg to differ," Narcissa said, feeling insulted. "I mean, my son may not be the most expressive –"
"You've no idea what he did to me and Aidan before, do you?" Hermione snapped back, feeling her anger rise again.
"She's right, though," Theo said, not wanting another fight to arise. "While Draco was watching Aidan, Narcissa and I watched over him."
"You should have seen him," Narcissa sighed. "He was completely different –"
"You should have seen Aidan too!" Theo added. "He was crying until Draco held him. It was really great –"
"Draco immediately took to the father role, it even surprised me." Narcissa smiled, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"I've never seen him act like that before," Theo agreed enthusiastically. "It was as if he'd seen the light –"
Hermione rolled her eyes, laughing. "What? 'Seen the light!' Please."
"But it's true!" Narcissa pleaded, squeezing her shoulder. "Hermione, all I'm asking is please, please give him another chance."
''No," Hermione said, moving out of Narcissa's grip. "No. I gave him a chance and he didn't want to take it –"
"Yes, he's a bloody moron!" Theo snapped. "We all were, back when we were at Hogwarts, but I've changed, haven't I?"
"That doesn't mean he can change too!" Hermione argued. "There's no way. There's too much bad blood between us."
"How about we compromise?" Narcissa offered. "That way, you both win."
Hermione sighed. "Fine. What do you suggest?"
"What if you bring Aidan here again and watch Draco with him?" Narcissa suggested. "You can watch him, stay close to him, and make sure he's doing everything right. At the same time, Draco would be happy that you're giving him a chance."
"Everyone deserves another chance, Hermione," Theo said softly.
"Not everyone," Hermione mumbled under her breath.
Theo ignored her and continued. "You should have seen him. He looked..." His facial expression changed comically as he tried to find the right word. "He looked happy, almost."
Hermione looked down at Aidan and was surprised to see he had awakened, staying silent as if he was listening to their conversation. She smiled down at him and grinned when Aidan grabbed a few of her curls, playing with them on his fingers.
Sighing, she looked up and reluctantly nodded. "I'll think about it, yeah?"
Narcissa beamed. "Thank you, Hermione. Please feel free to write to me. Thank you."
Hermione smiled with pursed lips. "I said I'll think about it, I'm not saying I agree just yet."
''Well, knowing you, that usually means yes." Theo grinned, pinching Aidan's hand, causing the baby to let out an annoyed gurgle.
"I'm still mad at you," Hermione muttered, slapping Theo's hand away. She took Aidan's palm and kissed it. "I mean, how could you? I trusted you to take care of Aidan, and what do you do? You take him to see the one person I wanted him to stay away from."
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Theo sighed. "I was just tired of seeing Draco like –"
"You're a really good friend to him, Theo," Hermione interrupted, looking up and smiling. "I hope he knows that. But I'm still angry."
"He really isn't all that bad." He shrugged. "You should get to know him properly."
I already know what kind of guy he is, Hermione thought to herself, before nodding. "Okay." After a long pause, she spoke again. "Well I should go. I need to change Aidan and get ready for bed.''
"Thank you again for thinking about it, Hermione," Narcissa repeated. "Really. Thanks."
"I didn't say yes yet." Hermione said again, apparating away before Narcissa could reply.
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"Draco?" Narcissia called, knocking softly on his door.
The door opened immediately, revealing a tired-looking Draco.
"Are they gone?" he asked, leaning against the door frame. He kept an expressionless look on his face, but his mother knew better.
"I talked her into thinking about bringing Aidan back," she said hopefully. "You might get to see him again."
Draco blinked before scoffing. "Right. As if I care if I ever see that half blood again."
Narcissa refrained from rolling her eyes. "Do cut the act, Draco. You may act like that towards her but I know you. I know what you're really thinking and I know what you felt when you held him."
"And how would you know?" Draco snapped stubbornly, crossing his arms.
"Because," Narcissa shrugged, "as a new mother, I felt the same way when I first held you."
Draco continued to stare at her before finally, finally, the cruel blank look on his face crumpled into the emotions he really was feeling. His eyes dropped to the floor, and his shoulders sagged.
Narcissa immediately wrapped her arms her son. "Draco, don't worry. She's a great woman; she knows what the right thing to do is."
"Oh, mother," Draco shook his head, wrapping his arms around her in comfort, "she hates me."
"She's not the type of person to carry hate," Narcissa said with a sigh. "Just wait."
You've no idea what I've done to her, Draco thought miserably. "I've done things to her, mother. Bad things."
"She'll forgive you."
Draco wanted to shout "No! No because I was horrible to her and her so." Instead, he sighed. "I hope so."
"She will," Narcissa said, rolling her eyes at Draco for being dramatic. He was always such a dramatic person. "By the way, what was it that you were going to say?"
"What do you mean?" Draco asked, leaning away from her to get a better view of her face.
"Before Hermione came here. You wanted to tell me something?"
"Oh," Draco mumbled, "I just... I was just going to say... I don't want Granger to take Aidan away from me."
Narcissa watched at Draco disentangled himself from her embrace. He walked over to his bed and sat on it.
"Whatever you've done to her, you have to take it upon yourself to do something about it," she sighed, taking hold of the door handle. "I got her to think about letting you see Aidan again. Now it's up to you to make her see how much you love that boy."
Draco looked up in surprise, but she had already closed the door, leaving him alone in his room.
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THANKS TO SIRIUSLYHOLLY FOR BEING AN AWESOME BETA!
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