Hermione had been teaching at Hogwarts now for 2 months, it was mid-March and the twins were now 8 months old and able to crawl and stand while holding onto furniture. Hermione was so proud of her babies, but she couldn't believe how fast they were growing. It was the weekend and the students were going to Hogsmeade, so Hermione decided to take the babies down to the village as well. She got the twins bundled in their coats and put blankets over them in the stroller, as it was still chilly out. She met Ginny and Luna in the entrance hall and they cooed at the babies as they left the castle.

"So where should we go first?" Ginny asked.

"I wouldn't mind going to the bookstore", Hermione said. The two laughed at Hermione.

"Of course you would want to go there", Ginny laughed.

"Oh shush. Not for me, I want to see if they have children's books, thank you very much", Hermione told them.

"Oh come on, if you see a book you want, you'll get it", Ginny said. Hermione stayed silent. "I knew it", Ginny laughed. "So we'll go there first and then The Three Broomsticks for a drink?"

"Sounds good", Hermione smiled.

They walked around the bookstore for a while and Hermione found a few children's books that she bought and once they were done that, they headed to The Broomsticks. Hermione went to find a table as Ginny and Luna went to get there drinks, Ginny ordering hers. She put the stroller beside an empty table and sat down. She didn't notice her she was sitting near until Ginny came back over and a look of panic took over her face.

"What?" Hermione whispered. Ginny quickly sat down with their drinks.

"Don't look now, but Malfoy is sitting at the table behind you", She whispered.

"The first yet who called me a mudblood in class?" Hermione asked, Ginny shook her head and it dawned on Hermione. "Not Dra-" She started as she turned her head, and sure enough, Draco was sitting there but hadn't noticed her yet. She quickly turned her head as he got up.

"Just keep your head down", Ginny whispered to her and Hermione nodded. Hermione was still hurt at how he reacted when she told him about the twins and she hadn't heard a word from him since. It had been 5 months.

She watched the back of Draco as he walked to the front counter. She kept her head low and talked with the others. Draco turned and was on his way back to his table when he faltered.

Draco's POV

I met up with my kid brother in Hogsmeade for a visit as it had been a while since I saw him. I left my table to go order us another couple drinks. I waited for about 10 minutes. After I got our drinks I was walking back to my table when I saw a woman with bushy brown hair, there was no mistaking it. It was Hermione Granger, sitting there with Ginny Weasley and some others.

Regular POV

Hermione knew when Draco stopped, that he recognized her. He didn't say anything, just stared at her. Hermione heard the unmistakeable voice of Damian Malfoy,

"Draco, what're you doing?" He asked.

"Uh, nothing", he said and continued on his way. Draco had never told his brother about Hermione. He had been away at boarding school when Draco brought Hermione to the Manor that one Christmas.

"That's the horrible teacher I told you about", Hermione heard Damian whisper.

"The one you called a mudblood in class?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. Then she took 50 points from Slytherin and gave me detention", he sneered.

"Well Damian, you did kind of deserve it. That's no way to speak to anyone, especially a teacher", Hermione was shocked at Draco defending her.

"I'll speak to whoever I want, however I want", Damian snapped. "And look, she has two babies, she must be a whore too", he whispered, but Hermione heard him and couldn't believe an 11 year old was talking like that, especially about a teacher. She pretended to ignore it, but Ginny and Luna knew all too well that it hurt Hermione. She started tear up.

"Damian Abraxas Malfoy! You do not talk like that about anyone!", Draco yelled at him in a whisper as to not alert the whole pub.

"I already told you, I'll talk about whoever I want, however I want", he said.

"You will not talk about Hermione like that", Draco scolded him.

"What's the big deal?" Damian snapped, getting angry that his brother was defending Hermione.

"Because…" Draco was unsure of what to say next. He decided he should come clean about his feelings, since he knew Hermione could hear them.

"Because why?" Damian asked, getting impatient.

"Because I love her", Draco said. Hermione's eyes were as big as saucers, as were Ginny and Luna's.

"You what!?" He yelled, not caring about keeping it down.

"I said, I love her, I have for the past couple years. And for you information little brother, she is not a whore, those are my babies", Draco whispered after telling everyone to shove off and mind there own business.

"You… Wait, what?" Damian gasped.

"You heard me", Draco said, getting up and walking over to Hermione. He looked into the stroller at his two children who he had neglected for the first 8 months of there lives. He noticed the boy looked just like him and the girl looked just like Hermione. She stayed seated and just looked at him, tears threatening to fall.

"I don't want your pity Malfoy. You made you decision. I haven't heard from you for over 5 months now!" Hermione said angrily as the tears fell.

"I know. But please hear me out. Can we talk privately?" He asked.

"Fine, you have five minutes. Ginny, can you watch them please?" Ginny nodded. They went outside to find a quiet area to talk.

"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me, and Merlin knows I deserve. But I just wanted to tell you that I have regretted it, every single day. Since I left you in October, I wanted to make things right, but I knew you wouldn't want to see me. I know I should've still tried, I don't know what I was thinking. Please Hermione, I love you. Always have, always will. I really do want to be in my children's lives, I don't want to neglect them anymore and I would appreciate it if you could give me a chance to prove it to you", He ranted. Hermione just sat there, listening, with silent tears falling.

"I love you too Draco. But I don't know if I can ever forgive you for this. You don't know the hell I've been through with all of this. You escaped all the late night feedings, diaper changes and now you come around?" She said calmly.

"I know Hermione, I do. I'm not asking you to forgive me right now, I'm asking for the chance to prove to you that I want to make things right. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I do want to watch my children grow up and be there for them", he told her.

"I don't know if I can just trust your word again. How do I know you won't get frustrated and just leave again?" Hermione asked.

"I promise you, I won't do that. You just have to try and trust me on this", he told her.

"You'd have to talk to Dumbledore about visitation. Because I am not giving up my teaching position and there is no way in hell, my children are living with someone else", she told him.

"I understand that. I will talk to him", Draco said. "Thank you Hermione", he smiled, getting closer and leaning in for a hug. She stepped back but he grabbed her arms and pulled her into a hug and wrapped his arms tight around her. After a minute or so, she hugged him back. "I miss that", he said pulling away.

"Me too", she said, a small smile playing at her lips. "So do you wanna come officially meet your children?" Hermione asked.

"I'd really love that", He smiled. They went back into the pub and Draco's brother was giving them nasty looks so Draco told him to leave if he didn't like. And leave, he did.

"Draco, this is Jacey Dakota Granger and James Draco Granger", she said, picking up the babies and handing him Jacey.

"You named him after me? Even after me being such a big git?"

"Well they were named before the incident in October. But I named him after you because I wanted him to have a part of you with him, in case this never happened", Hermione explained.

"And I guess James is after Harry?" He asked.

"Yes. They were born early and on his birthday", Hermione told him.

"Where did Jacey Dakota come from?"

"I always loved those names as a kid and always said I'd name my first daughter that", she said. He nodded his understanding.