Read and review!

"Did you see my really big big cake Healer Mione? It was green and it had a broomstick on top! It was so cool!" Scorpius rattled on while looking up at Hermione, clutching her ivory hand in one of her chubby toddler ones. Hermione laughed and nodded. "It was a very cool cake."

"Yeah!" Hermione laughed some more at Scorpius' enthusiasm. She would give anything to have her innocence back and forget all the dark things she'd seen in the past. And now as she gazed at the little boy she couldn't help but thank all her lucky stars that Scorpius was untainted by the war. He was proof that at least something good and pure came out of it.

"I wanted it much much big but father said it was already big big. Like really big for me, because I'm a big boy now and I'm four." Scorpius continued on, raising his other hand to show Hermione three of his small fingers to emphasize his age.

"No Dragon, that's a three. You add another one and that would be…..four." Hermione explained while prying upright another one of Scorpius' fingers to correct him.

"Ohhhhhh, My Healer Mione is so intolgent." Scorpius exclaimed, Tugging Hermione down for a hug. Hermione laughed again, She couldn't seem to stop laughing today. It was such a cathartic release, being with this little boy and maybe even being with Draco. She wasn't really sure what it was she was feeling right then and there, but all she knew was that she never wanted it to end.

Draco watched from the manor's high window as his son and Hermione made their way from the massive gardens. He tightened his hold on the glass of fire whiskey he was holding as Hermione gathered his little Scorpius in her arms, carrying him up the remaining path to the manor. He turned away from the window's glass as Hermione and Scorpius disappeared from view. He slowly made his way to one of the ornate tables scattered around the huge sitting room, making a beeline for the crystal vial containing fire whiskey. With shaking hands, he filled his glass to the brim. Damn Granger for affecting him and his son like this. He downed the whole glass without a second thought, liking the way it fired up his throat. Hoping that the sting would be able to provide him answers as to what he was feeling.

"Father!" Scorpius' joy filled voice snapped him out of his muddled thoughts, pushing them to the back of his mind for later.

"Scorpius." He greeted with a smile, opening up his arms, inviting him for a hug just as Scorpius came barreling towards him at full speed.

"oompf" Draco swallowed a groan as he met the impact of Scorpius' hug.

"Looks like my little boy's really growing up." He exclaimed with a laugh as he scooped up his son with one hand and bounced him up and down. Hermione's heart unexpectedly did a somersault. She's never seen this side of Malfoy before, ever. And seeing it all at once during these past weeks had been surprising and yet so normal.

Well, he is a father now Hermione. He's changed. Everyone had.

Hermione watched as Scorpius rattled on about everything they did, giving his father a play by play of all the games and activities he might've missed. "….then the big ball rolled down the hill and we run run run and run so we catch it!" Scorpius finally ended his story with extravagant hand gestures, making sure that he got his father's attention.

"That's nice, love. Maybe tomorrow we can go play again huh? But for now I think we better get you to bed."

"No no no!" Scorpius protested as he squiggled out of Draco's arms and ran to Hermione.

"I don't want to go to bed Healer Mione, I want to play more!" he insisted, looking at Hermione with wide silver eyes. Draco rubbed his temple, thinking how this was about to turn into an all out famous Malfoy tantrum. Complete with screaming and kicking and probably a sleep spell when he finally got tired and Scorpius' tantrums got out of hand. And it just had to happen in front of Granger. Great. Just great.

"Scorpius, sweetie we have to get you to bed." Hermione's sweet voice caught Draco's attention as he watched Hermione kneel in front of Scorpius.

"Buuuuuuuut Healer Mione, I want to play more with you. " Scorpius wheedled, using his cute Malfoy charm full force. Nice call son, way to go! Let's see her wiggle out of that! Draco thought proudly.

"I would love to play some more with you, Dragon, but you really need to rest now. You've had such a long day with all your friends and presents."

Hermione's eyes suddenly lit up, "Speaking of presents! I still haven't given you your present , Dragon. Do you want to see what I got you?"

"Yeah!" Scorpius exclaimed gleefully.

"How about you go and get ready for bed and after you're all clean we can go open your present, What do you think?" Scorpius paused, seemingly deciding unto what would be a wise decision.

"Would you tuck me in and read me stories Healer Mione?"

"Of course I will Dragon." Hermione answered with a smile, a faltering smile. But a smile none the less. Well, it looks like you'll be spending the night at Malfoy Manor, Hermione. Her subconscious self whispered evilly.

That's not true! Hermione tried to reason out. She would just tuck him into bed and give him his present and maybe read him some stories. That's barely going to run to an hour right? She tried to comfort herself. Oh merlin what had she gotten herself into now?

Hermione stared in awe at the vast bathroom in front of her. Marble pristine walls and counters invaded her line of sight. She could barely register the big bath tub sitting daintily with carvings of snakes and flowers crawling through the sides and the huge collection of sweet smelling soaps and potions all arranged in crystal vials and bottles at the very top of a huge antique looking cabinet. The stained glass cupboards with moving images of mermaids and various aquatic animals surround a huge metal vanity set fit for a movie star. And of course the giant mirror occupying about a third of the whole wall, reflecting the bathroom's grandeur. And this was just Scorpius' private bathroom. She could only imagine what Astoria's might have looked like. Probably something out of those muggle magazines she loved looking at, maybe even better.

Scorpius was busy brushing his teeth with his Drazzy the Dragon singing toothbrush, having fun poking the magical bubbles it created as it sang some innocent song about being clean. Hermione couldn't help but smile, Is this what Draco looked like when he was a toddler? Singing along to dragons and popping bubbles? The mental picture was just so adorable she couldn't help but giggle.

"Done, Healer Mione!" Hermione hopped off the counter she was sitting on and helped Scorpius down from the small stool he used to reach the tall marble lavatory. She helped him pick out his favorite pajama top and bottoms, and even assisted him in putting it on. All the while they were laughing and giggling and tickling each other as Draco watched from a corner, fighting a losing battle of trying to hide his smile as the two continued laughing.

This was something he could get used to. He thought to himself.

A family. He could get used to having a family.

He watched as Hermione finally wrestled Scorpius unto his bed. Tucking him in the safety of his blankets and methodically sweeping her hands through the wrinkled sheets. Granger always the clean freak, some things never really change, he thought fondly. After Scorpius' bed was finally free of all microscopic dust, Hermione finally took a seat next to Scorpius on the bed; gently cradling a rectangular package wrapped in green decorative paper.

Draco almost laughed out loud before catching himself, It's probably a book, he thought. It was so predictably such a Granger thing to do, that he was ready to laugh his ass off as soon as Scorpius was done ripping the paper off.

"Give me! Give me!" Scorpius was literally bouncing with excitement. Draco watched as Hermione bit her lower lip and gingerly gave the gift to Scorpius. All the while looking as nervous as a rat caught in a trap.

After Scorpius was done with the wrapper's massacre, A green rectangular box with an image of a dragon on top was seen from all the paper bits and ribbon pieces. "Open it Dragon." Hermione whispered, her voice shaking. Scorpius' silver eyes widened as he opened the box, making way to a huge projection of pictures and videos on the nearest blank wall. There were magical pictures of Scorpius making sundaes at the Healers' lounge with Hermione. Then there was this one time at the pizza parlor with Hermione. And another of them coloring a big book of drawings on Hermione's kitchen counter. With Hermione of course.

"Uh…..well you always say that you miss me quite a lot, Dragon. So I thought maybe you wouldn't miss me so much if I gave you uhh..…this. And every time you have a favorite memory of anything, you just have to think of it really hard and it would come to the screen like thing…and uh…its uh…" Hermione's nervous babbling was cut short as Scorpius jumped up and hugged her.

"I love it Healer Mione! I love you so so much!" Hermione smiled as she hugged her little Dragon tightly.

"I'm glad you do, Dragon. And I love you so so much as well." She laughed, feeling light headed. Hermione watched as Draco walked towards them quietly. Slowly, almost afraid to jostle them, Draco put his arms around the both of them, hugging them both close to his chest. Hermione stilled, liking his warmth and embrace around her and yet still torn. This is Malfoy. You shouldn't be enjoying his touch. You shouldn't be even touching him. Her mind was screaming red alert and she could almost hear the sirens going off. She was about to open her mouth to say something when Draco gently nuzzled her hair with his face. And just like that every doubt in Hermione's mind fell away.

I am really sorry about not updating for so long and I hope you guys still like my story. I also want to thank everyone who reviewed and those who are thinking of giving a review I appreciate each and every one of you and your comments are very valuable to me. If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to do a review. Love you guys so much!

Love lots,

TheMalfoys