Chapter 16 : Draco + Small Children

They were sitting at the table eating pancakes that Charles made.
"So when are Jackie and Max getting here?" Hermione asked as she picked up another pancake.

"They'll be here soon." Her mum said with a smile.

"Who's Jackie and Max?" Draco asked in confusion.

Hermione's eyes lit up as she realised that Draco didn't know, "They're our neighbours. Well, our neighbours' kids. Mr and Mrs Smith always come over on Christmas Eve and we spend the day together, they bring their kids. Jackie is 6 going on 7 next week and Max is 9. They're adorable. You'll love them!"

Draco couldn't help but awkwardly laugh, "Yeah, I'm sure."

Draco and Hermione stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes; Draco washing, and Hermione drying and putting them away.

"So, i…" Draco started, "Never mind." He said as he handed her another dish to dry.

"What is it?" She asked with a small curious smile.

"It's just that… No it doesn't matter." He scrunched his face up in worry as he thought to himself. Hermione looked at him with her own worry as she placed the plate and tea-towel down on the bench and hugged him from the side, resting her head on his arm, placing a soft kiss on it. She was still wearing his jumper. "Tell me." She hummed as she ran her fingers in circles on his other arm.

Draco sighed a little and turned and engulfed her in his arms, resting his chin on her head, "Please don't laugh."

"Promise."

"I'm scared…"

"About?"

"I've never… I've never been around… children."

Hermione bit her bottom lip to stop her little giggle, she pulled back with a small cute smile on her face, "Is that it? You don't know how to act around little kids?"

"I know, I know, it's stupid."

"I think it's adorable, the fact you're worried about it is even cuter."

Draco and Hermione were sitting one the couch, Hermione's legs slung over Draco's as his fingers drew lazy lines and swirls over her knees. Hermione's parents were in the kitchen getting some snacks together as the doorbell rung.

"They're here…" Hermione mocked as she got up to answer the door.

Draco sat there, he could here the greetings and the little high pitched voices as they squealed Hermione's name. Suddenly Hermione said "They're in the kitchen, I'll join you guys in a second."

Her hands slid down his arms from behind, her chin resting on his shoulder, "Come meet them."

They walked into the kitchen hand-in-hand.

"Oh Hermione, who might this handsome young man be?" Mrs Smith asked with intrigue. Mr and Mrs Smith are a middle-aged couple, both had black hair with a few touches of grey. Both of them had a happy and cheerful attitude, however, Mr Smith was a tall skinny man whereas Mrs smith was a short curvy woman.

"This is my Boyfriend, Draco."

Draco extended his hand to them, "Draco Malfoy. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh so charming, I'm Sheril and this is my Husband, Sam." Said as she shook his hand enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you Draco." Mr Smith's shake was firm and strong but his smile and tone was soft and warm.

"Oh Draco, this is Jackie." Sheril said as she gestured to the young girl sitting at the bench, long straight black hair, dressed in jeans and a red flowery jumper, "and Max." A boy, curly black hair, dressed in jeans and a dark green jumper.

"Hi." They said absentmindedly from the counter as the watched Louisa move a fresh batch of cookies to a plate.

Two sets of beady eyes stared at Draco curiously as they four of them sat in a circle on the lounge room floor.

"I…" Draco started, trying to make some conversation, "Max, I like the colour of you jumper. It's my favorite."

"Thanks, I don't actually like green, I wanted a red one. Red is the best colour."

"Of course it is." Draco mumbled under his breath so only Hermione could hear him. Her lips twitched into a smile.

"So. You're Hermione's boyfriend?" Jackie asked curiously.

"Yes I am." Draco answered cautiously as he started to sip his cup of hot chocolate that Hermione's mother put together for him.

"Have you kissed?"

Draco choked on his drink, luckily not spitting it everywhere. Hermione had to hold back her laugh as she pat him on the back. "I – uh – we -" He stuttered.

"Yes we have." Hermione answered calmly as she took his hand in hers as a silent way of supporting him.

Both of the kids scrunched their face up in disgust.

"So what do you like to do?" Draco asked, trying to change the topic.

Max shrugged, "stuff."

"I like to ride horses." Jackie piped in.

"Really?" Draco asked curiously.

"Yeah, our grandpa has a farm. When we visit I get to ride his horses, I love it." She blushed shyly.

"I ride horses, or at least I used to."

"Really?!" Jackie beamed up at him in awe.
"Yeah. I had this one horse, it was my favourite. She was completely white aside from a black stripe right down the center of its face." Draco demonstrated as he ran his finger from Jackie's forehead to the tip of her nose causing her to let out a small giggle.

Hermione watched in awe as he talked to Jackie about horses, she had no idea about any of it.

"She was gorgeous and so calm –"
"It was a girl?" Jackie asked.

"Yeah, her name was Alice."

From Alice in Wonderland, his favourite book. Hermione thought.

"I got her when I was six years old. At that point I had only ridden training ponies but as soon as I saw her. I knew she was meant to be my horse."

"Do you still have her?"

Draco's happy face suddenly saddened. "No. Not any more."

"What happened?" Hermione suddenly piped in.

"That's a story for another day." He answered sorrowfully.

"What about motorbikes? Can you ride a motorbike?" Max cut in on their conversation.

Draco's lips twitched upwards, "I wish. My uncle had this gorgeous bike. It was cherry red with black lightning. I always wanted to learn but never got the chance."

While everyone was sitting at the table eating, Jackie tugged on Draco's sleeve.

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?" She whispered to him.
"Sure." He whispered back.

"How do you know if a boy likes you?"

Draco was dumbstruck by the question.

"I… uh… I guess… Well, speaking as a boy. We either act really mean to you or we act like idiots. Half the time we do both."

"Oh…" Jackie went quiet for a moment before a big smile broke out on her face, "Thank you."

"Bye Jackie, Bye Max." Hermione said as she hugged the both goodbye.

"Bye guys." Draco awkwardly waved to them.

"Bye Draco." The answered in unison. As they were about to head out the door Jackie quickly turned around and sprinted to Draco, hugging him around the waist. He was shocked at first before he knelt down and hugged her back, "Thank you and Bye Draco." She whispered to him, "Oh, and I think Hermione really likes you."

"Well, I really like her." Draco smiled down at the girls, "Bye Jackie."

"They're sweet." Hermione said as she slipped her arm around Draco's waist. "I think Jackie liked you."

"She's a good kid. They're both good kids."

Draco and Hermione were sitting on her bed playing scrabble when Hermione looked up at him, "Draco?"
"Hmm?"

"What happened to Alice? Your horse?" She asked curiously but cautiously.

Draco's whole body tensed, "It… what does it matter?"

"I was just wondering."

He let out an exhausted sigh, "I disobeyed my father and instead of taking it out physically on me he slaughtered her."

Hermione let out gasp of shock, "Oh, Draco, I'm so sor-"

"Please don't. It's in the past. It doesn't matter… I'm going to go to bed." He rushed before scrambling to his feet and walking out of the room.

Hermione quickly jumped up and stopped him, looking up at him, searching for some answer but found none. So she smiled softly up at him before gently kissing him, "Goodnight Draco."

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