It was interesting for Draco. She didn't act as if they were together once they had left her house. In fact, it nearly killed him that she went back to this friendly, but distant creature he was acquainted with. They were walking up the steps to his house when he heard Teddy had opened the door. The boy had run off to find his great-aunt, but Hermione led Draco to his cane before letting go.
Draco reached out and grasped her arm. "Granger, is something wrong?" he inquired softly.
Hermione made a sound of disagreement. "No, why would there be?"
"Well, for one, you are acting like last night didn't happen," he hissed, not successfully hiding his dejection in his voice.
"Oh, I didn't want Harry and Ginny to ask about anything," she grumbled and cleared her throat. "And I would prefer it if your mother doesn't find out, Draco. To be honest, I don't know how much staying power you have, and I would hate to wrangle my son into this," she finished, and he pulled his hand away from her like she was hot coals.
"You said all the things you did last night for what?" he inquired, clenching his cane.
"I do love you, so much, but until it is crucial, I would much prefer not to belt it from the rooftops, Draco. Last time we made the mistake of rushing the world into our business. This time, I would like to take my time. I have a child to worry about and if all goes well, a baby." Her voice was gentle, but he could hear the pain laced into it.
"You don't make this easy, Granger. How am I supposed to prove to you that I am here for the long haul?" He growled, and he felt her hand touch his cheek.
"Well, that's something for you to figure out, Draco. Just because we had mind-blowing sex that was influenced by our love and affection doesn't mean I am going to marry you tomorrow. Grant it, it was choice, but if you love me as you say, then prove that I am right for giving you my heart. I can't walk into this blindly," she murmured then kissed his lips gently. Hermione pulled away from the stunned Malfoy and sighed. "I am going to see what your mother is up to," she announced and his frown grew.
"I will follow momentarily, I need to collect myself," he grumbled, scrubbing his face.
She knew it was a horrible thing. The idea that everything was seal with a lovely bow and given was his own creation. Hermione loved him deeper than she had ever expected, but the pain of something as simple as his ability to lose interest had occurred to her. In fact, the doubts that he really understood the gravity of what he said to her last night seemed to rake her brain. Her confession was out; he knew she loved him. Now, she was scared beyond belief that her belly was exposed and the knife of reality was going to gut her.
Hermione had entered the dining room and took in the occupants. Regulus was sitting with Narcissa and Severus. They were gazing down at a few photo albums, and Teddy was looking at the older pictures. Regulus caught sight of her and gasped. "Ah, Hermione, come, come! I had found some of the old family albums at Grimmauld Place and wanted to show them off. You will get to see my brother when he was cuter than he was spirited."
The young woman walked around the table and glanced at the old album. There was a picture of two boys standing politely in front of their parents. She reached out and ran her fingers over the older boy and his doe-eyed expression. The only contradiction to his innocence was his thin lips. "How old were you boys?" Hermione asked as she pulled away.
"Oh, I was seven here, and Sirius was eight," Regulus told her and smirked. "He had just told my mother off, and that is why my father and mother look so wretched in this picture. I do miss him… he was so different than the rest of us. Today marks the last day I saw him alive. Thirty-three years ago today."
Hermione's brows pinched, and she patted his shoulder. "I am sorry, Regulus. I am sure if he were still here, he would have made amends with you. That was his way, especially toward the end," Hermione sighed, and Teddy made a face.
"I would have liked to have met Uncle Sirius," he pouted, making Narcissa pull him close and kiss his hair.
"He sent me a letter before his passing. He spoke of many things, but one of them was his forgiveness for me. He forgave me for the severing that took place in school between us. He also forgave me for having to follow in my parents' footsteps. The one thing that struck me was that he asked for forgiveness for leaving me alone with them. That was the remarkable difference between him and the entirety of the Black family. His loyalty wasn't about just bloodline, but family."
Hermione sighed and touched another picture of the feisty Black boy. "Yes, he was loyal. To a fault. "
Draco wandered into the room in a different outfit, and his mother smiled. "Ah, my son. You look like you are full of life."
"Yes, well, Christmas is just around the corner," he sneered and pointed at the goofy Christmas sweater with a Christmas tree on it. "Nice touch, mother. I am glad you still have your humor."
Teddy made a face. "I am not going to have to wear an ugly sweater, am I?" he inquired making Hermione scoff.
"Teddy, that isn't nice," she scolded him, and he frowned.
"But mum, it is ugly," he retorted, and Draco smirked.
"That is the point, kid. I imagine your mum is going to make you wear one of those hideous Weasley sweaters that your Gran makes every year. It's a wonder that Molly has anything else she can do other than knit with how many sweaters she has to make now," Draco sneered as he sat down.
Hermione leaned down and kissed Regulus's cheek. "Thank you for sharing your pictures. I have to get our bags out of the car before it gets too cold."
Narcissa clapped. "We are having you for a couple of days?" she asked with hopefully eyes.
Teddy nodded dramatically. "Yep! Mum says we can build gingerbread houses and make sugar biscuits like we do at home for Christmas."
"Come along, Teddy. Let's go get our things and unpack. I don't want you to throw things around your room like last time you were here," Hermione declared and they walked down the hallway.
Draco listened to her murmuring things with her son until they were out of hearing distance. The room was unnaturally quiet, and someone shifted.
"Cousin, please tell me you did not seduce our lovely friend again," Regulus sighed.
The Malfoy scrunched his face and placed his cane on the table. "And what if I did? Are you going to send me to bed without dinner, cousin?"
"I would tell you how irresponsible that is without taking care of her heart first. She isn't someone you can take to bed and not tie up the moon in a bow and hand it to her," Regulus said with a smooth and chilled tone.
Draco shook his head. "And what do you suggest, oh wise one?" He asked sardonically.
Regulus huffed and slapped something down on the table. "Must I do everything," he grumbled, and something hissed across the polished wood.
The Malfoy reached out and felt around for something. An envelope? "What is this?"
"Plane tickets for New York. Two of them. You are going to be Hermione's traveling companion in January. I know I said I would be joining like we first planned, but I fear this is a family matter over business now," Regulus declared, and Draco could hear his mother shift uncomfortably.
"Why?" Narcissa asked.
"Because it is apparent that if he can muster up the effort, he will be raising this child with her. I would rather him go with her alone. We had planned last week for him to join us in the trip and see how she felt, but evidently, she needs him more than anyone else now."
Draco grinned and tapped the tickets. "Because you know that she wants support and compassion from someone she loves. I forget how intelligent you are, Regulus."
"Well, in my own defense, this was my idea," Severus snickered.
"How long did you both know about this?" Draco asked, knowing they understood his reference.
The men chuckled together, and Regulus sighed. "Far longer than you both did."
"Regulus, Severus, this was not one of your plots, was it?" Narcissa questioned, accusation was sitting in her tone.
"Plot? Why, cousin, I would never plot," Regulus voiced with a playful tone.
"It did help that we knew of Miss Granger's interest much longer than she did. The paperwork was the easiest part of cancelling the marriage with that little Greengrass girl," Severus announced with amusement.
Draco shook his head. "Then what now? You are telling me you had this all planned, but as it stands, I don't have a clue. Going to New York alone with her won't make a difference if I cannot knock her off her feet," He growled, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, cousin. Just follow your nose," Regulus exhaled and laughed. "Consider it a Christmas gift. When you arrive, you will have my associate from New York to help take care of everything."
Narcissa snorted next to Draco. "And here I thought you lost your touch, Severus. Always secretly pushing Regulus to match make."
"It is a gift I plan on keeping, Cissa dear," Severus declared.
The footfalls of Hermione and Teddy became audible in the hallway. "Alright, we are all done unpacking. What is on the agenda for today?" Hermione inquired as a chair announced she was sitting down at the table.
"Well, we have a date with our tailor shortly. Then we are preparing for our holiday in New Zealand for New Years," Regulus announced and Hermione frowned at him.
"I thought we were headed to New York on the fourth, Regulus," she murmured with her brows still knitted.
"Oh, Draco is going to take care of it. My instructions were left with all personnel involved so it shouldn't be trouble. I thought we spoke about this already, Hermione," Regulus's eyes were sharp when he stated, and she chewed her lips.
"Oh, I must have forgotten. My apologies," she muttered, her cheeks pink.
"And then I am going to have a brother!" Teddy announced, throwing his hands over his head.
"Yes, a brother indeed," Narcissa replied with a cheery smile. "Alright, Edward, let us get ready to make some biscuits. They are not going to cook themselves."
He bounded over to Severus and Regulus, giving them hugs. "Bye Uncle Regulus, goodbye Uncle Severus," he said before bouncing off to the kitchen.
Regulus grinned and nodded at Hermione. "You have to know; your son is very sweet. I look forward to meeting my nephew this coming year," he declared before standing.
Narcissa erected herself from her chair and hugged both the men. "Goodbye, darlings. Please don't be strangers and come see me before Christmas." She told them as she kissed both their cheeks.
Regulus walked around the table first and kissed Hermione's forehead. "I will see you soon, Gryphem queen. Your royal legacy is just starting," he whispered to her and Severus patted her shoulder.
"Have a good day," he told her and tucked the albums closer. "Reggie, we must finish our gift shopping," Severus murmured as they faded down the hallway.
Narcissa sighed and smiled softly. "I love that my family was all in one room today. It was nice of him to come over on such a solemn day. Now, I am going to help Edward bake, I expect you two to come in and help," she said firmly, patting her son's shoulder.
"I will taste test, certainly, mother," Draco snickered.
"I will be in momentarily," Hermione replied quietly.
The woman disappeared with knowing in her eyes and Hermione exhaled. They were quiet as Draco ran his fingers over the plane tickets in front of him. Hermione wasn't sure how she should feel about him taking her. Part of her was excited to have someone who cares deeply for her and loves her to go… but part of her was scared at the implications of that.
"So, New York?" she asked timidly.
"Did you really think I was going to let you do this alone?" He asked, his voice was warm on the air.
"Draco-" she started but he held up a hand.
"Hermione, we may have a long way to go, as you have said, but there is one thing you aren't equating to in your doubts and tallies." He said, tilting his head at her.
"What's that?" her voice was doubtful, and she inwardly scolded herself.
"That I told you no matter what I would be there for you and your kids. Regulus is wonderful and my favorite man to get advice from… but he won't hold your hand and tell you it's going to be alright. I want to do this, for you," he declared and she bit her bottom lip.
"Okay, Draco. You promise no matter what this is about the baby and not you trying to convince me to be with you?" she asked, wringing her fingers under the table.
"It isn't every day that I get to be the hero, Granger. I would like the opportunity to stand by your side as you change your life," he sighed and rubbed his stubble. "Even if it means that you change your mind about me, I still will be there."
"Okay, thank you," she said with a smile.
"I do love you, Hermione. That means there aren't any conditions to this. I only want you to be happy."
Hermione stood up and walked next to him still sitting. "Thank you," she said before kissing his cheek. "I love you, Draco. You really are extraordinary. Now, let's go help your mother and my son make cookies."
He stood up and kissed her lips. "Alright, Granger, but only because you insist."
Author Notes: Not to worry my Potterheads... things have a way of working out, right? I really wanted to express the underline traits of their differences but at the same time show that regardless of plotting and plans, doubts and fears... there is a consistent theme; that is what they give each other. Thank you so much for all your reviews and reading through this long love story. We have a bit more until it is all wrapped up in a pretty bow, but now we are going to see it all starting to come together... I hope you are waiting with baited breath!