6 January, Friday, 2345, GMT
Draco rested his head on his right forearm as he sat next to Hermione's hospital bed. He had been in the room for the past four hours since finishing dinner downstairs in the Great Hall. He shut his eyes resting them as he held Hermione's left hand in his. It had been a long two weeks since his father brought Hermione to Hogwarts.
o-o-o
6 January, Friday, 1945, GMT
Draco, Lucius, and Narcissa Malfoy had joined the Hogwarts staff at the staff table for dinner nearly forty-five minutes ago. The elder Pure-bloods sat graciously eating the pot roast and mashed potato dinner. Drew had eaten an early dinner up in the hospital wing and had taken a nap.
o-o-o
The normally unmoved older wizard was brought to tears when the little brown haired child crawled into his lap the morning after he had brought the two Grangers to Hogwarts. The little girl snuggled against her grandfather's chest and went back to sleep. Mr. Malfoy looked at his wife for a moment. She smiled and nodded. He held the girl tighter.
Drew went home to Malfoy Manor with the two older Malfoys the day after Christmas. Mr. Malfoy watched the child marvel at the large tree in the center of the expansive living room in the Manor under which were countless numbers of wrapped gifts, most of them addressed to the child. Drew sat quietly in Mr. Malfoy's lap as he helped her open one of the gifts, a small stuffed teddy bear. The little child hugged the wizard for a long time.
He had spent the next two weeks getting to know the grey-eyed youngster; touring the expansive interior of Malfoy Manor with his wife and granddaughter. The child's favorite room seemed to be the large library; Lucius smiled to himself, like mother like daughter.
The three made their daily visit to the small Hospital Wing room every evening. Draco was incredibly surprised at how "unlike his father" the older Malfoy wizard was to the little girl.
They had spent all day yesterday in Hermione's room in a small impromptu celebration of Drew's first birthday. Harry, Ginny and their children, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Longbottom, along with Hagrid, Madame Pomfrey, Mediwizard Goyle and his wife and kids, the very pregnant Ministry inspector Pansy Zabini and her Obliviator husband Blaise were also there to celebrate the important first birthday.
Drew lay next to Hermione as the last of the guests finally left. Draco watched the child smile politely at all of the guests as she accepted all their gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy smiled to themselves as well. Draco nodded at the two as Narcissa gently pulled Drew into her arms. The older Malfoys left for Malfoy Manor at a quarter to midnight.
o-o-o
6 January, Friday, 1950, GMT
The Great Hall was empty of students and staff. The only remaining people were the Malfoys. Mrs. Malfoy looked at her son.
"Are you alright, Draco?" Narcissa asked, patting her son on the back.
"Hermione wanted to make it to Drew's first birthday," he said, his breath hitched in his chest.
Narcissa took his chin in her hand. He looked into her face. Narcissa smiled at him, "Hermione did make it to Drew's birthday."
Draco laughed in spite of himself. "Come on," Mr. Malfoy said standing up. "Let's go back upstairs."
Draco took a breath as they entered the little room. Before heading down for dinner, the three had pushed the two beds together. He walked quickly to Hermione's bed.
"Oh, Drew," Draco said as he pulled Drew into his arms. "How did you do that?"
The infant hardly stirred as Draco picked her up. The three adults found the brown haired girl tucked under the brunette witch's chin.
"I think we will take her home for the night," Mr. Malfoy said as Mrs. Malfoy accepted the child into her arms. Mrs. Malfoy noticed the child felt a little warm. She pulled her in closer to her chest. Draco nodded at them. Mrs. Malfoy squeezed her son's hand before the new grandparents left the room.
o-o-o
6 January, Friday, 2350 GMT
Draco felt his hand being squeezed. He woke up, startled. "Lumos," said quickly waving his wand.
He watched her eyes flutter, blinking at the bright light. Draco gulped, not trusting his eyes. "Hermione?" he said, warily.
"Where are we, Draco?" the Muggle-born witch asked as she looked around the room.
"We're at Hogwarts, hon," he said smiling at her as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Drew," Hermione said, as she blinked.
"Mum and Dad took her home," Draco said. Hermione's lower lip trembled. "Dad seems to be attached to Drew."
Hermione laughed. Draco finally joined in. "How long have I been out?"
Draco took in a breath. He stroked her hair. "Two weeks," he said.
Hermione began to cry. Draco hugged her. "Everything is going to be alright."
"I missed it, didn't I?" she said, in between sobs.
Draco kissed her on the mouth. He looked down at her, smiling. "Not so," he said, "We had a small gathering in here yesterday.
"You made it through, Hermione," he said, squeezing her hand. She nodded at him.
"We made it through," she said, smiling at him. He nodded back at her.
o-o-o
Both Ginny and Madame Pomfrey checked the former Gryffindor as they heard the voices from the small private room. They both shook their heads in amazement at how the Muggle-born witch was again able to fight the odds.
"You are amazing, you know that young lady," the veteran mediwitch said.
"You know me, Madame Pomfrey, I like to keep the infirmary staff on their toes," the young mother quipped as the whole room laughed.
"So am I gonna live?" Hermione asked, half-jokingly.
"I think you'll be celebrating a whole lot of Drew's birthdays, Hermione," Madame Pomfrey reassured her as she took several blood samples.
o-o-o
7 January, Saturday, 1500, GMT
Hermione sat up in her hospital bed, welcoming all of her visitors the Saturday after coming out of her coma. Just like Drew had done on her birthday, she was grateful to see each one of her guests. Dr. Masterson, Dr. Whitney and Dr. Mago had paid a visit as well, checking on their favorite patient.
The most anxiety Hermione had felt all day was when Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy brought Drew to visit. Mrs. Malfoy placed Drew in the Muggle-born mother's arms.
At one point, Draco and Mrs. Malfoy had left the room, leaving the sleeping infant and the older Malfoy wizard in the room with Hermione. Hermione held Drew in her arms, trying to avert her eye contact with the platinum blonde Pure-blood.
Mr. Malfoy took a seat on the couch blowing out a breath. He cleared his throat. Hermione looked up. Mr. Malfoy sat forward clasping his hands together.
"I'm glad you're alright, Hermione," Lucius Malfoy said, sincerely. Hermione took in a breath as he said her name. He paused for a long moment. "I would like to apologize for my actions that evening; they were uncalled for."
"Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said, gulping. "I know I would never be your first choice for Draco. I just …"
"Hermione," Mr. Malfoy said standing up and walking to her bedside. He squeezed her hand as tears flowed down her cheeks, "I was wrong about you. Draco loves you. I had no right to say those things I did.
"I think you're probably the only witch to ever keep him in line," he smiled. Hermione laughed. "Welcome to the family."
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