"So are you coming into Hogsmeade with us?" Ginny asked Hermione over breakfast one Saturday in the middle of November.
Since returning to school, Hermione hadn't accompanied her friends into Hogsmeade as she'd spent most of her weekends visiting Lyra. However, her friends had been getting worried about why she wasn't spending time with them on a weekend. Not wanting her friends to think she was neglecting them, Hermione had spoken to Draco and they'd decided that she should go to Hogsmeade with her friends. They could still visit Lyra later that evening.
"Yes, I'm coming into Hogsmeade with you," Hermione replied to the delight of her friends.
"Great," Ron beamed. "It feels like ages since we've all been together."
Hermione had to agree with Ron. It felt like an eternity since she'd spent some time having fun with her friends. Towards the end of the previous year she'd been pre-occupied with keeping her pregnancy under wraps, and this year she'd been late arriving at school and when she had arrived at school she'd been busy squeezing in time with Lyra. So she was looking forward to spending some time with her friends.
After breakfast, Hermione quickly ran up to the head dorms to grab her jacket while her friends headed up to Gryffindor Tower to get ready. In the head dorms, Hermione spoke to Draco and found he was also heading to Hogsmeade with his friends. Like her, he hadn't spent much time with his friends since returning to school so it would be nice for the pair of them to act like the teenagers they were.
Saying goodbye to Draco, Hermione headed down to the hallway where she met her friends and they headed off down to Hogsmeade. By the time Hermione and her friends arrived in the wizarding village beside the school they'd been joined by the other Gryffindor boys in seventh year. With all the boys being present, Hermione gravitated towards Ginny as the only other girl present and the two walked a few steps behind the boys as they chatted happily together.
"So how are things coming along with Harry?" Hermione asked.
Ginny had liked Harry for years, and while it was obvious that Harry also liked her, romance had been slow moving. For some reason Harry seemed reluctant to admit how he felt and ask Ginny out. Hermione suspected part of him was worried how it would affect his friendship with Ron, and she also knew he was worried about the war with Voldemort. Everyone knew Harry was a key component in the light side defeating the dark wizard, and Hermione knew Harry was worried the end result would be him losing his life. No doubt he was wary of starting anything with Ginny in case something happened to him and she was left alone after the war.
"We've been getting closer, but he's still hesitant about getting involved," Ginny said with a sigh.
"I can talk to him for you," Hermione offered.
"It's alright, I don't want him to think I'm pressuring him," Ginny said. "We'll get there in our own time."
"As long as you're sure," Hermione said. "Just let me know if you want me to sound him out."
"Thanks," Ginny said, smiling at Hermione. "Now enough about me, how are things with you? I've barely seen you since you got back to school."
"Sorry, I've just had a lot on my plate with head duties and studying," Hermione replied.
"So what's it like living with Malfoy?" Ginny asked. "Is he really annoying?"
"He's not bad actually," Hermione answered. She would love to confide in Ginny about their situation, but she knew she couldn't. "We're learning to get along. And to be honest the head dorms is a brilliant place to study. It's so peaceful."
"Just as long as you remember us lot up in Gryffindor Tower," Ginny said. "I know you want to do well on your exams, but don't forget your friends."
"Don't worry I won't," Hermione vowed. In fact she made a silent promise to herself to make more time for her friends. She could easily squeeze in more time with her friends without having to neglect Lyra.
"Come on you two, we're heading into Honeydukes," Ron called back to the two girls.
Exchanging amused looks at Ron's obvious excitement at heading into the sweet shop, Hermione and Ginny followed the boys into the shop. While the boys stocked up on sweets and chocolates, Hermione and Ginny looked at the festive boxes of chocolates that were being put out on display. With Christmas just over a month away, the shops were all starting to display their Christmas goodies.
"Zonko's next," Harry declared as the group exited the sweet shop.
"I don't fancy looking in the joke shop," Ginny said. "Hermione, why don't we go and look in the new clothes shop that's just opened up. We can meet the guys in The Three Broomsticks when we're done."
"That's okay with me," Hermione said.
"We're fine with that as well," Harry said. "We'll see you in The Three Broomsticks. Whoever gets there first can buy the drinks."
"Let's make sure it isn't us," Ginny whispered to Hermione as the two girls parted ways with the boys.
Ginny led the way to a new boutique that had opened over the summer. Since Hermione hadn't visited the village since her return to school she knew nothing about the shop, but it was clear Ginny had visited the place a couple of times since the beginning of the year. Ginny was gushing about the place as they entered the shop, so didn't notice Hermione's attention was captured by the children's section at the front of the shop.
"Come on, Hermione," Ginny said, taking hold of Hermione's arm and pulling her towards the female section. "They do some gorgeous stuff here. I can give you some ideas for Christmas presents."
Hermione chuckled at Ginny as she let herself be dragged towards the female section. For a while, Hermione was content to browse the racks with Ginny, but her attention soon waned and her eyes began to drift over to the children stuff. Hermione looked longingly at the baby clothes, wishing she could go over and find something for Lyra. She would love to take a little something for her daughter when she visited her later.
As she stood in the shop, Hermione suddenly realised just how hard it was going to be to buy her daughter any Christmas presents. She couldn't buy anything baby related in Hogsmeade without someone seeing her, and she wasn't able to go elsewhere to do her shopping. She could of course give Narcissa or Tonks some money and a list of things she wanted to buy, but it wouldn't be the same as buying them herself.
"Hey Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny questioned, looking up and spotting the wistful expression on her best friends face.
"Nothing," Hermione said, forcing a smile on her face.
"Are you getting bored?" Ginny asked, knowing that her friend didn't like to spend hours looking at clothes. Books were a different matter, but clothes shopping wasn't something Hermione was keen on.
"You know this isn't really my scene," Hermione said. "And I do know enough about your style to know what you would like for Christmas."
As if to demonstrate, Hermione lifted up a top Ginny had failed to spot. The top was deep green with thin black lines and Ginny loved it. Acknowledging that Hermione didn't need help picking her a Christmas present, Ginny suggested they headed to the pub.
The girls arrived in the pub before the boys so they ordered a round of butterbeers and settled down at a corner table. Less than five minutes later the boys joined them, and Hermione forgot about the fact she couldn't buy presents for Lyra as the laughter rang around the table. The group stayed in the pub for a couple of hours, eventually ordering some food. Once everyone had ate and finished yet another round of drinks, the group headed back out into the village to visit the few shops they hadn't popped into that morning.
Back in the village and wandering in and out of shops, Hermione kept being confronted with baby stuff. She'd never noticed before, but almost every shop had something in that would be a great present for a baby. By the end of the trip, Hermione had spotted books, toys and clothes that would have been perfect for Lyra. If only she could have bought some things for her daughter.
Arriving back up at Hogwarts, Hermione said goodbye to her friends and headed back to the head dorms. After spending all day with them, no-one argued when Hermione said she wanted to do a few hours' homework and revision. However, Hermione never even glanced at her books as she entered the head dorms and pulled off her jacket and shoes. Curling up on the sofa, she sat staring into the fire, wishing things were different and that she could openly buy presents for her daughter.
Hermione was still sitting curled up on the sofa when Draco entered the head dorms more than an hour later. Draco's smile and warm greeting died on his lips when he spotted his girlfriend. Immediately thinking something terrible had happened, he rushed forward and perched next to Hermione on the sofa.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Hermione replied, shaking her head and attempting to smile.
Not believing her, Draco reached up and gently brushed his thumb over her cheek and wiping away a tear. "You've been crying."
"I didn't realise," Hermione muttered, hastily wiping away the rest of her tears. "It must be my hormones."
"Don't give me that, Hermione," Draco said with a snort. "Something is wrong, and I want to know what."
"It's stupid," Hermione whispered.
"I'm sure whatever it is, it isn't stupid," Draco said, sitting back on the sofa and putting an arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"It is," Hermione said. "I was in Hogsmeade today and I just kept seeing loads of stuff that would be perfect for Lyra. It just got to me that I couldn't buy her anything without someone noticing and asking questions. It's Christmas next month, and we won't have any opportunity to buy our daughter any presents."
"We can arrange something," Draco reassured his girlfriend. "School breaks up a few days before Christmas, I'm sure we can have a shopping trip sometime in those few days."
"I guess so, but even that's going to have to be organised so we go somewhere where we won't be recognised," Hermione pointed out. "I just wish we could buy what we want, when we want."
"I wish a lot of things," Draco said quietly. "I wish things weren't so tough for us. I wish we didn't have to hide and that we could be a proper family with Lyra."
"One day we will be," Hermione said, giving her boyfriend's hand a quick squeeze. She knew that because of the situation with Lucius, Draco felt a lot more responsibility for that fact they had to hide their daughter's existence. "We've only got a few more months at school, then we're going to be with Lyra all the time. Even if it is in secret depending on how the war is going."
"I'm just sorry things are so hard," Draco said.
"Draco, I wouldn't change you and Lyra for anything," Hermione said, giving her boyfriend a soft kiss. "I love the pair of you, and I know everything will work out for us."
"Let's hope you're right," Draco remarked with a small smile. "Now back to Christmas. How about we ask about shopping when we go and see Lyra tonight?"
"I'd like that," Hermione said. "Although we also need to make plans for Christmas. Will Lucius be expecting you and Narcissa at the manor?"
"We might have to make the odd appearance if he's got any parties to attend, but we won't have to spend the actual day with him," Draco answered. "Until I speak with Mother nearer the time, I'm not sure of final arrangements. But it won't change things with you, you'll be at our house with Lyra."
Draco and Hermione chatted a bit longer, until it was time for them to go and visit Lyra. Luckily both of them had told their friends they were going to spend the evening studying so no-one was expecting them down at dinner. After quickly tidying themselves up an excited Draco and Hermione flooed to Narcissa's house. Narcissa was waiting for the couple with Lyra in her arms, and she handed the little girls straight over to Hermione.
"Hello princess," Hermione cooed, hugging her daughter close and breathing in her comforting baby scent. "Mummy's missed you."
"So has Daddy," Draco added, moving over to beside Hermione and placing a kiss on the top of his daughter's head. "We've both missed you so much."
"I'll go and get some tea sorted," Narcissa said, smiling at the couple with their daughter. "Sit down and enjoy your time with Lyra."
Hermione and Draco did just that and for the next few hours they sat and played with their daughter. As they were spending time with Lyra they spoke to Narcissa about Christmas shopping and she promised to get something sorted with Tonks. After a few hours of playtime, Draco and Hermione bathed Lyra and together they settled her down for the night. Once their daughter was sleeping they said goodbye to Narcissa and headed back to school.
Soon it would be the holidays and they could spend a few whole weeks with Lyra, but until then they had to make sure they had to return to school and keep up the pretence that everything was normal in their lives. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to discover their little secret.