When they were done swimming Hermione cast drying charms over them as Ginny transfigured their clothes back. As soon as he was dry and dressed Teddy took off towards the table seeing that the quiddich game was over, his hair the same vibrant red as Ginny's. Hermione laughed watching him go and lopped her arm around Ginny's.
"So..."
"Ask Gin," Hermione chuckled. "Subtlety was never your strong suit."
"How was it?" she nudged her with her hip.
"Amazing, Gin. Breathtaking."
"Best you've ever had?" she mocked.
Throwing her head back in laugher she blushed red, "Oh yes." The two were in a fit of laughs as they reached the table earning themselves a few curious looks from those around the table. Ginny sat down next to Tonks and whispered to her until she also started laughing sending a wink at Hermione. "Gin!" she scolded as she sat next to Sirius who was holding James giving her a knowing grin. Looking over his shoulder she kissed the babe on the forehead and inhaled his scent.
"Do you want him?"
"Please." She smiled brightly as he gave her a grin before passing his godson to his witch. Once she had him settled in her arm he gave her a quick kiss and put a hand on her knee before turning back to George. At that moment Ron and Lavender joined the commotion and sat directly across from Hermione.
"Hermione! How you look much better!" Lavender declared with a smile.
"Thank you. How are you? You're are starting to glow, its very becoming."
"You really think so? Thank you!" Seemingly over the polite conversation Lavender got back up, "I'm gonna go see if Molly wants help with lunch."
Watching her leave Ron snapped his head at Hermione the moment she disappeared from view. "You look good Hermione."
A little put off by her compliment she nodded, "You do too. You and Lavender both seem very happy."
"We are. I'm really trying but," he blushed, "its not the same. She's not you." George sputtered into his drink and tried to smother his laugh behind his napkin. The hand on her knee tightened slightly and through it she felt rather than heard Sirius growl. The possessiveness of the growl made her smile.
"Ron, I'm seeing someone."
He reached for her hand across the table, "You're the love of my life Mione."
Hermione pulling her hand out of his reach she shook her head, "But you're not mine."
"And this new guy is?"
"He could be."
"How? When you haven't even brought him over to meet your family?"
"Ron-"
He plowed right over her words, "You'd think if he was important to you he'd have met your family by now."
She took a deep breath, "I don't need to introduce him to the family. He is apart of the family."
That stunned Ron, he sat back and looked at all the men at the table. Bill? No. Percy? No. George? No. Remus? No. Sirius. No. "Charlie?"
"What? No." Hermione chuckled.
"Who is it then? Because its clearly not dad, Harry, Bill, Percy or Remus. They're all married or in serious relationships. I highly doubt your talking about George-"
"Oi! I'm a catch mate!"
"But Mione is like Ginny to you. Which leaves Sirius and Charlie. It can't be Sirius because he's a bachelor and doesn't do relationships. All that leaves is Charlie." Ron spoke in a weak deflated voice.
"I'm not a bachelor," Sirius mocked, "Who said I didn't do relationships?"
"In the nine years we've know you you have never once mentioned a woman. And every story you and Remus told us of the marauders you were always the a conqueror, not a settler." Ron shrugged, "There's nothing wrong with it."
"I was a teenager then. Plus between Azkaban, being on the run and dying it didn't leave much room for romance."
"See!"
"But I assure you, I am not a Bachelor and I am very sincere about my relationship." Giving the boy a smug smile he draped his arm across the back of Hermione's chair.
Ron sat back trying to comprehend what he was hearing and seeing. His eyes shot between Hermione and Sirius, "Wait...No..."
"Ron.."
Slamming his hands on the table he stood up, "Sirius? You're shagging Sirius?"
"Ron, sit down and I will talk to you. I'm not arguing with you today." She waited for him to do as she said, continuing only when he sat back down. "I am dating Sirius."
"Why?"
"Because he makes me happy." At her words Hermione felt Sirius scoot his body closer to her so their sides were touching, fingers tracing patterns on her shoulder. Turning to face him she smiled and he kissed her forehead.
Watching their display, Ron turned red and shot the first think he could think of at them like venom, "You are 16 years older than her!"
"And?" Hermione countered.
"That's disgusting!" he bellowed, "He's Harry godfather for Gods sake!"
"If Harry doesn't have a problem with that then why should you?"
Ron whirled at Harry at her words, "You're okay with this?" Flailing his arms in their direction.
Harry merely leaned back in his seat, "Mate, they're happy. They deserve happiness and if they find that in each other its not my place to take that from them. I'm afraid you're on your own with this one." Ron fell into his seat and looked at his best friend with disbelief on his face before turning his gaze back to Hermione and Sirius.
Lavender and Molly came out at that moment and brought lunch with them. Seeing Sirius's arm on the back of Hermione's seat Lavenders eye lit with excitement as she sat down next to a still baffled Ron. Satisfied that Ron had let it go everyone relaxed back into the flow of conversation. Teddy pulled on her sweater right after Hermione had settled into Sirius's shoulder. She pulled him onto the seat next to her and kissed his head before returning to her meal. When James started to squirm in her arms Ginny took him to feed him and Teddy took the opportunity to climb into her lap.
George had just begun telling the group what pranks he had planned for Sirius and Hermione lost herself in laughter. Watching her carefully with a smile on his face Sirius kissed her temple and Hermione's wine glass shattered causing everyone to look over. "Stop doing that Uncle Siri!" Teddy exclaimed, hair turning a bright fiery red.
Slightly taken aback, he looked to brave boy in her arms, "Little wolf, that's my girl. Just like your mum is your dads girl."
"I don't like it."
Withdrawing her wand Hermione repaired her wine glass and cleaned the wine before putting Teddy on the table to face her. "Little love, what's wrong with Uncle Siri giving me a kiss?"
"I don't want to share you anymore. First James and now Uncle Siri. I don't like it!" he pouted, lip quivering as he started to cry.
"Oh little love," she cooed bringing him to her chest, "You will always be my first love. Even with James and Uncle Siri."
"What about when you have your own baby or if Aunt Ginny has another baby?"
Hermione winced, "Nothing will change little one." She held him until he stopped crying, clutching onto her shirt with both hands. Turning to face Sirius she gave him a small smile and noticed everyone was still watching the display. In the end it was Harry who spoke first, "That's what you get for spoiling him."
She couldn't help it, she laughed. "Shut it you, you're just jealous that I'm the favorite." Harry scoffed at her words, "I will always be the favorite."
Remus smirked watching them watching them bicker across the table over his son, "Most mornings he wakes up asking for her."
"You never even stood a chance." She stuck her tongue out at him when he sneered at her. "Just wait until James gets older, he'll be the same way."
Ginny laughed at Hermione's words having just come from the house with a now sleeping James, "She's right, love. Give it a few months, I almost guarantee when he starts to crawl, he'll make a beeline for her every time she enters the room."
"You really will be an amazing mother Hermione," Lavender chimed in with a bright smile.
Hermione flinched at her words and leaned harder into Sirius, "Thank you." Readjusting Teddy in her lap she caught the look Ginny was giving her. She shook her head, silently pleading with her best friend not to cry.
"Have you thought about having children?" Lavender continued, still blissfully unaware of how uncomfortable Hermione was.
"I-I have but for now I am more than happy as godmother."
"I think you two will have gorgeous children!" The comment stung and Hermione tried to pull away from Sirius but his arm tightened around her and kept her in place, "Don't" he whispered to her before kissing her hair.
"Lavender!" Ron barked. "That's disgusting!"
"Oh Ron stop," she dismissed him with a wave of her hand, "Hermione is beautiful and Sirius is quite handsome himself. Any child blessed with their genes will be gorgeous!" She smiled brightly looking at the pair.
Sirius grinned back at her, "She is very beautiful isn't she?" Hermione gave him a playful sneer and elbowed him. Smiling down at her he lifted her chin and placed a light kiss on her nose, "You are kitten. The most beautiful witch I've ever seen." At his words she relaxed back into his hold, cradling a now sleeping Teddy to her chest.
"You need to get a room," Harry mocked playfully.
Sirius sent him a wicked mischievous grin that left Harry blushing, "We have one, pup."
Hermione gasped, "Sirius!" The rest of the table exploded with laughter.
The evening proceeded without anyone else bringing up children. Before long Teddy woke back up and asked her to play with him on his broom and after successfully diverting him to Harry she lounged in a lawn chair away from the table with a book and conjured herself a blanket. Occasionally she would look up, feeling his eyes on her, and wink at Sirius who was watching her as he played wizards chess with Remus. Ginny joined her a short time later with James strapped to her chest, Hermione smiled at her as she approached and took the wine she offered her. Closing her book she relaxed into comfortable silence and watched Harry and Teddy zoom around the garden.
The next few weeks passed in relative calm. They had gone public with their relationship in mid August and there were countless headlines defining their relationship to the public, most all of them were inflamed. Some claimed that their relationship was the reason for her split with Ron, others called Hermione a gold digger, and a few even claimed she was pregnant. They didn't take much notice to them, instead they found humor in the articles and continued about their lives. Before they knew it Hermione's birthday had crept up on them.
The morning of her birthday, Hermione was in the closet when she heard Sirius come back in their room. She had fully moved into the room a weeks prior. Sirius was the one to suggest since she was staying in his room each night anyway and she was more than happy to do so. After putting on her dark grey pencil skirt she grabbed a blouse and made her way back into the bedroom smiling when she saw Sirius standing in the middle of the room tea in one hand, sunflowers in the other. "Happy birthday kitten."
Pulling on her blouse and buttoned it up before giving him a kiss, leaning into it as she left his hand on her lower back. Biting her lip gently he pulled back and gave her her tea. "Gods I love your tea," she purred after her first sip. Conjuring a small vase she took the flowers to her bedside table and sat them down, arranging them quickly before turning back to him.
"Remember we have dinner reservations tonight at 7 at that new restaurant in Diagon Alley. Try not to get too caught up in work. I will come get you if I have to," he teased.
"I was planning on taking a half day and meeting Ginny for lunch and some shopping so I could get a new outfit for dinner."
"Spoil yourself a bit while you're out. And I don't just mean on books."
"Gin wants to check out the new boutique that opened a few weeks ago."
"Do it. I'll set it up so whatever you pick will be charged it to my gringotts vault."
"No Sirius, I can pay for my own clothes."
Wrapping his arms around her waist he secured her to him, "You don't get to complain when I spoil you on your birthday."
"And if I pay for my own picks?" she countered.
"I'll have the gold transferred into your vault from mine," he smirked.
"You wouldn't!"
Looking down at her with a fixed stare, "Oh kitten, you know I will." Laughing when she gave up he leaned down to kiss her once more.
Ginny help up a scrap of red lace, "What about this one?"
"I hardly think that is suitable for dinner Gin."
"I wasn't taking about for dinner," she snickered.
"Ladies, is there anything I can help you find this evening?" a familiar voice purred from behind them.
"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy, I didn't know you worked here?"
"Oh no dear this is my store." she smiled at her.
"Well it is amazing!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Thank you Mrs. Potter. Can I help you two find anything specific?"
"I need a new dress for a dinner tonight."
Ginny piped up, "And she is under orders to spoil herself!"
Thirty minutes later Hermione stood in front of a mirror in the dressing room with Ginny and Narcissa Malfoy talking behind her. The dress she wore was a deep purple, it clung to her bodice and begun to flare at her waist, stopping just above her knees. It was modest while still bringing attention to her figure.
"Now that we've found your dress we have a few more things we want you to try on." Turning to her best friend with a frown she noticed the small pile of lingerie that had been put in the changing room.
"Gin!"
"We're not leaving until you try at least one of them on!"
"Fine but only one!" Stomping into the changing room she drew the curtain and slid off her dress, putting it outside the curtain, "Gin," and the dress left her grip. Stealing her courage Hermione looked through the pile before her deciding finally on a little green lace set. It was cheeky, giving emphasis to the curve of her arse and the top was a simple brassiere with straps that crossed across along her abdomen just under her breasts.
"We're waiting!"
"You don't expect me to show you!"
"Oh yes I do! I need to see if its the one!"
Huffing she popped her head out of the curtain, "Seriously?" Ginny gave a firm nod. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath before drawing back the curtain and stepping out.
"Godric's balls Hermione, you look stunning!"
Hermione blushed at her compliment and watched with an arched brow as Narcissa left the dressing room in hurry. Then she noticed Ginny's eyes widening slighting at the scars on her abdomen, "Mione.."
"Gin, don't.." Beginning to feel self-conscious she covered her newest scar with her hand when Narcissa swept back in the room holding a black silk robe.
"Here! This is came in last week, I haven't put them out yet but it completes the look." Helping Hermione into the robe she stepped back with a knowing smile on her face and looked to Ginny, "What do you say Mrs. Potter?"
"I think you have excellent taste Mrs. Malfoy!"
Smiling at their playful repartee Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and was slightly stunned by her own appearance. She turned slightly so she could see her side profile and at that moment a tall figure stepped into the dressing room "Mother are you back he-", he stopped and swallowed voice weak, "Granger?" Having momentarily forgotten her state of undress Hermione quickly closed the robe, silently thanking Narcissa for picking it out.
"Malfoy."
"Draco! Darling, please wait outside, I'll be out in a moment." Nodding as a small blush creeping into his cheeks he left. "I apologize Ms. Granger, I'm going to start bagging your items, would you like me to add these to your purchases?"
"Yes please Mrs. Malfoy, along with everything in the changing room please."
"That's my girl!" Ginny clapped excitedly. Shaking her head with a grin Hermione went back into the changing room and put her work clothes back on before meeting Ginny in the dressing room. James started to fuss so Hermione picked him up from his stroller and wrapped him to her front while Ginny smiled and shrunk his stroller putting it in her jacket pocket. Satisfied with his placement they walked back into the boutique and came up to the counter. Narcissa had her packages ready for her and Draco stood back with a look of shock on his face, "You have a child?"
"No, this is James, Ginny and Harrys son," she moved to the side allowing him to see James tiny face and black tuff of hair.
Blush creeping back into his face Hermione frowned at him slightly, "Are you okay Malfoy?"
"Yes" he said, still watching her oddly.
"Alright Ms. Granger, you're all set to go. How do you want to pay?"
"The a-" Hermione couldn't bring herself to say it. Seeing her falter Ginny took pity on her, "The Black account please."
Narcissa smiled, "Ah yes, Sirius wrote me this morning and advised me to let you buy the entire store if you wanted."
Taking her bags Hermione smiled as her cheeks flamed red, "Thank you Mrs. Malfoy. You have been an amazing help." Making their way outside Hermione took a deep breath and turned her curious gaze to Ginny when she burst out laughing. "What?"
"The tension in the room when Sirius was mentioned was palpable. I think Malfoy has a thing for you Mione."
"I think you're over analyzing what happened."
"Then pray tell why do you think he is coming over here?"
"He is not-"
"Granger!"
"Told you," Ginny whispered as she turned them around. "Hello Malfoy, pleasure to see you again so soon."
"Potter, may I have a word with Granger for a moment?"
"Sure, I'll just be in Quality Quidditch Supplies when you're done Mione. Do you want me to take James?"
She looked down at the sleeping babe and curled an arm around him, "No I've got him, I'll be in in a second."
Malfoy waited for Ginny to enter the store before turning to her again, "So it's true?"
"Pardon me?"
"You and my cousin. Are you really together?"
"Yes. For a few months now. Why?"
"Is it serious?"
She couldn't help it, she laughed. "Yes."
"I see."
"Why Malfoy?"
"I was just curious. Have a good day Granger." He spun on a heel and retreat back down the alley into his mothers store. Baffled Hermione looked down at James, "Well that was weird wasn't it little love? Let's go find your mum now shall we?" They found Ginny in front of the newest broom model talking to the store associate. When she finished paying for her purchases she whirled at Hermione.
"What did Malfoy want?"
"He asked if it was true that I was dating Sirius. Then he left."
"I'm telling you Mione he's got the hots for you. You could see it all over his face when he saw you in you're lingerie."
Shrugging Hermione lopped her arm around Ginny's. "Oh well, that hardly matters now. I need to get home and start getting ready. I plan on taking a hot bath before getting dressed for dinner. I'll see you this weekend alright?" Unwinding James from her chest she passed the infant to his mother and hugged Ginny goodbye before apparating home.