Hermione ignored the knowing look Rachel gave her when she slipped her the ten dollar bill.
"Not a word," Hermione said, pointing at her friend warningly.
Rachel pretended to zip her lips and Hermione nodded in satisfaction before she turned around and went to open up the bookstore for the day.
Two weeks passed since New Year's and while she and Draco hadn't gone on any more dates, that didn't mean they didn't spend time with one another.
On the contrary, they now started having dinner together a couple times a week, rather than just once on the weekends.
She smiled to herself as she thought about the night before, when Draco pulled Hermione into the hall to kiss her thoroughly and quickly before slipping back into the living room where Lyra was waiting for them to start a board game. She had been flustered the rest of the night and when Lyra was tucked into bed, she took matters into her own hands and straddled Daco's lap on the couch and snogged him until they were both panting.
If Lyra suspected anything had changed between her and her dad, she didn't say anything—she just seemed happy that the three of them were spending so much time together.
"Hermione…Hermione? Earth to Hermione."
A pair of fingers snapped her back to the present and she saw Rachel standing next to her.
"Hm? Oh, sorry, I must have zoned out for a moment."
"Thinking about your hot, British boyfriend?" Rachel said as she wiggled her eyebrows.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm British too, so technically you can just say boyfriend. Now, what did you need?" she asked as she went back to work on the computer, taking log of their inventory
"Just that Draco's looking for you and waiting at the front of the store," she said, nodding her head towards his location.
"Oh!" Hermione said, happily surprised. She left her office, leaving behind a chuckling Rachel, and found Draco leaning casually against the counter.
"Sorry," Hermione said as she walked up to him. "I was in the office, logging in inventory."
Draco kissed her cheek in greeting. "Nothing to be sorry for. I was just wondering if you will be available later to pick Lyra up from school? I have to go to Augusta to pick something up and I won't be back in time."
Hermione's eyes suddenly felt watery. "You want me to pick up Lyra?" she asked quietly.
Draco seemed to notice the emotion in her response and reached out to thread his fingers between hers. "Only if you're comfortable doing so. I was going to ask Natalie, but—"
"No, I'd love to," Hermione said, squeezing his hand softly. "Am I on the list to be able to pick her up?"
Draco nodded. "Yes. You've actually been on the list since before the holidays."
"I have?"
"Mhm," he said as he pulled her closer and gave her lips a quick peck. "Thank you. I'll pick up dinner on my way back. Oh, and here's a house key so you can get in."
"I can make something." Hermione tucked the key into her pocket. "I'll take Lyra to the store after school and get something to make."
"Whatever's easiest for you. Just text me around five if I need to pick up anything on the way back, otherwise, I should be home by half past."
"Sounds good. Lyra gets out at 2:30, right?"
"Correct." He kissed her again, this time a little softer; a little longer. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
"Any time," she said quietly, matching his tone. "Drive safely."
"I always do." He gave her a wink then headed out of the shop.
Hermione watched him as he turned towards his store and sighed with content.
"You two are disgustingly adorable."
Hermione jumped as she turned around. "Sorry," she said, blushing. "I never know what's too much in public and what's not." At Rachel's confused look, she elaborated. "You know, with the kissing and stuff."
Rachel laughed and waved her off. "Don't be. Am I super jealous? Yes. But am I happy that you two finally got your heads on right and are now dating? Also yes."
Hermione chuckled. "Well, I guess I do have you to thank for that. If you hadn't invited me to the New Year's party, I wouldn't have invited Draco and we wouldn't have kissed at midnight."
"Hm, I suppose you have a point. I'll make sure to point that out during my bridesmaid speech at your wedding one day," she said with a wink.
"Who said anything about m—"
"Although," Rachel continued as if Hermione hadn't just started sputtering, "I do believe you two would have gotten there on your own…eventually. You're both very hard-headed, did you know that?"
Hermione sighed and shook her head. "I think we need to get back to work. Oh, and I have to leave at two."
"Oh? Why? Everything okay?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, everything is fine, I just need to head out early because I'm picking up Lyra from school. That's why Draco was here, to ask me if I could."
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Rachel said, pretending to swoon. "Anyways, no prob. Jay and I are scheduled to close anyway."
"Thanks, I appreciate it. Call me if you need anything though."
Rachel gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."
Hermione went back into her office to continue her work, making sure to set an alarm on her phone for two o'clock.
"Miss Hermione!" Lyra squealed as she exited her classroom. She ran over, arms open wide and hugged Hermione around her middle before looking up at her. "Are you picking me up?"
"I am. That's okay, isn't it?"
"It's great!" Lyra said.
"Excuse me," said a woman walking towards them. "Sorry, I just need to verify you are on the list to pick up Lyra."
"Yes, of course," Hermione said as she handed the teacher her driver's license.
"Thank you, dear. And how do you know our little Lyra here?" the teacher asked.
"I'm a friend of the family."
The teacher, Mrs. Gates, appeared to be a woman in her late 50's, with graying hair and kind, blue eyes. She checked Hermione's ID before handing it back.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Miss Granger. Will you be picking up Lyra often?"
"Oh, um, I'm not sure. Her dad just had to go into another city for a bit and wouldn't be able to get here in time."
"Well, it was nice to meet you. I'll see you tomorrow, Lyra," Mrs. Gates said and gave Lyra a hug.
"Bye, Mrs. Gates!" Lyra said as she walked with Hermione, hand in hand.
"Are we going to your house?" she asked.
"Actually, we're going to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner then heading to your house. I figured you can help pick something out to make."
"I can choose anything I want?"
"Well, within reason."
Lyra decided on lasagna and garlic bread. Hermione added in some lettuce, tomato, and cucumber to make a salad to go along with it. When they passed the bakery section, Lyra requested they get something for dessert as well. She knew that Draco normally doesn't give Lyra sugary desserts on weekdays, so Hermione got some angel food cake and some strawberries and whipped cream to put on top.
When the two got back to the house, Lyra sat at the dining table to work on her homework, while Hermione started boiling the lasagna noodles and browning the meat.
"Miss Hermione?"
"Yes, sweetie? Are you all done with your homework?"
"Uh huh. It was really easy," she showed Hermione the work and then stowed it away in her backpack. "Can I help make dinner?"
"Of course! Go wash your hands and then I'll show you what to do."
Hermione showed Lyra how to layer the lasagna—sauce, noodles, ricotta cheese, meat, then repeat.
"Now we just top it with sauce and lots of mozzarella cheese before we put it in the oven. It should be ready by the time your dad gets here."
"Can you read me a book while we wait?" Lyra asked.
Hermione smiled. "I'd love to. In fact, I think I have the perfect book we can read together."
Hermione rummaged through her bag and pulled out a well worn book.
"Hogwarts, A History," Lyra read out loud.
"It's one of my favorites," Hermione said as she sat down on the couch. Lyra cuddled up next to her and watched intently as she opened the book. "It's not a story-telling book like you're used to, but it contains a lot of information about Hogwarts. And, it's filled with loads of interesting and amazing facts and pictures. See, look! That's Hogwarts."
"Wow… It's so pretty." She snuggled closer into Hermione's side. "What's that?" she asked as she pointed to another picture when Hermione turned the page.
They sat on the couch together until dinner was nearly ready. Hermione let Lyra look through the book while she put together the salad and had just got done setting the table when Draco walked in.
"Daddy!" Lyra hopped off the couch and ran to him, giving him a hug. "Miss Hermione showed me this awesome book that's all about Hogwarts! Look!" She held it up so Draco could see.
"Ah, yes, Hogwarts, A History," he glanced up at Hermione and smiled. "I see some things never change."
Hermione offered a sheepish grin. "Guilty. Anyway, you came home just in time. I just pulled the lasagna out of the oven."
"It smells amazing," Draco said as he slipped off his coat and hung it up. He walked towards the kitchen as he loosened his tie. "Looks amazing, too."
He was so close that she could smell his cologne and she almost leaned forward to kiss his cheek, when Lyra spoke up and reminded her of her surroundings.
"I helped make it!"
"Really?" Draco asked. "Does this mean you're taking over cooking from now on?"
Lyra giggled into her hand. "Sorry Daddy, you still have to cook, but I can help! I'm almost seven, you know."
Draco laughed as he scooped her up and peppered kisses on her cheek.
"Seven, you say? Where did my tiny, little girl go? Who gave you permission to grow up?"
Hermione leaned against and she watched the duo, her heart melting in the process.
He was so good with Lyra and she knew he'd be an amazing father to any other children he might have.
The thought nearly brought tears to her eyes and she turned around quickly to start cutting into the lasagna.
Draco told Lyra to clean up for dinner, and a moment later, strong arms wrapped around her middle and his chin rested on her shoulder.
"Thank you for keeping her today, and for making this delicious dinner," he said before kissing her cheek. She let out an involuntary sniffle and he stiffed behind her.
He turned her around and lifted her chin up so she could look at him. His brows knit with concern. "What's wrong?'
Hermione shook her head. "It's nothing."
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms in comfort. "It's not nothing. You know you can talk to me, right?"
Hermione nodded as she wiped at another tear that slipped away. "I know. It's just…. It's not something I usually talk about. But, I'll tell you later, okay?" she looked up at him before wrapping her arms around his middle for a hug.
His arms encircled her, hugging her back. "Promise?" he asked quietly.
"Promise," she said as she pulled away moments before Lyra came back into the kitchen, blissfully unaware of anything different between the two adults.
"Daddy, can Miss Hermione read to me tonight?" Lyra asked.
"Sure, Princess, as long as she's able to stay a bit longer," he asked, glancing up and raising a brow in question.
"I'd love to! Go get ready for bed and I'll be up in a moment, okay?"
"Okay! I'll pick out my favorite books since you showed me yours," Lyra said as she bounded up the stairs.
Draco chuckled. "Now you've done it. She has at least ten favorite books so she'll try and weasel you into reading them all. Don't fall for it."
"I will read as many books as I like, thank you very much," Hermione said, poking his side.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her close and the smirk he gave made her stomach flip-flop as it always did when he was about to kiss her.
He pressed his lips to hers, with just enough heat to spark a flame in her belly.
She knew he enjoyed teasing her like this, when Lyra was in another room and they couldn't properly snog until later.
He went to pull back, but she wound her arms around his neck, locking him in place. She nipped his lower lip, then licked the spot. The heat pooled in his eyes.
When he went to kiss her again, she pulled back and smirked as Lyra called out for her.
She lifted on her toes and whispered in his ear. "Remember, waiting is all the sweeter."
She gave him a peck on the cheek then went up the stairs to read a bedtime story…or ten.
A/N: Little bit of a longer chapter for you all today! Hope you enjoyed it as well as their relationship progression. Have a great week and I'll post another chapter in a week! xoxoHufflepuffMommy