Author's Notes:
Here's Chapter 111 for you!
I've been so busy the past two weeks. I went to Amsterdam with my University History society and then the day after I got back, I travelled ome for a week to celebrate my brother's 14th birthday. I also had an assignment in for the beginning of March so I didn't have time to write. This is the first chapter of March, and you will get another later this month.
Anyway, here it is, the second of two Hermione's birthday chapters.
The next chapter is going to be both cute and intense.
Love DW x
P.S. Enjoy
Harry had visited Draco and Hermione at their home the night of Thorfinn Rowle's escape to take a statement from Draco. The auror had told them Rowle had escaped right under his mentor's nose. Alphard Vale was leading the investigative team of five aurors, angry with himself for allowing such a dangerous man to escape. Draco voiced his concerns at the man who let Rowle go free, was leading the team trying to capture him again. Harry assured them both that Auror Vale was one of the best. Apparently, He was being put forward for the Deputy Head Auror position in the new year when inter-department votes took place. However, this information did little to calm Draco's nerves. His offer to help them out was shot down by both Harry and Hermione. He'd received an earful from Hermione once Harry had left that night. She didn't want him risking his life when Scorpius had only just come into theirs. He'd promised not to do anything stupid in relation to the search for Death Eaters.
Instead of getting involved, he took to texting Harry every couple of hours for updates. By the lunchtime on Monday, a day and a half later, Harry had to call him and promise to call him every night with updates, but Draco had to stop texting him. He had agreed, but still never went anywhere without his phone, in case the other man called with an urgent update.
On Wednesday morning, Draco was woken early by a vibration alarm on his wand. He quietly dressed, trying not to disturb Hermione, then checked on Scorpius. His was staring silently up at the mobile Luna had sent them by Owl from some faraway country she was currently travelling through.
"Good morning, Scorpius," Draco spoke softly.
Scorpius waves his arms, recognising his father's voice.
"Hello, shall we get up," He picks his son up from his crib, cradling him against his chest in one arm. "It's Mummy's birthday today." He states.
He'd read in one of the many parenting books they had bought last year that talking to your baby in a normal voice and sentences helps them to develop a better understanding of language and communication. Therefore, as he made breakfast for his wife, with Scorpius strapped to his chest in a carrier that Blaise had gifted him during his visit two days ago, he explained what he was doing to his son.
"Now, your Mummy doesn't like her toast too well done, so we need to keep checking on the toaster to make sure it's perfect." He says, glancing down at Scorpius, making sure the hood of the carrier was over his head to protect him from where Draco was scrambling some eggs. "Because it's a special day, we're going to have some smoked salmon in our eggs with a hint of paprika." He adds the paprika smoked salmon flakes. "Cooking is very much like potion-making," He states, checking the toast. "When you're old enough, I'll teach you the basics of potion-making. Although, I suppose I will be teaching you potions at Hogwarts anyway." He puts the kettle on. "I did promise myself that I would be a fair professor, I wouldn't play favourites or be too strict, nothing like Severus Snape, but you'll be my favourite student." He leans forward to kiss the top of his son's head. "Don't tell anyone." He adds, finishing off the breakfast as the toast pops up at the same time as the scrambled eggs.
Draco places a pot of tea with two cups and the two plates of breakfast on a tray, levitating them up the stairs in front of them. In their bedroom, he places the tray gently on the vanity table as he removes Scorpius from the carrier. Hermione, still fast asleep, is facing the door, so he puts Scorpius down in the middle of the bed, lying down on his side.
Scorpius, being only a foot away from his mother, starts waving his arms excitedly as he recognises her scent. When Hermione doesn't give him the attention he craves, he begins to whine. Hermione frowns in her sleep, at the sound of her son in discomfort. She opens her eyes, meeting Draco's smiling face first, before casting her eyes down to Scorpius lying between them. Her face instantly breaks into a smile.
"Hi, baby," she strokes her index finger along his cheek.
Scorpius starts kicking his legs, wanting more attention from his mother.
"Come here, Scorpius," Hermione sits up in bed, picking her son up and bring him up to kiss his cheek before lying him on her chest and bring the quilt up to cover his back up to his neck.
"Good morning," she finally turns to greet Draco.
"Happy birthday," he smiles, reminding her.
Hermione chuckles, "Thank you."
"Scorpius and I made you breakfast," Draco tells her.
Hermione's face scrunches up in confused amusement. "Scorpius helped?"
"He kept me company," He clarifies, levitating the tray over, then reheating the food and tea.
"Well, thank you." She kisses the top of Scorpius' head, then beckons Draco over for a soft peck on his lips. "It smells great," she mentions, placing a plate on her lap and her cup of tea on her bedside table.
Very carefully, as not to drop hot scrambled eggs on her son's head, she forks a small bite of egg and salmon into her mouth, chewing appreciatively. Draco had outdone himself. Since being on parental leave, Draco has taken to developing his cooking skills to pass the time. Despite having a newborn baby in the house, they found themselves incredibly bored during certain times of the day when Scorpius took his naps. Hermione would sit in an armchair, that she had transfigured from a kitchen chair, and read some fictional books while Draco experimented in the kitchen.
After breakfast, Draco takes Scorpius from Hermione so she can wash and dress. He dresses their son in a pair of brown dungarees and a light green t-shirt and cardigan, then takes their son downstairs, laying him on his baby play mat with a stuffed fox Hermione's Uncle David had sent them with Athena a few days ago. Scorpius had taken to leaning his head against the fox's head for comfort and grabbing a fistful of the tail. Numerous times, they had watched as Scorpius slowly fights sleep as he cuddles against the stuffed animal. Hermione had taken a picture on her camera to show David when they saw him for her birthday dinner at her grandparents' house after the kids had finished school.
When Hermione joined them downstairs, ready to leave, Draco wrestles Scorpius' coat onto his son, who never seems to want to wear the garment, while Hermione packs his changing bag.
They floo to the Burrow, near Ottery St. Catchpole, a muggle village only thirty-five minutes away from Tiverton, where Hyperion and his family lived. After a quick birthday hug from Molly and a call of 'happy birthday' from behind Arthur's newspaper, they are on their way down the track path to the muggle village. They wait for their lift from Hyperion outside the village church, watching the churchgoers arrive for their Wednesday morning service. A few minutes after eleven o'clock, Hyperion pulls up, getting out to show how to use Neville's baby car seat that he had borrowed for Draco's baby.
"Look at that face; he looks just like his parents. Am I going to get a name today, or haven't you decided yet?" Hyperion asks, getting back into the driver's seat, with Draco in the passenger's seat.
"We've known his name for a while before he was born. We just wanted to introduce him in person," Draco explains.
"Fair enough, are you still picking Alarte up at quarter to twelve?"
"Yes, I texted him last night to confirm."
"You know how he gets; he called me at nine o'clock to ask, then called again at half-past ten to make sure I had set off. It's why I was late. I had to pull over to answer the call." He shakes his head.
"He's just excited to meet Sco-"
"The baby," Hermione interrupts loudly.
Draco sends a look of apology back to Hermione sat in the back with their son.
"Sco?" Hyperion asks, glancing at him in amusement. "Don't worry; I'll pretend I didn't hear that," he winks at them.
Back at Hyperion's house, Sarah is sat in the conservatory with Neville and Carol, along with Alexander, their youngest. The rest of Hyperion's children would be arriving at around noon. After a quick greeting, Draco leaves Scorpius with Hermione to disapparate from the side path to Alarte's student house in Birmingham. He knocks on the door.
The same girl as last time opens the door; this time, she has yellow hair. "Yeah? Oh, you're Al's friend, right? From months ago?" She asks.
"Yes, you're Alice, I'm here to pick him up," he tells her.
She shrugs, "Okay, you know where he is." She lets him in.
Draco ascends the stairs up to the top floor, knocking on Alarte's door.
Alarte flings the door open, pulling him into a hug. "Congratulations, you're a dad." He laughs.
"Yes, I'm aware of my fatherhood. Is Damion not visiting?" He asks, scanning the room.
"It's a Wednesday, we've got lectures, seminars, assignment, etcetera. He'll be here Friday night, though." Alarte explains, pulling on a jean jacket and a pair of boots. "I'm ready." He nods, grabbing his keys and locking his bedroom door behind him.
Outside, Draco disapparates the two of them back to Hyperion's house. Alarte takes a few seconds to leans against the house to steady himself.
"Are you feeling okay?" Draco asks, looking into his eyes to check his pupils.
"I'm fine," he stands straight, taking a deep breath. "Where's the boy?" He asks, leading the way down the side path into the back garden where they can enter the conservatory from the back.
"I assume your dad or grandmother will have him by now." Draco answers.
As predicted, Sarah is cradling the baby on her lap when they enter the conservatory.
"Let me get a hold," he holds his arms out for the baby and Sarah passes his up. "I told Abe he wouldn't have the Malfoy eyes." He grins, holding the baby up in their air to get a good look at him.
"Would you be careful, Alarte?" Hyperion warns him.
"I know how to hold a baby, dad," he scoffs, readjusting the baby into his arms. "I've got enough nieces and nephews to have had plenty of practice." He adds.
He sits on the arms of the couch where Hermione, Neville and Carol are sat. Draco spots Hermione's camera on the coffee table. She had become obsessed with document every little moment with Scorpius, especially the first times, such as the first introductions with family and friends. He picks up the camera, pointing and snapping a picture of Alarte and Scorpius. The flash startles his cousin.
"I wish you would have warned me," he sighs. "Take another." He poses with a smile.
Draco rolls his eyes but takes another picture. In the twelve days since Scorpius' birth, he had gotten used to seeing a random flash go off around him, whether Hermione be taking a picture of Scorpius, Draco or the two of them together. He'd felt guilty that they had so many pictures of him with Scorpius but not many of Hermione with their son, so he'd asked her to teach him the basics of how to use a camera and ensured he took just as many of her and she did with him.
"I'll develop them tomorrow and send you a copy," Hermione promises him.
The doorbell rings, announcing the arrival of the rest of Hyperion's children.
"Shall we move to the living room, there's not much space for all of us in here," Neville suggests, standing up as Hyperion goes to answer the door.
The vacate to the living room where they are quickly joined by Avis, Arania and Abe, along with Danielle, Abe's wife.
"Richard had to work today, he sends his love though," Arania tells them, hugging Hermione.
"There's plenty of time for him to meet our baby," Hermione assures her, taking a seat beside
"What's with all the suspense over his name?" Avis asks, sitting crossed leg on the rug in front of the unlit fireplace.
"They wanted to wait until we were all together to introduce him to us," Hyperion answers his eldest daughter.
Alarte is sat in one of the armchairs, still holding the baby and Draco is perched on the arm of the chair, keeping a close eye on them.
"Come on, Al, don't hog the new Malfoy, pass him along." Arania claps her hands, wanting a cuddle with the newest member of their family.
Hyperion leaves with Neville to makes some tea for the group while everyone gets a cuddle with Draco's baby.
Hermione, Arania, Danielle and Carol squeeze onto the three-person couch, chatting about motherhood and childbirth, comparing their experiences. Abe is having his turn with the baby, posing for Draco's picture, when Hyperion returns with a tray full of cups of teas.
Draco takes his son, wanting to officially introduce his son, once all the drinks had been handed out. Hermione joins him stood in the centre of the room.
"Is this it?" Arania squeals excited, sitting forward to listen.
"Calm down, Arania," Abe laughs at his twin sister.
"Since the whole family is here," Draco starts. "We would like to introduce you to our son, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy formally." He stares at his uncle, waiting for his reaction.
Hyperion stares, wide-eyed and open-mouthed at his nephew. "Hyperion?" He whispers, standing up and hugging him.
"I forget dad's name is Hyperion," Avis admits, having grown up knowing him as Ryan.
"We thought it was about time your name was remembered in our world after my grandparents and mother did all they could to hide your existence," Draco explains.
Abe starts laughing, "Are you serious, Scorpius?" He asks.
Draco frowns, becoming defensive over his son's name. "What's wrong with my son's first name?"
"Nothing, I just remember you saying you would never name your child after a star sign." Abe reminds him.
"Merlin's sake," He sighs. "I forgot I said that."
"It's in poor taste," Abe imitates Draco's accent.
"I initially suggested the name because it's Latin for scorpion, which is similar to mine, Draco being the Latin for dragon." He explains. "Then it seemed to fit well since my maternal family traditionally liked star names." He adds.
"At least it's not Scorpio; then I would really have to tease you over this," he jokes.
"Thank you, Draco, and you too, Hermione. It's such an honour to give my name to your son." He hugs Hermione too.
"I'm glad you approve; I was worried you would be offended," Draco admits.
"Offended, of course not." Hyperion laughs. "I never thought I would eve get a chance to reconnect with my birth family, and now here you are, my nephew, with a small family of his own, and you've named your first child's middle name after me. I know it might not mean a lot, but I'm proud of you, Draco, for how far you've come away from the old Malfoy ways." He says.
Draco nods, unable to speak for fear of the thick emotion spilling from his voice and eyes. Instead, he hugs his uncle again, Scorpius Hyperion between them.
"We need a picture of this," Hermione states, holding her camera up.
The two men smile, Hyperion's hand on Draco's shoulder, his other holding Scorpius' tiny fist. Once the picture has been taken, he holds his arms out for his namesake, taking the baby over to his armchair and lying the boy on his lap.
"I think we may all of forgotten the other reason Draco and Hermione are visiting us today," Sarah states, drawing everyone's attention. "It's Hermione's birthday,"
"It is," Carol stands up. "Sarah and I baked a cake earlier this morning. It should have cooled enough for us to eat with our teas." She explains, leaving for the kitchen and returning with the Victoria sponge cake, a knife, and some smaller plates to hand out.
The family enjoy their cake and tea with joyous conversations about babies, birthdays and life in general until two o'clock when Alarte reminded Draco he had to be back in Birmingham for a three o'clock seminar but needed to collect his files from his house.
Draco finished his tea off, standing up while Alarte bid his family goodbye, reminding them he would be home for reading week in a month. Sarah told him to call more often, which he promised to do, then the two of them were leaving out the front door and apparating back to Alarte's Birmingham house.
"Make sure you send me a copy of that picture," Alarte points out once they arrive.
"I'll remind Hermione to develop them."
"And remember to reply to my texts, I hate double, triple and quadruple texting you."
Draco laughs, "You do realise my sleep schedule is a mess right now. My son is twelve days old."
"You do realise I'm a student and my sleeping schedule is also a mess." Alarte retorts.
Draco nods, remembering the late nights and early mornings study sessions during his eighth year.
The two cousins hug goodbye, then Draco apparates back to Hyperion's house, where the rest of the family are slowly tidying up and going their separate ways. Hermione and Draco stay a while longer since they weren't expected at her parents' house until five o'clock when her parents would have had time to pick Lauren and Craig up from school.
Sarah and Hermione left the living room to return to the conservatory, where at this time of the afternoon, the sun would be shining into the glass room, providing some warmth. Draco stayed in the living room with his uncle and son, telling him of his mother's reaction to Scorpius' name.
"Are you sure it was the right thing to do? I don't want your mother to get angry over this," He admits.
"My mother is not on good terms with Hermione and I," Draco states. "It's what we wanted, and if mother doesn't like it, well, she's going to have to get used to it because we've signed the birth certificate and sent it to the Department of Registrations already." He explains.
"That's where you found out about me, wasn't it?" Hyperion says.
"Yes, we aren't on good terms with the head of that department, but they sent us a congratulations card, and he had signed it along with the rest of his staff." He adds.
"Is there anyone else you're not on good terms with?" His uncle jokes.
"The Minister," he shrugs.
Hyperion stares at him worriedly for a second. "That's a dangerous game."
"I know, but Hermione's taught me to stand up for what I believe in, and I believe the Minister is a manipulative, repulsive man with no integrity and only cares about saving face for the next election," Draco states simply.
Hyperion nods, not knowing the Minister, but knowing he enforced the Marriage Decree, so he let the abuse on the man slide.
In the conservatory, Sarah is sowing Hermione her knitting box and some of the projects she has been working on, including a cardigan for Scorpius, that she had finished the previous night.
"I know it's your birthday, but I wanted to give you this for Scorpius," she presents the younger woman with the garment.
"Thank you," Hermione smiles, examining the piece of clothing. "It's very well made. My Grandma Emily taught me how to knit as a child, but I'm afraid I've forgotten everything since then." She folds the cardigan up.
"Us older ladies were taught to knit at school, while the boys were off learning wood and metalwork," she shakes her head. "I would have preferred to have learned woodwork, my father was an excellent carpenter but preferred to whittle. That spoon hanging above the kettle was my father's handiwork." She remembers.
Draco joins them with Scorpius, Hyperion following with a tray of cups and plates from lunch, placing them in the sink to be washed later.
"Thank you for this afternoon, it was a lovely birthday tea." Hermione thank Sarah and Hyperion.
"It's not a problem, dear. Everyone in this family gets one of my Victoria sponges for their birthday. I, of course, have taught all my children and Hyperion's children the recipe so the tradition may continue when I finally pass on." Sarah states.
"Mum!" Hyperion complains from the kitchen.
"I'm old, Ryan," Sarah snaps. "I'm ninety-seven, it's going to happen."
"That doesn't mean I want to talk about it," Hyperion calls back.
Sarah shakes his head. "Death rarely intimidates the old. I shall welcome him like an old friend." She mentions.
"The Deathly Hallows?" Hermione questions.
Sarah hums, "Yes, that's one of your stories, isn't it? My Arche told the story to all our children. It was always my favourite." She says.
Hermione nods, remembering the copy she received in Dumbledore's will. She made a mental note to find the book when they get home and give the story a reread, not that she would need to, having remembered much of it during the Horcrux hunt, but having the words in front of her meant she wouldn't have to think back to that time.
"Are you ready to leave?" Hyperion asks, drying his hands on a tea towel.
The young family reach the Burrow just after four o'clock, to find Percy, George and Ron sat at the dining table chatting with their father as Ron's twins and George's daughter napped in the large crib in the corner.
Draco and Hermione stayed for a quick conversation with their friends before having to excuse themselves. They floo to the Leaky Cauldron, the nearest wizarding building with a muggle entrance to Hermione's parents' house, then walk to the nearest bus stop.
"It's only a five-minute wait this early," Hermione says after reading the timetable.
They both sit at the bus stop, Scorpius strapped to Draco's chest again. When the bus arrives, Draco tells Hermione to find a seat, and he'll pay. He asks for two tickets, and pays the two pounds, taking the paper tickets before joining Hermione on one of the double seats at the front of the bus.
"You remembered," she smiles proudly at him.
Draco rolls his eyes with a scoff. "I've been here long enough to understand your coins and bus etiquette." He reminds her.
Hermione gasps excitedly at a sudden realisation. She pulls her camera out of her bag. "It's Scorpius' first bus ride, smile." She points the camera at Draco and Scorpius.
Draco laughs, moving his body so the camera can see Scorpius' face.
Hermione snaps the picture, checking the image on the screen with a smile. "Look how cute my boys are," she turns the camera around for Draco to inspect.
The Draco in the picture looks tired, his hair pulled back into a knot with some shorter strands loose and some dark circles beneath his eye, but nonetheless, the smile on his face is bright and genuine. Scorpius' head is hidden beneath a green knitted hat, but his small face is visible, and his brown eyes are open, staring at his mother and the camera.
An elderly woman shuffles down the aisle after boarding at the next stop. She sits at the seat in front of them that is specifically for the elderly or disabled. She moves her body to glance over the back of her seat at the young family.
"Can I get a look at the baby?" She asks, smiling at Draco.
He returns the smile as he turns his body around for the woman to see his son.
"You're a beautiful family," she comments. "How old is he?" She asks, reaching her finger over to stroke his little fist.
"He's just twelve days old," Hermione answers, smiling proudly at her son. "It's his first bus ride, we're going to see my family for the first time." She adds.
"That's exciting, would you like me to take a family portrait?" She offers
Hermione's face lights up, "Yes, thank you, that's so kind." She hands the camera over to the woman.
Draco turns to his side, facing Scorpius towards the woman while Hermione hugs them.
"Say cheese!"
"Cheese?" Draco asks in confusion as the woman snaps the picture, handing the camera back over.
The woman gets off the bus a few stops later.
"We'll be at our stop in ten minutes." She tells him.
Fifteen minutes later, they're outside Hermione's parents' house, knocking on the front door. Surprisingly, Sophie opens the door with an excited grin on her face.
"Can I see him?" She asks, jumping on her tippy-toes in an attempt to peer at her cousin.
"Let us come inside first," Hermione tells her.
Hermione's dad joins them at the door as they enter with Vivian on his hip. The baby gurgles at the sight of Hermione and Draco, recognising their faces and voices.
"Happy birthday, daughter," he jokes, pulling her into a hug and kissing the top of her head.
"Thanks, Dad," she smiles, hugging him back tightly. "Where is everyone?" She asks, usually, Lauren and Craig would have run to the door to see who was knocking.
"Your mum's taken the other kids to your grandparents' house. She should be on her way back now, actually, then you can use Evelyn's seat for Scorpius," he passes Vivian to Hermione then holds his arms out for his grandson as Draco removes him from the carrier. "Then we'll take Vivian, you and Scorpius over in a few minutes when your mum gets back. Draco, you can join David and Sophie in their car." He explains. "You two should really get a car." He suggests.
Draco shakes his head, "I'd rather we didn't." He mutters.
"We will, one day, just for the ease," Hermione states. "We don't really need one while we're still living at the Estate. We can get most places we need to via floo."
Chris nods his head, rocking Scorpius back and forth.
"Can I hold him?" Sophie asks.
"If you sit on the couch, you can," Hermione tells her.
Sophie runs into the living room, Chris following with Scorpius. Chris places the newest member of their family in Sophie's arms, repositioning them to support Scorpius' head.
"What do you think?" Hermione asks, sitting beside Sophie with Vivian on her lap.
"He's cute," She shrugs. "Will he be friends with Teddy and James and Pandora and Philip?" She asks.
"Probably, when he's older," Hermione says. "Molly has a lot of grandchildren already so he won't be short of children to play with." She adds. "Dad, can you take a picture for me?" She hands the camera over. "I want to document as many of these moments as I can."
"Of course," her Dad fiddles with the settings for a second before pointing the lens at them. "Smile!"
Hermione and Sophie smile, the two babies in their arms.
"Can you take him back now?" Sophie asks as soon as the flash goes off.
Hermione smiles as Draco takes her son back. She was surprised Sophie even wanted to hold him in the first place since she wasn't that keen on babies.
The front door opens as her Mum returns with an exasperated sigh.
"Evelyn tried crawling upstairs, I've told Mum and Dad to get a baby gate for the stairs." She states.
Hermione follows the sound of her voice into the kitchen.
"Hermione!" Sarah smiles, gently hugging both her and Vivian. "Twenty-one years old," She points out. "You're old enough to drink in America now." She adds, pressing a kiss to both her daughters' cheeks.
"I don't think we'll be going to America any time soon," Hermione laughs. "Or drinking, since I'm feeding Scorpius." She adds.
"Well, happy birthday anyway, are you ready to leave?" She asks. "Your grandma can't wait to meet Scorpius."
"Yes, we're ready."
The two cars arrive outside the Adair grandparents' house one after the other, with David, Draco and Sophie waiting outside as Chris reverses into the tight space behind David. Draco, unsure of how to unfasten his son from the baby car seat contraption, hovers behind Hermione while she lifts Scorpius out from the car.
"Is he alright?" He asks concern evident in his voice as he takes his son, giving him a once over.
"He's fine, Draco, the car seat is a safety measure," Hermione assures him.
David lets them into his parents' house, where everyone is sat in the living room, waiting for their arrival.
"Hermione," Lauren runs, throwing her arms around her waist. "I haven't seen you for ages." She scolds her. "Grandma said Scorpius is coming." Her eyes scan the adults in the hallway for the baby. "Is that him?" She stares at Draco.
"Yes, that's Scorpius," Hermione tells the young girl, slipping out of her shoes. "If you want to see him, go sit on the couch."
Lauren returns to the living room, along with Craig, who had been peering around the doorframe at them.
"Happy birthday, darling," her Grandad greets her with a hug when she enters the living room. "How are you doing?" He asks.
"I'm doing well, actually Scorpius has been quite an easy baby so far." She admits.
"Touch wood," her Grandad knocks on the wooden fireplace. "It won't last," he jokes.
"Where is he?" Her grandma asks, rushing into the living room, drying her hands on a tea towel thrown over her shoulder. "There's my boy, my first great-grandchild." She holds her arms out for Draco to pass Scorpius over.
Hermione's grandma cradles Scorpius in one arm as she removes his coat and hat, passing the garments to Draco to hang up. "Let Granny have a look at you." She holds him up in front of her face.
"Granny?" Hermione questions. Her grandma hated being called Granny.
"Well, I can't very well let my great-grandchildren call me grandma, like my grandchildren, it would get confusing." She explains.
"I don't think it makes much of a difference," Hermione says, but her grandma ignores her.
"He's beautiful, look at that mop of curls. It's really lightened since that picture you sent round." Betty picks a curl, pulling it taut before letting in bounce back against Scorpius' head.
"I'll finish the teas," Hermione's mum states, after hearing the kettle click from the kitchen.
"I need to finish the buffet sandwiches," Betty says, handing Scorpius over to her husband. "How about some Grandpa time?"
"Granny and Grandpa?" Hermione asks her Grandad Tom.
"I know," he shakes his head, staring down at Scorpius, tickling his stomach with his finger. "He's lovely."
"I think so too." Hermione laughs, taking her camera from her bag, and snapping a picture.
Hermione hates to think about it, but with the average life expectancy being seventy-seven, and both her maternal grandparents being seventy-four, she wants pictures of her son with them, so when he's older, he'll know what they looked like, and know he spent time with them. She knows how much it upsets her dad that he only had one picture of his own father.
"Is it our turn yet?" Lauren asks, shouting over from the couch.
She laughs, taking Scorpius from her grandad. She holds him in one arm, against her chest, as she correctly positions Lauren's arms first, placing her son into them when she's ready.
Lauren stares down at the baby, a grin on her face. "Look, Craig, he's so cute." Craig leans over his sister's shoulder to look at the baby boy. Hermione takes a picture of the moment.
"Am I his aunt?" Lauren asks, looking up at Hermione. "'Cause Sophie said I'm not, but Sarah and Chris adopted us, so I'm your sister and Jenny at school, her big sister had a baby, and she's an aunt now," Lauren explains.
"I suppose you are Scorpius' aunt and uncle," she answers, smiling at them both.
"That's so cool, I can't wait to tell Jenny on Monday, and Miss Gold," Lauren exclaims.
"Miss Gold was my year two teacher last year," Sophie comments from where she's sat on the floor, watching the television.
"She's my year one teacher this year," Lauren says.
"She fancies my dad," Sophie adds.
David scoffs, "No, she doesn't, I was her teacher years ago. She was just friendly." He stands up. "Where has that tea gotten to?" He mutters leaving.
"He doth protest too much," Hermione's dad mutters, and they laugh at David's embarrassment.
"Craig, do you want to hold Scorpius?" Hermione asks.
"No, thank you," he shakes his head.
"That's okay," Hermione assures him. "I'll place him into the baby chair," she takes her son from Lauren, strapping him into one of the twins' baby bounce chair. "Craig and Lauren, can you keep an eye on Scorpius for me, please?" She asks, sending a look at her grandad who nods in understanding.
"Okay," Craig sits on the rug beside the chair, shaking Scorpius' hand.
"Thank you, grandad," She whispers as she leaves.
In the kitchen, the adults are busy setting up the various plates of buffet food for Hermione's birthday lunch. Her mum has made multiple pots of tea, finally putting her grandma's teapot collection to good use. Her dad is opening packets of crisps, pouring them into a large glass bowl. Her grandma is finishing off the sandwiches, cutting them into quarter triangles and placing them on a large plate. David is placing biscuits on another plate, placing a party ring in his mouth as he does so. Draco is keeping the twins' company in their highchair, where they're eating some chocolate buttons.
"This all looks amazing," Hermione mentions, stepping into the kitchen.
"Where's Scorpius?" Draco asks.
"Grandad's keeping an eye on him in the baby bounce chair," She explains, patting his forearm. "He's fine."
"Everything is nearly ready," her Grandma states, placing the last sandwiches on the palate. "We're going to put everything in the dining room, but eat in the living room. We don't have enough dining chairs."
"That's fine," Hermione nods. "Do you need any help?" She asks.
"It's your birthday, dear, go sit down and relax." Grandma Betty tells her, waving her out of the kitchen.
"Actually, could you and Draco take the girls into the living room and their high chairs." Hermione's mum asks.
Hermione takes Evelyn out of her highchair, and Draco follows behind her with the highchair. In the living room, they return the nine-month-old girl to her chair, before repeating with Vivian.
"Lunch is nearly ready," Hermione announces to the living room.
The three children jump to their feet, racing down the hall to the kitchen, where they are told to wait in the dining room.
Hermione moves Scorpius over to in front of the television, turning the set off before sitting beside him on the floor.
"Do you want me to make you a plate?" Draco asks once Hermione looks comfortable on the floor, playing with Scorpius' little fist.
"Thank you," she agrees.
Five minutes later, her whole family is sat around her, eating their buffet lunch. From her position, she can fit her entire family into the frame on her camera, including the twins in their highchairs and the children sat on the floor. She takes the picture, surprising everyone when the flash goes off.
"Sorry," she laughs. "It was a good shot."
Draco rolls his eyes, now used to Hermione, taking pictures with her camera multiple times a day. He leans over for the camera, and she passes it to him. He turns it around on her, snapping a picture of her smiling beside Scorpius with a cheese sandwich in her hand.
"Did you bring that picture for David?" He asks, remembering.
"Yes, it's in here," she rummages around in the baby bag, finding the picture of Scorpius with his fox.
Draco leans over for the picture, passing it over to David. Her uncle's face breaks into a smile.
"He liked the fox then,"
"He loves it, especially the fluffy tail," Hermione tells him. "You can keep the picture; we make duplicates of every picture we take."
"Thank you," He places the picture in the pocket of his jacket hanging over the arm of the couch. "I'll place it on my fridge gallery." He states.
Different conversations pick back up, but Hermione leans back against the wall, watching her family enjoying themselves while eating their plates of buffet food. Draco is sat between her dad and uncle, laughing along with them. She feels so lucky and happy that Scorpius is going to grow up in such a loving family. Beside her, her son wakes up hungry. She excuses herself to feed her son. Her grandma offers her the spare bedroom upstairs for comfort.
A few minutes later, Draco joins her.
"You didn't have to join me," she tells him.
"Harry called, there's been a sighting of Rowle in America." He tells her, sitting beside her, leaning back against the headboard.
"What are they going to do?"
"They're talking to MACUSA; Megan's involved as well as Auror Vale's American counterpart. Vale's taking a portkey tomorrow to assist them." He explains
Hermione nods, "At least Rowle's not here."
"But the rest are, presumably," Draco sighs.
"It's just your theory that there are twenty-four Death Eater's, the Auror's haven't corroborated it." She reminds him.
"It makes sense," He closes his eyes, resting for a moment.
"If you're tired, we can go home soon," Hermione suggests.
"No, I'm fine," He assures her. "It's your birthday; I don't want to cut down your family time because I'm tired." He explains.
"I have a whole year of free time to see my family," she reminds him. "And I'm also tired, it's been a long day with a lot of socialising. I could use a nap too."
Draco nods, resting his head back against the bed, his eyes closed.
Hermione has to wake him up fifteen minutes later once Scorpius is finished feeding, so they can return to the living room and their family. It's not long after that Grandma Betty enters with a cake, starting everyone off in singing 'Happy Birthday'. It's the third of Hermione's birthday cake, this time, a chocolate one. The family all enjoy a slice of the chocolate sponge cake before Hermione's dad, and uncle devises a plan for how to ferry everyone back to the Granger's house, while also dropping Hermione, Draco and Scorpius, off at the Leaky Cauldron. Forty-five minutes later, the young family are waving goodbye to David, and Draco's still not sure how they managed to get there.
"I will be grateful to nap when we get home," Hermione stifles a yawn as they enter the Leaky Cauldron.
After Tom has given them permission to floo home, they leave, traipsing straight upstairs, where they lay a tired Scorpius in his crib, setting his mobile off to lull him to sleep, before climbing into bed themselves. Draco pulls his wife into his arms, kisses her forehead and asks if she enjoyed her birthday. However, he doesn't remember her answer after falling quickly asleep to the sound of her voice.
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