Hermione paced the living room, up and down, repetitively as her eyes kept glancing at the clock. He was going to be home in a few minutes and she was going to have to tell him the truth. And the truth scared her so much; she had never planned on anything like this happening. Especially so soon for them, she just hoped he would take it well. Ginny watched as her friend tried to put holes into the carpet, she rolled her eyes, stood up and grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.

"Mione, it's going to be fine. Take a deep breath" Ginny shook her gently

Hermione glanced up at her friend, nodding slowly and trying to calm her racing heart. "Sorry Gin, it's just...I've never been this nervous before"

"It's understandable, you're about to tell him life changing news. Something so big it's going to shock him to his very core. Something so big, so massive..."

Hermione interrupted Ginny by placing a hand over her friend's mouth, only noticing the twinkle in her eye. "You're making fun of me" She pouted

"Mione, I'm not making fun of you" Ginny laughed, "Okay maybe I was a little bit. But you have to relax. He loves you and I'm sure he's going to be delighted when you tell him"

"I don't know Gin, maybe this will be the thing that makes him realise who he's with and then will in turn make him want to break up with me" Hermione chewed the bottom of her lip, never had she been this worried over a boy. Well, except during Hogwarts when she was mooning over Ron but she soon got over that. But now everything was much more real and more serious than ever. It was time for her to be an adult and began her adult life. She just didn't think it would be this soon.

"Hermione Granger" Ginny began carefully, her usually warm and welcoming eyes now darkening ever so slightly as she got serious. "You are the brightest witch of her age; you helped free a Hippogriff imprisoned and sentenced to death, you helped free an innocent man, you fought death eaters in the ministry of magic. You broke the rules and disobeyed teachers. Heck, you even got the worst teacher in the history of Hogwarts kidnapped by centaurs. And most importantly, you are one third of the Golden Trio and played a part in defeating Voldemort for good. You. Can. Do. This" Ginny emphasised the last few words to make sure it sunk into her.

Finally, Hermione smiled and nodded her head, agreeing with what Ginny had said. "You're right. I can do this and I will do this. I can do anything"

"Good" Ginny grinned, giving her friend a tight embrace before pulling away. "I must take my leave, your lover boy is about to be back any minute now and I don't want to make him suspicious with my announced visit when you told him it would just be you two for a romantic evening" Ginny drawled, sending a wink to Hermione as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the floo. "And Mione?"

"Yeah Gin?"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Ginny laughed as she stepped through the green flames, narrowly avoiding a pillow that Hermione had thrown her way.

A few minutes had passed and it wasn't long until Draco came through the door, he shut the door and turned round, frowning as the silence hit him. It was unusually quiet and it worried him, often he would come home from work and Hermione would already be back from work, either reading a book in her favourite corner of the living room or watching the TV (which he still hadn't manage to grasp the use of yet), or maybe even singing a song to herself in their bedroom. But not today. Today it was silent. And Draco Malfoy did not like silence.

"Hermione?" He called out, putting his briefcase down by the door and walking into the kitchen. She wasn't there, he continued touring the house until he came across their bedroom, and she was sitting there quietly, staring out the window with a rather large looking box beside her which was wrapped in bright blue wrapping paper with a large red bow.

"Is it my birthday?" Draco grinned, walking into their bedroom and taking a seat beside her.

"Something like that" Hermione smiled, turning to face him. They were silent for a moment before Hermione threw her arms around Draco, hugging him tightly before planting a passionate kiss on his lips. After a few minutes they both broke apart, gasping for air. Draco felt flustered and hot under the collar, he smirked his famous Slytherin smirk.

"I could get used to a welcome home like that"

Hermione blushed and elbowed him gently in the ribs, "I'll think about it" she smiled, grabbing the box and planting it in his lap. Her heart beginning to pick up speed again, this was it. This was the moment of truth.

"Am I allowed to open it?" Draco asked, tugging at the bow slightly, he felt like a kid again waiting to open a Christmas present.

Hermione nodded and watched as he tore the wrapping paper open with such vigour, the only time that Hermione had ever seen him ripping something open that fast was his clothes. She held her breath as he opened the lid of the box, watching and trying to gauge his reaction as he began to lift the items out of the bag.

Draco stared at the array of items before him, his eyebrows furrowing as he lifted a small teddy bear that had a dummy in its mouth. He glanced at Hermione, a look of confusion on his face as he dug through the other gifts. There were various items in the box: there were wipes, something called a volume control (dummy), ear defenders, a rattle that a had a small teddy bear clinging to the side of it, a bio hazard bag, emergency nappies, bio-chemical gloves, an emergency gas mask and baby care instructions. Underneath it all was a small, simple card. He flipped it over and read the words.

SURPRISE! You're going to be a Daddy

Draco's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced from the card to Hermione, back to the card and then back to Hermione again. His heart was thumping in his chest and he could feel the excitement and nerves bubbling. "Hermione, are you?"

Hermione nodded, smiling softly as she placed a hand on her stomach which Draco didn't miss, he let his eyes fall to her stomach and his mouth fell slightly open into an 'o' shape. Hermione seeing the sudden look in his eyes began to ramble. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner! I know this has happened all rather quickly, I mean we're barely moved into together and we've just both started great jobs at the Ministry! I'm so sorry if this isn't what you wanted..."

Draco cut her off by capturing her mouth with this own, giving her a loving and tender kiss, before pulling away and cupping her cheek. "Hermione Granger, don't you dare apologise for this amazing gift" He smiled, placing his hand on her stomach.

Hermione felt the tears brimming her eyelids, she sniffed and used the sleeve of her cardigan to wipe away the stray tears. "Oh, stupid bloody hormones" She giggled, hearing her laugh made Draco smile to. "You're happy then?"

Draco scoffed, shaking his head slightly while his eyes remained transfixed on her. "Of course I'm happy! We're going to have a baby. We're going to be parents. I never dreamed of becoming a father until you changed me. After the war, I swore I was going to be on my own for eternity. I didn't want anything to do with my Father, I wanted to shed the Malfoy name and rid myself of all the disgusting things I had ever done" He smiled and moved a stray curl from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Then you came along, giving me a second chance. Something that I could never have asked you for, or ever expected you to do. You awakened me Hermione, you stirred something inside of myself that I hadn't felt for a very long time. You made me feel loved. You showed me what it was like to be caring and selfless. You helped me become a new person"

Hermione felt her lip begin to quiver again, she chewed on the side of her lip to try get it to stop and saw Draco's eyes flash with desire. She knew that had been something he couldn't resist but Draco continued. "And I will forever be grateful. Ever since things changed between us, since I asked you out and we let our relationship blossom, all I have pictured is the day of possibly having a family with you. And you've made that dream come true. So of course I'm bloody happy"

Draco grinned and pressed another sweet kiss to her delicate lips, "Although, I do hope our baby gets my hair" He winked, laughing as she swatted at his arm.

"Our baby will be perfect" Hermione smiled, letting her head rest on Draco's shoulder as they enjoyed this special moment together.

"Hermione?" Draco asked softly, his eyes back on the gifts in the box

"Yes?"

"What is a volume control?"

Hermione couldn't help but laugh, there was going to be a lot she would have to teach him before the baby came along.