The flash of the camera light ignited almost instantly, and Scabior stepped in front of Hermione protectively, his arm guiding her behind him as he cradled Rose closely to his chest with his other arm.
"Miss Granger, Hermione-," voices rang out as not only Rita Skeeter, but other journalists and photographers Hermione had no idea who they were appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
The scene was mad. She saw Scabior go for a phantom wand, which of course, wasn't there anymore as she gasped, burrowing closer into his side as he grabbed her hand to avoid the flashes. The cameras seemed to get even closer, blocking their path.
Rose cried out, upset by the many flashing bulbs and shutter noises that clicked. She started moving about and Scabior dropped Hermione's hand, to have it free to stabilise Rose.
"Please stop!," Hermione shouted to no one in particular.. "You're scaring the baby," as Rose thrashed more violently this time. Hermione reached for Rose and Scabior handed the baby back, and said, "Here take her."
In an instant, he took a menacing step towards the nearest camera man. "Piss off!"
Hermione was able to creep past as he kept the sea of reporters at bay. He may not have a wand, but he had a dangerous look of determination in his eyes and the throng began to scatter as he pointedly looked at each reporter and photographer pair in turn.
Rose was nearly hysterical now, and Hermione rocked her up and down as Cho had shown her.
"Are you alright?," Scabior asked, turning to them, placing his hand, gently on the back of Rose's head.
"I am, but she's frightened."
"I could kill them," he said, his jaw tight, craning his neck around to make sure in fact, there would be no additional upsets.
Hermione shushed Rose softly, and she began to quiet.
"You'll be fine?," he asked her, softly stroking the baby's head.
"Yes, but I have to get some supplies, and I know you have to go do…whatever it is you're doing-,"
"Hermione," he sighed, looking at her resignedly. "Please trust me. It's something for us. Something good."
Hermione nodded, her lips pursed, still hurt that he wouldn't explain his intentions to separate from them this morning.
"Alright. Then I'll see you girls soon," he said, giving her a wink before he was off.
Hermione let out a sigh, and adjusted the baby onto her right hip, setting off in the right direction. She had researched a store, not unlike Baby Wizard in Hogsmeade, called "Bundle of Joy". Hermione snorted to herself at the absurdity of the name.
'More like 'Bundle of Poo' if you ask me,' she thought to herself, first crossly but then realising she was fighting a smile at the edge of her mouth.
She rounded a corner and came up to the shop, heading inside. She needed to purchase some sort of pram, along with nappies and the like.
After much debate, she settled on a mint green pram, a large stack of nappies, and several other baby related items that would aid her, especially, and most incredibly, a new cow soft toy that Rose had reached for and squealed at. Hermione went to the check-out to pay and realised as she reached into her coat pocket that there were loose galleons floating around. Galleons that did not belong to her. That someone had placed in her pocket.
Scabior.
She smiled.
It was a great relief to be pushing Rose along in a pram. Her sore back and arm muscles thanked her. She was on her way to find some new clothing for herself, as she had gained some weight since her pregnancy. She could magically alter the clothing, of course, but she wanted a few new things. And perhaps, several new underthings, she thought, blushing to herself. Of course, those would be more for him than for her…
Scabior…
When his palms glided over her skin she very nearly forgot her name. He had awakened something deep inside her she feared would never be quiet again. A hunger, a yearning that only he could satisfy. Her friends thought her mental, this she knew, but they hadn't been in the same situation, so who were they to judge? Regardless of how they met or the details of them becoming involved, she was his. She belonged to him, and worse, she wanted to belong to him.
And how she wanted.
She ached.
When he made her beg, when he made her wait…
A flush broke out from her chest to her neck and cheeks.
A commotion in the square near Gringotts startled her and she gingerly lifted Rose out of the pram and go to look. Hermione heard shouting, and held the baby to her tightly.
What on earth?
Peering towards the throng in the square, her view was obstructed by the many passersby. Just then, the crowd parted somewhat and she could have sworn she saw the red streak of Scabior's hair.
Scabior.
Her heart fluttered a little.
She moved towards the archway, Rose in her arms, when a tall, lean figure all in black, seemingly out of nowhere, stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
"Granger-," he started, his voice no more than a whisper, shocked by her presence. The colour drained from his face as he blanched at her and the baby.
It took her a moment to register who it was. Because she hadn't expected to run into him.
Not here.
Not now.
Standing directly in her path, blocking her from the commotion…
Draco Malfoy.