You ask me if there'll come a time,
When I grow tired of you,
Never my love.
The Association

She was Adored

Written By Cjred - Beta: Minuet33 -Art: Manda the Slytherin

Chapter 6 Mummy Hermione

Potter and Draco shuffled into Kingsley Shacklebolt's office the next day, looking haggard.

The Minister of Magic didn't look much better but did at least have tea and some scones waiting for them.

Once they had all gotten a cuppa, he leaned back and wiped a hand down his face, exhaustion, frustration, and worry shining through his eyes. "Hermione is at Andromeda Tonks's house, where I am sure she is performing a blood ritual to adopt the little witch as I speak."

Draco went to open his mouth, but Potter elbowed him in the ribs as Shacklebolt took a fortifying sip of black tea.

"So, she's keeping the baby," Potter said, removing his glasses and cleaning them on his robes.

Draco snorted as Shacklebolt sighed and nodded.

"Right," Potter replied, setting his tea down and leaning back in his chair. "So, how is this going to play out?"

The minister took another sip of tea and looked both of them over. "I am hoping that the reason both of you are working together means you have some information to help me decide how I need to spin this."

Narrowing his eyes, Draco sat up, his face hard and posture rigid. "The baby is a Malfoy."

His eyes flashing with anger, Shacklebolt slowly set his cup of tea down. "Which Malfoy's?"

Potter chimed in, now disgusted, "One of his great uncles, apparently. An elf from their household identified her for us."

Shacklebolt gave a sharp nod and then pinched the bridge of his nose. "An elf?"

Potter cleared his throat and looked to Draco, who rolled his eyes.

When Potter didn't continue the conversation, Draco sat forward and said firmly. "An elf that has already bonded to the baby and will be helping Granger adjust to being a single mother."

"A free elf, at least, Kings," Potter interjected.

A snort that turned into a harsh laugh came from the Minister's mouth before he closed his eyes. "I am sure that will make Hermione much more interested in having an elf in her home."

Potter made a face as Draco scoffed and said, "If you make having the elf a part of the deal of her protection, I am sure she will adjust."

Shacklebolt opened his eyes and shared a look with Draco before he sat forward and pulled over parchment and a quill. "That can be done and blamed on someone other than us."

Draco tried to hide his grin as Potter seemed to bristle before deflating and nodding, mumbling, "Yeah, probably a good idea."

The next twenty minutes were a back-and-forth between them. Draco got his way over putting her up in his townhouse in Chelsea due to the Malfoy wards. Potter got his way over heading the team, going after the great uncles. Shacklebolt, however, halted all progress in the plan when he asked a simple question that hadn't occurred to either of them yet.

"The girl's mother was blond with blue eyes, correct?"

Potter looked up from his notes, confused, and said, "Um, yeah."

"She has light hair and light blue eyes," Draco said, his eyes narrowed and his heart beating faster in his chest.

Potter looked over, asking, "The muggle mum?"

Draco glared at him. "The baby, Potter. The little girl has light blond hair and light blue eyes!"

Obviously not following the plot, Potter nodded. "Right, we established that." He looked between Shacklebolt and Draco. "Why is this a problem? Lots of babies have blond hair and blue eyes."

Draco clenched and unclenched his fists. "Malfoy blond hair and Malfoy light blue eyes, Potter."

Potter dropped his self-inking quill and cursed, "Oh, oh bloody hell."

Reaching into his desk, Shacklebolt pulled out a flask and poured what looked like fire whiskey into his tea. Draco simply held out his cup, and after raising an eyebrow at him, the Minister poured some whisky into his tea too.

The two drank while the saviour of the wizarding world continued to curse.

OooOOoOoo

Hermione sank gratefully into an overstuffed chair in the Tonks's house as Andromeda "Andy" Tonks looked through a text. She had already checked over Charlotte and given her a full bill of health. The problem was that the little angel did not seem to like the magical or muggle formula. Currently, Andy was looking to see if there were alternatives.

Hermione wiped a tear off her face and let out a soft sigh. "Andy, is there a spell or potion that could allow me to breastfeed her?"

Andy paused and looked up, her eyes going wide and then narrowing. "Yes, although there is no guarantee she will be happier with your milk."

"One of the patients at my parent's dental office took muggle medication to help her breastfeed an adopted baby. I remember my mum talking about it," Hermione said, nodding in understanding.

Putting aside the current text, Andy moved to a large bookcase and pulled out a larger book and flipped through it. "It's a simple potion and spell combination and you should have enough milk for her in two hours." She paused and gave Hermione a long look. "There is a slight chance it won't work; it has to do with the intentions of the mother."

"I… I want to do this, Andy." A slight sob escaped Hermione, along with a hiccup before she continued more firmly, "I promised that mother I would take care of…" She broke off into more sobs.

Andy set down the text and rushed over, hugging Hermione to her. "That's strong magic, Hermione. A promise like that is powerful magic. I'm sure you already feel the bond that will form from it."

Hermione nodded, crying into her friend's shoulder. "I want to do a blood adoption. Will you help me?"

Her own eyes shining with tears, Andy leaned back and grabbed Hermione's face. "Of course I will."

Laughing while still crying, Hermione asked softly, "Will you be her godmother?"

Andy nodded and both witches melted into a hug full of tears and laughter.

By the time Charlotte woke up, Hermione was ready to learn how to breastfeed, and Andy was gathering everything they needed for the blood adoption and godparent bonding ceremony.

Within the hour, Hermione Granger would officially have a daughter.

OooOOOoO

Back in the Minister's office.
Potter had finally calmed down and was now sipping his own spiked tea as Draco came to terms with exactly how his life had just changed.
"What are we going to do?" Potter asked, looking between them.

Shacklebolt tilted his teacup at Draco and drawled, "Draco, you will need to bring a partner to your department. I think you will find yourself rather busy in the next few months."

"Theo Nott would be my suggestion," Draco said with conviction, "And I have been meaning to request additional help anyway."

Shacklebolt nodded. "You probably have six months before this hits papers."

Draco grunted and took a large sip, coughing down mostly whiskey. "Maybe less," he said, taking a deep breath.

Potter looked between both of them. "Six months to what?"

Draco pursed his lips and looked at the Minister for Magic, who took a large breath and said. "Until someone decides to expose that Hermione is raising the first Malfoy girl in almost a century."

Potter sucked in a deep breath as Draco drawled, "And everyone looks back at those photos of us from last weekend and decides the girl is mine."

The air in Potter's lungs was pushed out of his chest as he stood up and looked at his former nemesis, his eyes wide with horror.

"Fucking hell."

Draco rolled his eyes and said in a perfect aristocratic tone. "Language, Potter."

OOooOOoooO

Kingsley stepped out of the floo into the Tonks's comfortable living room and smiled at Andromeda Tonks, who was singing softly to a bundle in her hands.

"Hermione is sleeping, I hope?" Kingsley asked, walking over to look at the sweet face of the little girl in his friend's arms.

Still humming, Andy smiled and then moved to put the baby down in a Moses basket next to the fire and set a series of charms before she stood up and gave Kingsley a long look.
"Tell me you have a plan because I am almost positive this little girl is a Malfoy."

Kingsley groaned and guided her towards a chair. "Sit down, Andy. You will not want to hear the full story or our plan standing up."

Andy sat, and after twenty minutes, a few muffled screams, and some tears she stood up to pace around her living room.

Thankfully, the spells she had placed on Charlotte's basket held strong, and the baby slept through all the fuss blissfully.
"He agreed to this?"

Kingsley nodded. "He did."

Andy chewed on her lip, still pacing. "And any witnesses who could dispute this?"

Bowing his head, Kingsley said softly, "Draco Malfoy is dealing with them. The elf is helping."

Andy let out a manic laugh and then sank down, her hands clasped nervously. "The elf is helping," she looked at Kingsley, "you do realize that nanny elves are absolutely fierce when protecting their charge, right?"

He winced, "Given the family we are dealing with… I can't say I personally mind."

Snorting, Andy kept staring him down. "As Kings, no, you wouldn't, but what about as Minister?"

Kingsley sat forward, putting his hand over hers. "He is on her side too."

She released a relieved breath. "Good, because I am now Charlotte Divina Granger's godmother."

Kingsley let out a startled laugh and then closed his eyes. "Well, Merlin help anyone who attempts to harm her then."

Andy nodded and unclasped her hands, standing up and pulling him up with her. "Come on, I think we both deserve a cup of tea."

"With firewhiskey, I hope."

The bottle flew out of the cupboard with a wave of her wand, Andy laughing as she did so.

Author Notes:
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