Chapter Text
Hermione Jean Granger: witch extraordinaire; Manager of Magical Creature Relations; brown curls to die for, sang to herself as she refreshed their cottage's wards, “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream.”
They had been going through Hermione’s childhood movies over the past few weeks and ‘Sleeping Beauty’ had been the last entry. Draco had thought tieing the curse to the spindle was neat but hadn't been able to reconcile the curse affecting everyone else. Hermione thought the movie was romantic.
“I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam,” she continued, smiling to herself thinking of Draco’s silver eyes gleaming when he planned to do something playful.
That gleam had been her first clue that perhaps it wasn’t just her that felt an attraction.
Of course, it had taken her a bit to convince Draco that she liked him too and that he deserved to date her. Honestly, why did she surround herself with martyrs. But she had always known how to put together a persuasive, logical argument; and when she told Draco he was hurting her more by not kissing her, well he’d done the only gentlemanly thing.
“Yet I know it's true, that visions are seldom all they seem. But if I know you, I know what you'll do,” Hermione sang swishing her wand to finish the warding spell. “You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.”
“Hermione, are you singing?” Ron asked from behind her.
Hermione shrieked, jumping around and brandishing her wand.
Ron just looked at her amused as he stood, draped in children. A toddler for each leg and in his right arm, and a baby curled up in his left.
“Ron, you scared me,” Hermione bit out.
“And here I thought the screaming children were adequate warning wherever I go,” Ron said.
Given her nieces and nephews were all giggling at her surprise, she doubted very much they had been screaming seconds before.
“Hmmph, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Hermione asked, coming forward to take baby Eliza from her father; leaving Ron with enough hands to transfigure a rock into a quaffle. He threw it over his shoulder with a flick of his wand and his children tore after it, filling Hermione and Draco’s front yard with laughter.
“Lavender wanted some time to herself this afternoon so I’m trying to keep them amused,” Ron said. “Sorry, didn’t have enough hands to send a warning.”
“Ron you are always welcome,” Hermione said, beckoning him inside. “Of course, it’s your own fault for outnumbering your limbs.”
Ron laughed. He cast 'Puer monitor' on his children and they headed inside to the Granger's kitchen. "Yeah, I don't know how mum and dad did it with seven," Ron said as we sat down at the rustic wooden table.
Hermione handed Eliza back to Ron and set about making tea. "I don't think they were aiming for one in every year level at Hogwarts," Hermione quipped.
Ron groaned."Do not suggest that to Lavender. She would think it'd be cute," Ron said.
"Imagine the school supplies," Hermione said, smiling darkly.
"I can't even," Ron said, stroking little Eliza's cheek. “So when do you start your own brood with his blondness?” Ron joked.
Hermione smiled to herself, briefly resting her hand on her stomach.
Ron caught the smile.
“Uhh Hermione, do you have something to tell me?” he asked.
“Well actually,” Hermione said, turning to look at him. “Maybe.”
Ron's eyes widen and start to glisten. "Mione?"
"You can't tell anyone," Hermione said. "I mean it Ronald. I found out last night and Draco’s away until tomorrow."
Ron got up and hugged his best mate, sobbing, "I'm so happy for you both."
Hermione laughed, holding onto him tightly. "Are you claiming those are happy tears?" Hermione asked, a bit misty eyed herself.
"Yes," Ron said. "Plus I'm so tired, anything will set me off."
Hermione laughed in a watery way.
"And this is big thing," Ron said. "I'm so happy for you both."
"You said that," Hermione said.
"And it's still true," Ron said.
The kettle whistled and they both pulled away, wiping their eyes. Ron sat back down and Hermione joined him with the tea.
"Why don't you just owl him?" Ron asked. "Draco would come home in a flash."
"It'll keep until tomorrow," Hermione said. "And I'm taking the day to get used to the idea myself."
"Are you happy?" Ron asked, reaching out and taking Hermione’s hand.
"I am," Hermione said. "I'm scared, a little bit, but we've been planning for this for a while."
"You'll be amazing parents," Ron said. "Merlin's beard, I can just imagine the little blonde curls."
Hermione laughed.
"Could you imagine this happening when we were at Hogwarts?" Hermione said. "That we would get to be this happy?"
"Well I think you ending up with Draco would have been incomprehensible to us," Ron said. "It still blows my mind and I can see how happy you are together."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "Thank you for the ringing endorsement Ron. What about Harry and ..."
In ran the three young Weasleys shouting excitedly about buried treasure.
"What's this?" Ron asked taking a small, plain wooden box off his eldest, Fred.
"We found it Dad," The eloquent four-year old said.
"Is this yours Hermione?" Ron asked.
Hermione looked at it in confusion, she shook her head, she'd never seen it before.
"Maybe you should open it then," Ron said warily gathering his children around him.
Hermione cast a few diagnostic spells but nothing reacted with the box so she carefully opened it. Inside was a familiar knife and a locket necklace. Hermione pursued her lips at seeing the blade that had mutilated her.
"Good thing they didn't open it Ron," Hermione said.
Ron peaked over the top and then gave his offspring a good talking too.
Hermione put the box on the countertop and they chatted about other things but the mood had changed and Ron made his excuses soon after.
Hermione was angry and she intended to let her dear husband know about it first thing tomorrow when he returned.
She spent the rest of the day not looking at the box. She didn't look at it as she did some house cleaning. She didn't look at it as she read a book. She didn't look at it as she ate dinner alone.
Of course getting a late night hot chocolate meant she had to move it to get to the kettle and she ended up staring at it as the kettle boiled.
Hermione was more annoyed with herself. For an object to cause such an emotional response, it was ridiculous. Plus she had forgiven Draco and his family. She had.
Hermione sighed and poured herself a hot chocolate. After a moment of hesitation she ended up taking the box upstairs to put on her night stand.
Lying in bed she picked up the knife and the locket to examine them. They both felt cold but nothing evil radiated from them. Hermione didn't like it and didn't dare open the locket.
She put them down, finished her hot chocolate and then curled herself around her husbands pillow trying to smell his smell.
Crookshanks yowled from the floor until Hermione lifted him up on the bed and proceeded to curl up next to Hermione. Hermione indulgently petted her cat.
She wished Draco was home already to explain and make her feel better. She would have words with the loveable git tomorrow. She fell asleep curled around Crookshanks.