Hermione POV
The Next Morning
Waking up to the sun streaming into the room through the window, I find myself laying in bed alone. Sitting up I look around confused, Draco worked yesterday therefore he should be off today. As I run my hand over his side of the bed it is cool to the touch, meaning he hasn't been in bed in a while. The clock on my nightstand reads 7:30, so I didn't sleep in super late.
Getting up I wrap my robe around my body and make my way down the stairs. "Draco?" I call out, turning the corner into our kitchen which I find empty. Getting worried I quickly make my way through the house checking every room. I only stop when I spot a familiar blonde head sitting on a bench outside. Pulling my robe tightly around me I make my way out into the cool morning.
"You're up early." I state while taking a seat next to him.
"Mother sent me an owl about an hour ago." He lets out a sigh and I see him look over to the table next to him. There a letter with the Malfoy crest sits.
"Anything important?"
"Mother said that my Father has received the right to finish his sentence out at home. Apparently the last two years he has been nothing but the perfect inmate." My eyes widen at the news.
"When will he be released?" Draco shrugs.
"She is unsure it could be at any moment. I think he will talking them into releasing him over to mother today." I lean into Draco's side hoping to provide some kind of comfort to him. He seems truly upset over the news of his father. Draco snakes his arm around my waist, his hand resting on my stomach.
Do you plan on seeing him once he is home?" He immediately shakes his head.
"I don't want anything to do with that man. He ruined my childhood and put me through so much."
"But he is still your father. If he really is this model inmate maybe he has changed for the better." Draco scoffs.
"Father has always been good at pretending. Knowing him this is all an act and the second he is home things will go back to how things were."
"But we do not know that for sure." I try to reason with him but he is not having any of it.
"Hermione I am done talking about is." He stands up and makes his way inside without another word. I let out a huff at his attitude towards the situation, while I understand where he is coming from I also know he wishes he could have been close with his father when he was younger. Him being allowed to finish out his sentence in the manor might be that chance. Deciding to let him have time to cool down I remain sitting on the bench, letting the rising sun keep me warm.
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About an hour later I head back inside, hoping that Draco has time to cool down and is in a better mood. As soon as I open the back door I hear rustling coming from the foyer.
"Draco?" I walk into the room and see that he is setting a ward up on the front door.
"Is something the matter?" I ask as I approach him. He turns around to face me and I see he is once again upset.
"Somehow the Prophet got word of where we are living now and came to try and get pictures and do an interview. I tried to be polite and ask them to leave but we both know how that paper is." I nod agreeing. Thankfully I have been able to keep a low profile and kept the profit away the last two years but I knew that would change once Draco and I were together. Strangely enough this is only the second time the have bothered us. The first time being not long after Narcissa's gala.
"I wonder how they found out about where we were. I have been careful about who knows because of the profit. I want this place to be safe place away from all the craziness that follows us." I let out a small sigh, frustrated that our privacy will begin to be invaded. I see Draco nod before getting a look in his eye like he is planning something. Before I can ask he is gone with a loud 'pop' and I am left standing in the foyer alone.
Still frustrated I decide to make myself breakfast before getting ready to head into town, it has been a few weeks since either of us has gone to the shops.
Going to the shop. Be back soon.
-Love Hermione
Setting the letter on the counter I walk over to the fireplace, flooing to the Leaky Cauldron. Once in Diagon Alley I make my way to the little market place, avoiding being seen by the reporters that are walking up and down the alley.
Just as I make it into the building I hear someone call out my name. Letting out a sigh I turn to see Luna making her way towards me.
"Hello Luna." I greet her with a smile. She has been off on a expedition for almost 4 months. I have honestly missed her and her randomness. Taking a look at her appearance I notice she is wearing a tighter blouse and through it I can see what appears to be a bump.
"Luna! Are you pregnant?" I whisper as she pulls me into a hug.
"Oh yes! I found out right before I left for my trip. I am around 5 months." She places her hand on her bump and her smile widens "Theodore and I are very happy and cannot wait." My eyes widen.
"Theodore. As in Theodore Notts?" She nods.
"Yes him. We have been together for almost a year!" I instantly feel bad when she tells me. We are suppose to be friends but I did not even know she was in a relationship with anyone.
"That's great Luna, I am so happy for you." Again she smiles before saying goodbye and walking off. I make a mental note to send Luna an owl to set up a lunch date.
Once she is out of eyesight I carry on with my shopping, lately Draco and I have taken a liking to cooking pasta and chicken fajitas so I make sure to grab the ingredients for that.
I walk up and down the isles grabbing anything that looks good, or hints we might need in the next few weeks. Doing something as simple as grocery store brings a sense of calm over me and for a moment I forget that Draco is upset with me or that the Profit tried to bother us at our home.
Once I am finished with shopping I make my way through Diagon Alley, enjoying the family atmosphere that is created by all the people bustling around. My attention gets caught by one of the window displays, inside I spot a small grey fluff ball sitting in its cage. Immediately I go in to purchase the animal, not thinking twice about what Draco might say.
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When I return home I find that Draco is in his study just off of the foyer. I levitate my things into the living room and set free our new pet before walking over to the study. I gently knock on the door and wait for an answer, knowing that he might not like if I walk straight in.
"Come in." I push the door open slowly and see Draco sitting in one of he chairs in front of the fireplace with a glass of fire whiskey in his hand.
"Draco it isn't even noon." I say while glancing at the glass in his hands. He simply shrugs and continues to stare at the fire place. I let out a sigh and turn to walk away. before I can get out of arms reach he catches my hand in his.
"Don't leave." I turn back around and find his grey eyes piercing mine. "I'm sorry I've been short with you today, it's just my father is still a very touchy subject for me." He glances at the floor before letting out a sigh and pulling me in close.
"I understand that it can be hard. I'm sorry that I pushed when I knew I shouldn't." He smiles and pulls me into his lap. We both sit there quietly, Draco sipping on his drink while I mindlessly run my figures through his hair. Before long the study door opens slightly. Draco looks startled but I laugh as the grey fluff ball lets out a meow.
"Now where did this little one come from?" Draco leans forward and picks the cat up.
"I saw her in Diagon Alley and could not help myself." I start petting behind the small kittens ear and she lets out a soft purr. I smile and look back at Draco. He is looking at the cat with a smile on his face.
"Does she have a name?" I shake my head.
"I figured we could figure something out together." He nods before starring at the cat for a few more minutes just watched as she curls up on his chest and continues to purr.
"What about Pandora?" He suggest while pulling me closer. I nod.
"I think it is perfect." I place a kiss on his forehead and smile as I watch the two.
"How about I make lunch?" I say while getting up and walk out of the room. Behind me I hear Draco following while mumbling to Pandora who I am assuming that is still in his arms. Grabbing the bags from the living room I start to unpack everything and pulling out things to make a simple salad and chicken breast.
"How are you feeling today?" Draco asks from his spot against the door frame.
"Ok, nothing different. Maybe a little more tired than normal, but it is still very early so I won't notice anything for awhile." I explain, thinking over the past few days.
"I read over the list that Dr. Ellis gave you and it doesn't seem that much will change, if anything just extra doctors appointment every few weeks. "
"Yeah, which shouldn't be hard at all. These appointments shouldn't last more than an hour so I can go during my lunch breaks or schedule them fo my off days." I tell him while thinking over my work schedule. The next appointment I have to go to is in 2, so I can schedule it for a Tuesday, my off day that week, and not have to miss any work.
"Orrrrrr, you could go on leave and not have to worry about scheduling appointments around work." Draco mumbles his suggestion but I catch it and quickly spin on my heels. I see him flinch back before quickly mumbling a 'never mind'. I nod as he recognizes that he should not have suggested I take off and turn back towards lunch.
"I am not going on leave until I have too. I love my job and it is not something that puts me in harms way, I fill out paperwork all day long." I explain as I take our plates to the dinning room table.
"I know, but still maybe you should think about taking off near the end of your pregnancy, that way you have some time to prepare before they get here." He walks over to me and wraps his arms around me, his right hand resting on my stomach.
"I will think about it, but we still have 8 months until this little one makes their appearance. That is plenty of time to figure things out." Draco nods and we both take a seat at the table. He tells me about how he figured out how the profit got wind of where we live and I tell him about y trip to Diagon Alley.
As we finish lunch we head to our room where I fall asleep laying in Draco's lap as he reads a book out loud.