"Thank you for the lovely dinner, Narcissa." Hermione smiled genuinely at the older witch who smiled in return.
"Please visit whenever you like. I'll be here almost always." Narcissa chuckled.
Draco bent down a little to kiss his mother's cheek, "Will do."
Narcissa placed a hand on her grandson's shoulder, "You two have fun tonight. Scorpius will be sleeping over and helping me rearrange a few things."
"I will?" The boy asked.
There was a look in Narcissa's eyes that made the him gulp and nodded his head, "I will."
His grandmother smiled sweetly down at him, patting his head as they both turned to wave goodbye to Draco and Hermione as they passed through the floo.
Once they were completely gone, Narcissa had led her grandchild to Lucius' old study, which she had converted into her own. Scorpius gulped as he felt as if he had been called to the principal's office.
"Young man, you've been awfully quiet this evening. You even left the Sitting Room after I showed your father and Hermione the family tree..." Narcissa raised an eyebrow at him as she took her seat at her desk, peering over at Scorpius who took the seat in front of her desk.
"I was just looking around the house. Last time I was here, I was a baby so I don't remember it at all." He shrugged, not lying to his grandmother.
Narcissa sighed, "Perhaps I overestimated you, sorry darling. I thought maybe you were talented enough to have done something in relation to Hermione being added to the Malfoy Family tree in some way..."
He fell for his grandmothers bait, "I am magically talented! I casted a difficult spell on Mum 'Mione and it worked!"
Narcissa leaned closer, voicing her concern, "Scorpius...what did you do?"
The boy looked down and began playing with his fingers, "Well...I read a book..."
Narcissa didn't say anything and waited for Scorpius to continue, which he did after a few moments of silence, "...and in that book there was this spell that looked like would be able to help Mum 'Mione...I performed it on her 2 weeks ago..."
Narcissa nodded her head, the timeframe checks out as the family grimoire had found it's way to her around that time, notifying her of the new family addition. She had waited the two weeks to hear of any elopement of the Slytherin Prince and Gryffindor Princess in the Daily Prophet, but there had been none, as well as no word from Draco about any nuptials. Deciding a small dinner to test out the waters was safer than to assume marriage was behind the new addition.
"What book did you read and what spell did you cast?" Narcissa frowned. Various charms and spells went through her head as to how on earth it would've been possible for Hermione Granger to have been added into the Malfoy Family Tree without an officiated marriage. Any possible spell had to have been old magic...how did a 6 year old tap into such ancient powers?
Scorpius looked up guiltily, "I read Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes by E. Limus...and I casted the Succedo Fertilem spell on Mum 'Mione..."
Narcissa furrowed her eyebrows and Accio'ed a copy of the book from the Malfoy Library. A few moments later, the book had landed itself onto Narcissa's desk and began flipping immediately to the page that showcased Succedo Fertilem.
Reading the spell quietly to herself, the witch touched a hand to her mouth. The silence in the room was deafening and Scorpius' anxiety only heightened after Narcissa closed the book slowly and stared at him.
He gulped under her shocked gaze, "I'm sorry...I just wanted to help...Mum 'Mione said she had trouble with Infertility and...I saw the spell in the book..."
Narcissa closed her eyes and began massaging her temples lightly, "Darling...I understand you did it with good intentions, but you're playing with fire here. There's no way to know if you did the spell properly until her 2nd month of pregnancy, then we can check to see if the baby has any genetic defects or not."
Scorpius looked confused after his grandmother mentioned 'genetic defects', which didn't ease Narcissa's progressing headache. She simplified, "Genetic defects are problems with how the baby is growing or being formed."
Scorpius nodded, looking thoughtful for a moment, "So what do I do to make sure my sibling will be born okay?"
Narcissa gave the child a small smile, "You don't have to worry your handsome little head over adult matters...I mean you already meddled in your father's love life enough.."
She chuckled, and continued, "I will help you with this. Trust in Grandma Cissy to make sure everything's alright for your Mum 'Mione and the baby."
She got up from her desk and made her way to scoop Scorpius up in her arms, holding him close to her as she carried him out of the study. Scorpius wrapped his arms around his grandmother's neck, hugging her close as he took in her rose-scented perfume that made him feel like everything will be okay.
He snuggled into the crook of her neck, "I just want everyone to be happy..."
"My dear," Narcissa sighed, making her way to Scorpius' room in the Manor, "Your father has and would continue to sacrifice the world for you...Now that Hermione is in the picture, I'm just as positive she would do the same for you. Having you growing up safe, happy, and healthy is what brings us so much joy in life. You are not responsible for their happiness however, they are adults and you are still ways away from becoming one yourself...As long as you're happy, they will be happy."
Scorpius looked down as his grandmother set him back on his feet, both standing in his room, "I'm sorry Grandma Cissy..."
The woman sat down on his bed, patted the space next to her, and he made his way to sit beside her. Wrapping an arm around him, she kissed the top of his head before tucking it under her chin, "It's okay Scorpius...you don't need to feel so guilty, you helped bring life into the world...that's the greatest gift anyone could ever ask for..."
The boy kicked off his shoes and curled himself onto his grandmother's lap, "Will dad and Mum 'Mione hate me?"
Narcissa sighed as she began combing her fingers through her grandchild's hair, "Your father and Hermione will be a bit out of sorts after they find out, but you don't need to worry about that...I'll take care of everything my darling. I will protect you and your sibling even if it means upsetting your father."
"I love you Grandma Cissy..." Scorpius spoke sleepily, his eyes began to droop.
Narcissa held him close and kissed his temple, "I love you more, my darling little Scorpion..."
•••
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•••
The bell chimed at the entrance to Granger's Books Imporium, and a tall figure entered the building to the surprise of it's owner and her boyfriend.
"Mother, what are you doing here?" Draco looked on with shock and confusion as he made his way to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Hermione followed after him and gave Narcissa a welcome hug, "If you had owl'd us you were coming, I would've rearranged the sitting area in advance."
Narcissa waved her hand, "That won't be necessary my dear, and good to see you both. Sorry for the last minute visitation, but I was wondering if I could borrow my grandson for lunch. I've been meaning to check out your Muggle neighborhood and decided to try a cafe or restro."
"He's upstairs reading a few Hogwarts textbooks." Hermione spoke proudly. Draco grinned at her, wrapping an arm around her waist, and kissing her temple.
Narcissa smiled at the sight, she had never seen Draco anywhere near this happy, closest thing would be when he had gotten his Nimbus 2001 from Lucius, the only time his old man had ever truly shown an ounce of support for his son.
"Draco darling, go get my grandson for me please, I'll keep my beloved potential-daughter-in-law company in the meantime." The older witch grinned at the blushing pair.
"Mother, we're still taking things slowly and enjoying each other's company before we rush into anything." Draco scratched the back of his head.
Narcissa rolled her eyes, "Oh please, you've known each other since you were both 11! You've gone through hell and back with each other and because of each other, yet here you are now. Looking happier than I've ever seen you. I wouldn't be surprised if you've gone and gotten her knocked up already."
"Mother!" Draco blushed furiously and Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets but laughed instead.
"Oh shoo! Go now, I want my grand baby." Narcissa waved her hand at her son. He shook his head and retreated up the stairs to the upper floors.
"Narcissa, it wouldn't be possible. The doctors had said it would be difficult for me to bear children as none of the medications, fertility inducing food, or whatever other trick up their sleeves were working. They don't have to tell me to know I'm infertile." Hermione gave her a sad smile before turning her back to the older witch to reorganize some books.
Narcissa gripped her wand and began preparing her mind for laser focus and concentration, "We're magical beings dear...even miracles are possible..."
•••
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Author's Note:
We're close to the end my dear readers, but don't fret, I'll make sure this story gets the happy ending it deserves.
Anywho, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! See you in the next one (^_^)