Since his wife's birthday fell on Thursday this year, Draco had made various plans throughout the school day to surprise Hermione on her special day. He knew her timetable as well as his own. He had told their students his plans for Professor Granger, and everything was ready until the Monday before her birthday.
After work, they'd gone for dinner with Alarte and Damon. They're due to return to university for their final year in October. Their workload, as they wrote their final dissertation and completed other assignments, meant they wouldn't have many opportunities to meet up during the year. Once they'd returned home, Hermione had spent most of the night in their bathroom with sickness. Draco suggested she take some time off work to recover. Still, she claimed to feel perfectly fine on Tuesday morning, so his birthday plans were back in action.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, Professor McGonagall called him out of class to take Hermione home. She ordered them to take as much time as needed to ensure Hermione felt better. Upon entering their Hogwarts room in the staff quarters, Draco found his sick wife asleep on their bed, shivering despite being wrapped in a thick blanket.
Over the next two days, Draco sent tasks in for each class. Minerva had assured them that she was sorting out Hermione's lessons, as neither of them returned to work as Hermione's sickness only worsened. She barely had the energy to get out of bed, so she kept a bucket beside her bed to throw up when needed.
Therefore, when Draco awakes on Thursday morning to find his wife missing from their bed, he panics. His heart thumping inside his chest, Draco scrambles out of bed and races into the bathroom, where he finds Hermione asleep on the bathroom mat, a towel thrown over herself for warmth.
"Hermione!" Draco kneels beside her shivering body, gently moving her sweaty hair out of her face to press his hand to her forehead.
"No," she mutters incoherently.
"You're burning up; I'm taking you to St Mungo's," he informs her, lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to bed.
"Mum," she complains as Draco lays her down.
Realising she isn't fully conscious, a deep worry settles in his stomach.
"Mitty!" Draco calls out as he rushes around their bedroom, stuffing an overnight bag with extra pairs of pyjamas, underwear and his wife's toiletries.
"Yes, Master?" Mitty pops into the bedroom, looks at Hermione, and then disappears.
Draco struggles to dress Hermione in her dressing gown, socks and slippers as he awaits Mitty's return from whatever she's doing.
"Mitty!" Draco calls again when he's ready to leave.
His house-elf pops back into his bedroom with a half-dressed Scorpius standing awkwardly beside her with one sock on, one sock in his mouth.
"I'll come back for Scorpius," he tells her. "Could you feed him breakfast while I'm gone?"
"Yes," Mitty nods, removing the sock from Scorpius' mouth.
"Thank you, Mitty." Draco places the overnight bag on his shoulder before picking his wife up bridal style and carrying her from their room.
The journey to the floo room takes far too long, in Draco's opinion, and he has made a mental note to start working out in case this ever happens again. Stepping inside the fireplace, Draco stands his wife carefully beside him so he can throw the floo powder to the ground.
"St Mungo's," he clearly speaks, sending them on their way to help.
On the floo level of St Mungo's, a group of porters wait behind a desk, ready to collect a wheelchair and transport incoming patients to their ward. As Draco and Hermione appear, he carries his wife over to the awaiting wheelchair, placing her gently down.
"Where to, sir?"
"Maternity ward. We need to see Healer Heath," Draco tells him.
"Call Healer Heath, the porter orders as they pass the desk, continuing towards the lifts.
Healer Heath is waiting at the lift doors when they arrive in the maternity ward, Hermione's file tucked under his arm. However, upon taking one look at the semi-conscious woman before him, he takes immediate control.
"I want Ms Granger close," he states, pushing the wheelchair towards the room beside his office.
After ordering two junior healers to help their patient into the bed, Healer Heath takes Draco into the corridor.
"Mr Malfoy, I need a history? How long has this been going on?"
"Since Monday night. We thought it was her pregnancy sickness, it happened in the evenings with Scorpius, and Hermione said she was fine on Tuesday morning. We went to work, but I brought her home by two o'clock. She was shivering but warm to the touch. I put her to bed and have kept her hydrated and fed with soup," Draco explains, his hands shaking as he gestures to his wife in the room. "We've got so much soup," he adds, blinking back his tears.
"Soup is good," Healer Heath assures him. "How often has she been vomiting?" He asks, scribbling notes into his patient file.
"It's still only on an evening but lasts up to six hours, and she's exhausted during the day. I've had to feed her and hold her glass to drink," Draco informs him.
"I believe Ms Granger is very dehydrated and feverish," the healer states. "You've been doing a good job trying to keep her drinking and eating, but with that amount of vomiting, I don't think it's actually helping. You should have brought her here on Tuesday night."
Draco's heart drops, "She's going to be okay, though, right?"
"I will need to keep Ms Granger here for the next two days. We'll keep her on an IV of isotonic fluids to hydrate her, which will also help her fight the fever." Healer Heath writes on his prescription pad, then hands it to a junior healer, who leaves to collect the medication.
Draco returns to Hermione's room, sitting beside her as he watches her sleep. Healer Heath returns five minutes later with the IV fluids and a large needle. Draco has to look away as he poles the needle into the back of Hermione's hand and attaches the IV fluid. After ten minutes, the permanent pained frown across his wife's forehead smooths as the fluid takes effect. Knowing Hermione's in safe hands, Draco stands and kisses her cheek before leaving.
Flooing back home, Draco finds Mitty and Scorpius finishing breakfast.
"Master?" Mitty's wide eyes stare hopefully at him.
"They're keeping Hermione in for a few days, but she'll be okay." Draco forcibly smiles.
"Mitty will help." She nods firmly.
"Thank you," Draco chuckles, knowing there's no stopping her. "I'm going to take Scorpius to visit Blaise. We've been stuck in this house too long."
"Mitty says hello."
"Of course," Draco agrees to pass on her well wishes to his best friend. "We'll be home late after visiting Hermione for dinner."
"Mitty do housework," she states, hands on her hips.
"You should take the day off," Draco offers.
"No." Mitty shakes her head.
Draco knows there will be no arguing with the house elf, so he leaves her to it, taking Scorpius upstairs to brush his teeth and hair. Hermione likes Scorpius' curls styled a specific way, and he wants their son to look adorable when they visit her later.
Once ready, they floo to the Leaky Cauldron, where Draco has a quick chat with Tom behind the bar before setting off into muggle London.
For his wife's birthday, he bought her a new bracelet with Scorpius' name engraved inside. Draco knows they both wrote on their Marriage Decree that they wanted three children. There was plenty of space on the bracelet for their unborn child's name to be added to another. Although, he hopes the third name won't be added for a long time.
However, with Hermione being in St Mungo's for the next few days, she won't be able to wear the bracelet, especially with the IV stuck in her hand. So, Draco decides to buy her a new book from one of the muggle shops, so she can read while she's at St Mungo's and recuperating at home.
Scorpius has only grown more confident on his feet since his birthday and refuses to be carried, although he still needs to hold his parent's hand to walk. Therefore, it takes them an hour to walk from the Leaky Cauldron to the nearest shops, usually fifteen minutes away. Draco takes them down a narrow alleyway he's never ventured down before, which houses rough-looking shopfronts. Halfway down, they stop at a second-hand bookshop with boxes of old books piled up on the street. Scorpius drops his father's hand to hold onto one of the boxes, running his hand along the spines of the pretty coloured books. Draco inspects a box labelled 'English Classics', full of works by Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and William Wordsworth. He only recognises one name, the muggle playwright Shakespeare, who became popular within the Wizarding world during his time.
One book looks newly printed, however, inspecting the cover page reveals it to be a vintage copy from the 1930s. On the title page is an inscription from the original buyer to their loved one.
'Dec 1945
My beloved H,
Love sought is good, but given unsought better.
Always yours, D.'
Draco stares at the cursive writing in shocked awe. What fate led him to pick this book from this specific bookshop on his wife's birthday? There's no doubt in his mind that Draco is meant to buy this book for Hermione.
"Da!" Scorpius shouts, repeatedly slapping the spine of one book.
"What have you found, Scorpius?" Draco bends down to his son's level, pulling the book his son is interested in out of the pile. "Do you want to buy this for mama?" he asks.
"Mama," Scorpius agrees, so Draco adds the collection of Sappho poetry to the copy of Twelfth Night he already has tucked beneath his arm.
"Hold my hand; we have to pay for these," he informs his son.
Scorpius takes his hand, struggling to climb up the step leading up to a closed door.
Draco tries the handle, but the door is locked. Before them, a sign asks them to ring the doorbell to purchase any books.
"Do you want to ring the bell?" Draco asks his son.
"Yea!" Scorpius lifts his arms up to be carried.
Draco lifts Scorpius up with one arm, and the boy presses the doorbell button, then claps his hand in excitement when they hear the bell ringing within the shop.
A few minutes later, an old man dressed in a suit with his white hair slicked back limps towards the door with an ivory-handled walking cane. He produces multiple keys on the end of a chain from his waistcoat pocket. It takes him a few more minutes to find the correct key to unlock the door and let him inside.
"How can I help you?" The old man loudly asks.
Draco smiles, "We'd like to purchase these books." He holds the books out.
"Of course, it's nice to have customers," the old man states, taking the books from Draco as he walks behind the counter.
"No!" Scorpius cries, throwing himself towards the man who had taken his book.
"Wait, Scorpius. The man will give them back once we've paid," Draco assures his son, smiling apologetically at the old man.
"Bit young to be into Greek poetry," he mentions, writing out their receipt.
"It's for his mother. It's her birthday, and she's not well," Draco explain.
Without empathy, the old man states, "That's five pounds."
Draco reaches into his pocket for his walled, pulling out a ten-pound note and handing it over, but the man shakes his head.
"It's not five pounds each," the man clarifies.
Draco narrows his eyes with confusion, glancing at his ten-pound note.
"Correct money only," the old man adds.
Sighing, Draco checks his wallet, already knowing he doesn't have five-pound notes, so he just hands the money over, "I'll just pay ten pounds; they're in good condition."
"Thank you, sir." The old man grins, placing the note in his pocket.
"Yeah, thanks." Draco takes the books from the counter, handing the collection of Sappho's poetry to his son. "Keep a tight hold," he tells Scorpius as they lead.
"Mama." Scorpius grins proudly.
"Yes, we'll take them to Mama later."
Draco wishes they could spend the whole day with Hermione. Still, she'll be sleeping at St Mungo's, and Scorpius would only grow restless without his mother's attention. So, as planned, Draco takes Scorpius to Blaise and Benjamin's apartment. He doesn't like apparating with Scorpius, to decides to take the bus. After spending five minutes searching a map of London for the borough where Blaise lives, an old lady with a trolley bag asks where he's trying to go. She instantly knows which number bus he needs and where to find the bus stop. Draco thanks her and follows her instructions to the correct bus stop. Scorpius allows his father to carry him, so he can keep a tight hold of his book.
The bus ends up being a double-decker, so Draco takes Scorpius up to the top deck and sits at the front, so he can watch where they're going. The journey to Blaise's apartment last twenty minutes. Draco tells Scorpius when to press the button to stop the bus. Feeling a sense of achievement at navigating Muggle London alone, he can't wait to inform Hermione when he sees her tonight. Scorpius decides to walk again, so it takes thirty minutes to reach the front door of the apartment building. He hasn't seen Benjamin since Blaise's failed wedding, where Draco knows the man confessed his love to Blaise. The two men had taken the summer to travel around Europe. At the same time, Pandora spent a few months with her mother, travelling around South America. Draco doesn't know how their travels went, as he and Blaise hadn't had much opportunity to talk at Scorpius' birthday party. It would be nice to catch up with them both.
As they approach the apartment, a teenage girl leaves and holds the door open for them, so he doesn't have to ring their bell. Draco carries Scorpius up the stairs to Blaise and Benjamin's floor, where he knocks on their door and waits.
Benjamin answers the door in a t-shirt and pair of shorts. He takes one look at them and frowns.
"How'd you get in here?"
"Some girl let us in. Are you busy?" Draco asks, feeling awkward.
"Hmm, no, sorry. We've had some burglaries in the building. We're not supposed to let people in unless we know them," Benjamin explains, stepping aside to let them in. "Isn't it Hermione's birthday?" He asks, realising she isn't with him.
"Yeah," Draco says, looking around the apartment for Blaise. "Where is he?"
"In the shower," Benjamin answers. "Are you alright?" He asks, looking concerned.
"Not really," Draco admits, smiling sadly at Benjamin.
"Dora's watching TV, settling Scorpius down with her, and I'll put the kettle on," Benjamin instructs him.
Draco nods, placing Scorpius on the rug beside Pandora.
"Hello," Pandora greets them.
Scorpius waves his hand in her face as his own greeting. Pandora giggles, grabbing hold of his hand and shaking it. Then, Pandora stands to her feet and walks over to her toy box to choose a toy for Scorpius to play with. She decides on a wooden shape-matching game.
Draco leaves them to play, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Benjamin joins him in the kitchen, preparing the cups.
"I told Blaise you're here," Benjamin tells him. "He'll be five minutes."
"So, how were your travels?" Draco asks, trying to keep the conversation off him.
He sees Benjamin's shoulders tighten, "Great. We had a really great time."
"Are you alright?" Draco returns his question.
Benjamin laughs, then admits, "Not really." He turns to face him, "I know you know what I told Blaise at his wedding," he begins.
"Ah, yes," Draco agrees. "I haven't told anyone except Hermione."
He chuckles, "Thank you, I appreciate that."
"I'm guessing being close to him for two months didn't help you get over him," Draco suggests.
Benjamin shakes his head, "It certainly wasn't easy." He turns to pour the boiled water into their cups.
"I tried to call Blaise on his birthday, but he didn't answer or return my call. You were in Paris, right?" Draco asks as Benjamin hands over his cup, which nearly slips out of his hand at the question.
"Yes, we were in Paris for a few days," Benjamin agrees. "For his birthday, we went around the Louvre and had dinner on the River Seine."
As Benjamin places the three mugs of tea on the kitchen table, Draco notices a small smile gracing his face.
"Did you make it to the Eiffel Tower?" Draco asks, sipping from his mug.
"What?" Benjamin asks, paling with wide eyes as he stares at Draco.
"Blaise loves the Eiffel Tower, especially at night, when it's all lit up," Draco comments.
"Oh, yeah." Benjamin runs his hand down his face.
The bathroom door opens, and Blaise exits in a towel wrapped around his hips.
"Hi, Draco," Blaise peers over the half-wall separating the kitchen from the living room. "I'll be a few minutes." He smiles, heading into the wrong bedroom.
Draco's eyes narrow, knowing that the bedroom Blaise just entered is Benjamin's because Draco helped Blaise move into Benjamin's apartment. He doesn't voice his suspicions, focusing on his cup of tea.
"Where else did you travel?" He asks instead.
"We spent a week in each city. After Paris, we went to Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Milan, Toulouse and Madrid," Benjamin lists off.
"You were certainly busy. I'll forgive Blaise for not returning my calls," Draco jokes. "Where was your favourite city?"
"Paris," Benjamin answers without thinking.
Draco just nods.
Blaise joins them a few minutes later, his hair still wet, and sits between Benjamin and Draco.
"Where's Hermione? It's her birthday, isn't it?" Blaise asks, taking a long drink from his tea.
After swallowing hard, Draco admits, "She's at St Mungo's."
"For a check-up?" Blaise asks, eyebrows furrowed.
Draco shakes his head, "She's not well. They're keeping her in for a few days."
"Shit, Draco. What happened?" Blaise places a comforting hand on his friend's hand.
Draco rolls his eyes, "Morning sickness."
"I knew it!" Blaise cheers. "Didn't I tell you, Benji?"
"What is St Mungo's?" He asks.
"A hospital," Blaise quickly answers. "She wasn't that bad with Scorpius, was she?"
"She was bad, but not this bad." Draco shakes his head. "She's got a fever, too and is very dehydrated."
"We'll she's in the best place, isn't she," Blaise assures him. "Your healer is one of the best. He's got all that muggle training."
Draco glances at Benjamin, who is just shaking his head, clearly confused but used to it.
"Yeah, Heath is great. He's got her hooked up to an IV of fluid. It seems to be working." Draco shrugs.
"I've no idea what that is, but I'm glad she's getting better," Blaise comments.
"You two are weird," Benjamin comments.
"Yes, we know." Blaise shakes his head. "We lived under a rock for most of our lives," he jokes.
"Okay," Benjamin sighs, standing up. "I'll leave you, so you don't have to talk in code." He walks into the living room, which doesn't offer Draco and Blaise much privacy, but it's better than nothing.
"What is going on between you two?" Draco leans forward to whisper.
"What are you talking about?" Blaise frowns.
"Benjamin was acting strange when I asked him about your birthday in Paris, and then you went into his bedroom after you got out of the shower. Are you together?" Draco asks.
"Draco, we swapped bedrooms because I got Pandora an actual bed instead of a crib. Benji had the bigger room and offered to switch," Blaise explains.
"Oh, that makes sense." Draco leans back in his seat.
"Although we did kiss in Paris," Blaise smirks.
"What!" Draco hits Blaise's shoulder. "What did you do that for? After everything that happened with Cara because you didn't tell her about our world. Why would you risk it again."
"We were drunk at the top of the Eiffel Tower at night," Blaise defends himself. "And it was my birthday. It was so fucking romantic, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about Benji like that since he told me he loved me," he sighs. "But nothing's happened since."
"So, you're not together?"
"No. I promised myself I'd never enter into another relationship with a muggle without telling them, and I can't risk losing Benjamin in my life," Blaise admits.
"I don't think Benjamin will have the same reaction as Cara," Draco mentions.
"I can't risk it," Blaise repeats. "And something's going on with him; he's started reading the Bible."
Draco laughs, "Okay, I've read it too. That doesn't mean anything."
"It does to muggles," Blaise says.
"Have you asked him why he's reading the Bible?"
"No, I don't want to know." Blaise shrugs, crossing his arms.
"Sure you don't." Draco shakes his head, amused, as he finishes his cup of tea. "Mitty says hello."
Blaise grins, "I miss Mitty. Can we come over for dinner one night? Once Hermione's better."
"Of course, Mitty loves cooking for guests," Draco agrees. "I'll text you when we're free."
"Anyway, you'll never guess what happened in Berlin," Blaise begins, then launches into a full hour-long story about his and Benjamin's two-month holiday around Europe. There are so many tangents that Draco never finds out what actually happened in Berlin; he's just glad to have a distraction.
Afterwards, Draco and Blaise join their children in the living room, where they're playing with some stuffed toys, throwing them at each other and giggling. Benjamin snaps a few pictures and then takes the camera over to his desk.
"What is all this?" Draco asks, intrigued as he leans over Benjamin's shoulder, watching his every move. "Is this a television?"
"It's a computer," Benjamin explains. "You can use it to write documents, print things out and surf the internet, although I'm guessing you don't know what that is either."
"No," Draco admits, feeling a little embarrassed.
"It's basically like a library where you can find out any information you want," Benjamin informs him.
"Interesting; where can you get one of these internets?"
Benjamin burst into laughter, "Sorry, you need a computer and a landline to connect it too. We don't have a house phone, so we can keep our computer connected permanently."
"Where do you buy these computers?"
"Any technology shop?" Benjamin sighs. "Look, they're expensive. I've been saving for years to buy this piece of crap. Blaise helped with the last few hundred pounds, not that he ever uses it."
"I'm a technophobe," Blaise calls out, an excuse he frequently uses in the muggle world.
"Yet you watch TV and have a phone, sure thing," Benjamin calls back, not believing him. "Here are your pictures." Benjamin collects them from the other machine. "This is a printer," he says slowly, as though talking to a baby.
"Thank you." Draco smiles. "I'm sure Hermione will appreciate this."
"Mama," Scorpius says after hearing his mother's name. He's no longer interested in throwing soft toys around.
"Yes, we'll go see Mama now," Draco agrees. "Thanks for having us for a few hours. I'll text you when we're free for that dinner."
"Definitely, I'll walk you down." Blaise holds the door open for Draco and Scorpius.
They remain silent as they walk down the numerous flights of stairs until they reach the front door.
"You need to talk to Benjamin," Draco states.
Blaise sighs, "I know. I need to sort my shit out."
"It's not just you who is confused and hurting right now. He told you he loved you, then three months later, you kiss him and then don't talk about it."
"I know, Draco. I like him, but I told you how I feel about dating a muggle again," Blaise warns him.
"So tell him. You've known him longer than you knew Cara, and you know him better than you ever knew her. You've lived with him for over a year now. It was supposed to be a temporary living situation, but now he's given up his bedroom for you and Pandora. He doesn't just love you; he loves Pandora too. I wish you would come to your senses," Draco tells him.
Blaise frowns, unimpressed, "You don't know what it's like. You got everything you wanted and never thought you'd get in the Marriage Decree. You fell in love with the wife you were forced to marry."
"You don't think I ever second guess our whole relationship. I love Hermione with everything I have, but I know we'd never be here without the Marriage Decree, and that scares me. She never would have given me a chance otherwise. I would never have pursued her. It's terrifying, but I live every day to prove myself to her and our son," Draco voices his worries for the first time. "You won't have to second guess anything because you'll know you chose each other from the beginning. They'll be no doubt. Just tell him how you feel, and give yourself time to be together before you tell him everything else. When you tell him, give him longer than ten minutes to come to terms with it, and if it all goes to shit, obliviate him like you did to Cara." Draco knows it's a low blow, but he needs Blaise to get his shit together.
His best friend stares at him in shock, "Why didn't you tell me about all that? You used to tell me everything."
"I keep some things private from everyone, even myself. I've never put those feelings into words before," Draco admits, leaning against the wall.
"Hey, it's okay." Blaise hugs him. "You're right though, I need to tell him everything eventually. He's one of my best friends, and I have the same worries as I did with Cara. Pandora's already started showing magic, which I've been able to excuse, but there will be one time I can't," he sighs. "Can I ask you a favour?"
"Depends what it is," Draco replies, feeling on edge by Blaise's sudden request.
"If I tell Benjamin, and he takes it as bad as Cara, I'll obliviate him, but I can't lose him," Blaise states. "I need you to obliviate me afterwards. Take everything from before I told him, so we can continue like we were."
Draco's mouth falls open as he shakes his head, "You can't ask me to do that, Blaise."
"It won't be any time soon, but think about it, please?" He begs.
"No, I won't obliviate you, Blaise," he hisses. "That's dangerous magic; you know what happened with Hermione's parents."
"I'm giving you my consent, though," Blaise says. "If you don't, I'll ask Hermione; she has experience."
"No, you won't," Draco warns him. "Hermione's guilty enough about having to obliviate her own parents."
"You two are the only ones I trust to do it without judgement," Blaise admits.
"I'm already judging you," Draco points out.
"It'll only be a day worth of memories gone," he tries to convince him.
"I want to help you, I do, but I don't know if I can do this," Draco admits. "Benjamin and I are friends; let me know when you'll tell him, and I'll come to help you."
"Will you at least think about it?" Blaise sighs.
"I can think about it, but my answer will be the same," Draco assures him.
"Just think about it," Blaise repeats.
"Fine." Draco pretends to give in but knows there's no way he will ever agree to obliviate his best friend.
"Thank you." Blaise hugs him again. "I love you, man."
"Yeah, you too," Draco mutters, pushing his friend off him. "We're going. I will text you about dinner."
"Can I invite Benji too?" Blaise asks.
"The whole dinner is because you miss Mitty's cooking. How are you going to explain a house-elf to Benjamin?" Draco asks.
"Okay, okay," Blaise laughs. "Never mind, see you later." He opens the door again.
Draco carries Scorpius towards the bus stop that would take them back into London.
"What is Blaise like, hmm?" He mutters to his son.
"Ba?"
"Yeah, Blaise. He's in too deep with Benjamin," he adds.
"Mama?"
"Yes, we're going to ride the bus to mama," Draco confirms.
This time, they sit on the bottom deck of the bus. Scorpius still kneels on his father's lap, peering out of the window at the passing people and vehicles and pointing out anything interesting.
They make it to the Leaky Cauldron by three o'clock, where they floo to St Mungo's. They walk down the corridor a few minutes later towards Hermione's room. Before entering, Draco places Scorpius down on his feet and kneels before him.
"Mama is unwell, so we must be quiet, okay?" Draco tells his son.
Scorpius nods, understanding his father's words.
Draco pushes the door open, holding onto Scorpius's hand as they enter.
"Mama?" Scorpius asks, unable to see her on the bed.
"Scorpius?" Hermione calls her son, her voice croaky but stronger than it has been in days.
Scorpius' face lights up as he smiles at his father. Draco lifts Scorpius up to sit beside his mother. Hermione's hand reaches out from beneath the covers that are pulled up to her chin, and Scorpius instantly grabs it, placing her palm against his cheek.
"Hi, baby," she mutters.
Draco sits in the chair beside Hermione's bed, just watching his wife and son cuddle as Scorpius gently lays his head on his mother's chest. Hermione's hand moves to stroke her son's hair.
Finally, Hermione's eyes lock with Draco's, and she smiles.
"Happy birthday," Draco mouths, not wanting to distract Scorpius.
"Thank you," she mouths back.
They sit silently until they realise Scorpius has fallen asleep against his mother's chest.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asks.
"Better than I have in days," she admits. "Probably thanks to this." She raises her hand with the IV fluid attached.
"You scared me this morning," Draco says.
"I'm sorry, Draco."
"It's not your fault." He shakes his head. "I just realised you were right; I can't lose you, Hermione. I think you should step down from the mess we created. You must focus on feeling better and being healthy for our baby."
Hermione's eyes widen, "I want us both to step down."
"I can't do that; I need to protect you and our children," Draco explains.
"And how can you do that if you get yourself killed?" Hermione asks.
Draco doesn't know how to answer.
"Exactly, you can't. We need you more than MACUSA does," she states.
Draco shakes his head, "I don't want to talk about this right now."
"You brought it up," Hermione reminds him.
"I know; I just want you to be safe."
"I feel safe with you," she admits.
Draco picks her hand up and kisses her palm.
"What have you and Scorpius been up to today?" She asks. "He's tired out."
"We went shopping around Muggle London, and he insisted on walking for most of it. Then we caught the bus to Blaise and Benjamin's flat. Scorpius played with Pandora for about two hours." Draco removes the picture from his pocket, offering it to Hermione.
"Look at their smiles; they're adorable." Hermione smiles as she stares at the picture. "How are they, Blaise and Benjamin?"
Draco rolls his eyes, "They need to get a hold of themselves. Blaise told me they kissed at the top of the Eiffel Tower after a day of romantic activities for his birthday."
"Are they together?"
"No, Blaise has a complex. He doesn't want to date a muggle without telling them, in case he gets a repeat of Cara," Draco explains. "I told him to give Benjamin a chance, then tell him when they're comfortable." He doesn't dare mention Blaise's request to obliviate him if everything goes wrong.
Hermione shakes her head fondly, "There's something different about Benjamin. I'm sure he'll come around once he's told."
Draco nods in agreement, "Other than that, they seemed to have a nice time travelling."
Hermione yawns and struggles to keep her eyes open as her tiredness overwhelms her.
"Sleep; we'll still be here when you wake up," Draco assures her.
A few minutes later, Hermione is fast asleep, so Draco takes the copy of Twelfth Night that he bought for his wife and begins reading. Over the next couple of hours, A junior healer visits to check Hermione's IV fluid, and Healer Heath calls Draco into the hall to give him a positive update. Hermione can go home the next afternoon once her course of medication has finished.
When Hermione awakes again, Draco helps her into a wheelchair, with Scorpius sitting on her lap, and pushes them down to the canteen for dinner. Hermione isn't required to eat anything since her nutrients are coming from her IV fluid. Draco buys Scorpius a bowl of macaroni and cheese with a carton of juice while he has just a sandwich and a bag of crisps. Once finished, Draco passes Scorpius the book he chose for his mother.
"Mama," Scorpius says, handing the book over.
"Oh, what do you have there?" Hermione grins, taking the book. "Is this for my birthday?"
"Yea," Scorpius agrees, then begins to incoherently babble about buying the book.
Hermione nods and hums along with her son's story before looking at the book cover. "Fascinating. Did you choose this yourself?"
Scorpius rolls his eyes and throws his arms in the air as if to say, 'I just told you'.
"Okay, sorry," Hermione chuckles. "Thank you, baby." She opens her arms for Scorpius to give her a hug, which he does, throwing himself at his mother.
"Scorpius spent a long time choosing that book," Draco explains, pulling out his own gift to Hermione. "As I did with this?" He hands it over.
"Draco!" Hermione cries. "You didn't have to get me anything. You have done enough for me these past few days."
Draco shakes his head. "In sickness and in health," he reminds her.
Head tilted, she narrows her eyes, "That was never in our vows."
"It was implied." Draco shrugs.
"I don't think the Minister cared that much," she mentions, finally glancing at the book's cover. "Twelfth Night, Shakespeare?" She grins.
"Open it up," he excitedly says.
Chuckling, Hermione opens to the cover page, where she finds the inscription and reads.
"Did you write this?" She asks.
"No, it came in the book. The initials, the quote, it's perfect."
"It really is; what a coincidence?" Hermione closes the book and struggles to hug her husband without them getting tangled in her IV fluid.
"I should take you back to your room before Heath comes looking for you," Draco says, helping Scorpius back onto his mother's lap.
Scorpius spends the journey from the cafeteria to the maternity ward talking about the picture of himself and Pandora in his toddler babble.
Hermione is exhausted when she is wheeled back into her room, so Draco helps her to bed, where she quickly drifts off to sleep. Before leaving, Scorpius gives his mother a kiss on her forehead, similar to how Hermione kisses him goodnight, then raises his arms up for Draco to carry him.
"Bubu, Mama." Scorpius waves over Draco's shoulder as they leave.
"Yes, bye-bye, mama," Draco agrees.
Once home, Draco takes Scorpius into the living room, puts one of their VHS' into the player, and presses play. As soon as his son is settled, watching a film about toys that can come alive, he leaves to call Sarah and Chris to inform them of their daughter's condition. He assures them their healer is using muggle medicine to heal her, which brings them some peace of mind, but Sarah wishes to go with them the next afternoon to pick her up. Draco agrees before hanging up. There was no point arguing with a worried parent about their sick child, no matter the age of their child. Draco returns to the living room but promptly falls asleep on the couch; his son sits beside him, eyes fixated on the film.