Chapter Text
Chapter 4
After graduation, Harry and Ginny had completely remodeled Grimmauld Place. What was once a dreary townhome filled with blood purist paintings and Slytherin green furnishings, was now filled with bright colors and both moving and muggles pictures of friends and family. While it wasn’t her quaint house in Hampstead that Hermione loved so much, she was happy to have the constant support that Harry and Ginny gave when she lived with them.
She sat at their kitchen table while she waited for Harry and Ron to return. She knew her best friends were having a “talk” with Draco. In Ron’s words, we’ll see what he wants but regardless we’re giving the ferret a stern talking to. Harry had turned back to her before he left to tell her that he’d punch him again if he threatened Hermione or the babies. She had given him a wobbly smile in return. She was grateful for those two.
Her ginger tea was starting to grow cold as she circled her spoon absentmindedly, lost in her thoughts and memories.
—- Flashback —-
Hermione had still been sobbing on the floor of her house when Ginny and Harry flooed over after Draco broke up with her. They didn’t even know why she was so distraught until the following morning when Hermione could finally string words together through her sobs to explain what had happened. While Ginny became enraged and started spewing off everything she’d do to the ferret, Harry was deadly calm. He seemed to be thinking something over in his mind and then, coming to a decision, he floo called all of their friends to come over.
Theo, Pansy, Ron, Daphne, Neville, Luna and Blaise had come over within the hour. Hermione was cuddled on the couch still crying into Ginny’s shoulder. When Pansy made the mistake of asking where Draco was, Hermione began hyperventilating, causing Harry to give her another calming draught.
Once the drought took effect, Hermione had relaxed enough to explain. “Draco broke up with me to marry Astoria. He told me that he needed to fulfill his family duties and that our arrangement had been fun…” She trailed off as fresh tears filled her eyes.
Pansy and Daphne’s eyes had bugged out of their heads and they rushed to her side to pull her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Pansy declared.
“He’s dead to me,” Daphne agreed.
“The worst part is that he doesn’t even know,” Hermione whispered.
Harry’s brow furrowed. “Know what, Hermione?”
“I was going to tell him but then he broke up with me,” she said softly. “I’m pregnant.”
“Fuck,” Blaise swore as collective gasps sounded from around the room.
“Hermione, darling,” Theo said as he reached for her hand. “I’ll marry you. We can pretend the baby is mine and you won’t have to worry about anything.”
“I’d offer to marry you, Mione but you know I love Daph and we never worked out well together,” Ron said sheepishly.
Hermione laughed for the first time. “Merlin, that would be a terrible idea.” She turned to Theo. “That’s very sweet of you, Theo, but I can’t even begin to think of that right now plus I can’t do that to you. Also, its babies, plural. I’m having twins.”
Everyone's eyes widened.
“It’s not an imposition at all. I’d gladly do it,” he added eagerly. Pansy and Daphne both smirked.
“Honestly I just need my friends right now,” Hermione said, swallowing a lump in her throat. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“We’ll all help you with them,” Ginny assured her, patting her hand.
—--
Hermione was pulled from her memories as she heard the floo sound from Harry and Ginny’s kitchen. She felt a flutter in her stomach as she felt one of the twins move.
“Mione?” Harry called. “You there?”
“Quick!” She answered. “I feel one of the babies!”
Two sets of feet rushed into the kitchen. Harry and Ron were wide eyed as they reached her and placed their hands on her growing stomach.
“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully. “They must have stopped.”
They sighed as they sat down next to her.
“We just saw the prat who shall not be named,” Ron announced. Harry watched Hermione carefully for her response. Even after a few months, any mention of Draco could cause her to go into a downward spiral. She used to pride herself on how resilient she was and hated that he momentarily shattered it for her.
“What happened?” she asked, trying not to let her voice wobble.
“He disinherited himself,” Harry replied. “He’s Draco Black now. He removed himself from the family tapestry and ended the engagement. There will be a full page spread in tomorrow’s Prophet.”
“You think he’s telling the truth?”
“He wasn’t wearing the infamous Malfoy signet ring,” Ron added. “He was torn up.”
“He should be!” She spat.
“We agree,” Harry said, shooting Ron a warning look.
“What I’m trying to say, Mione, is that he seems genuine and he seems to be devastated by what he did. He said seeing you at the gala was the catalyst.”
“His reputation and the knowledge of his two heirs were the catalyst,” she seethed.
Ron nodded, “He has a lot to prove to you and to everyone. We’re not on his side. We just wanted to tell you what he told us after he reached out. What you do is your decision. We’ll support you no matter what.”
“He also asked you to read the Prophet tomorrow,” Harry said, reaching for her hand that wasn’t on her stomach.
Hermione looked at her best friends and nodded. “I love you both.”
“We love you too,” Harry returned as they both stood up to give her a hug.
“I don’t know what to do,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I want my babies to know their father. I won’t take that from my children.”
“You don’t have to have all the answers right now,” Harry assured her, stroking her back. “Just focus on your pregnancy. Ginny, Daph and Pansy are going to help you baby-proof your house today right?”
“Yes, and get started on the nursery. Pansy supposedly has a vision and I’m too tired to fight her on it.”
“I’m sure it will be beautiful no matter what,” Ron said with a gentle smile.
“I just asked for neutral tones since I don’t know the genders yet.”
“When do you find that out?” Ron asked, walking away from their group hug to make his own cup of tea.
“Technically I already can find out but I keep going back and forth on whether or not I want it to be a surprise. I thought I would have Draco to make these decisions with. He used to be so good with my indecisiveness,” She said, her voice grew quieter towards the end.
———
A week had passed since Draco had met with Potter and the Weasel. True to their word, they told him that Hermione had agreed to hear about their conversation and read the Prophet article. She hadn’t responded to any of the letters that Draco sent and when he asked Potter and Weasel, they wouldn’t tell him if she even read them.
No matter, he’d get her to respond eventually. Right?
Despite Hermione not replying, he did hear from Pansy and Daphne. Both of them sent a howler that started out quite cruel but then ended by telling him to make it right with his little lion and future cubs. It pained Draco hearing that. His cubs .
He hadn’t heard from Lucius since his infamous letter but his mother reported to him that Lucius had sent her one. Draco had actually laughed when he read his request for his mother to use an unforgivable to make Draco undo the damage. Narcissa had rolled her eyes and told him she’d take care of it so Draco gladly let it go. He had enough to focus on.
A few more days passed before a small golden owl greeted Draco one morning as he reviewed several different listings in Hampstead that were close to Hermione’s house.
His mouth dropped open when he realized who the owl belonged to. Hermione .
He greeted her owl, Athena, and fed her a treat before his shaking hands took the letter from the owl's talons.
With and uneven breath, Draco tore the letter open and began to read,
Draco,
Meet me at Grimmuald Place this Thursday evening at 6pm. You have exactly 1 hour to talk to me. Don’t be late.
Hermione
It was short. Draco read it repeatedly until he was sure that there were no secret meanings in her brief message. Even so, he was elated to see her familiar handwriting yet he was also terrified. He had two days to prepare. Two days to prepare his case for her. This called for help.
Blaise arrived shortly after with a muggle whiteboard and markers.
“What is this for?” Draco asked, confused.
“I always see muggles do this when they’re trying to plan something big in the movies,” he explained. “It’s called a ‘war room.’”
Draco rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the grin. Blaise was truly a good friend. “Right then, let’s begin.”
The two spent hours in Draco’s study going through potential talking points and arguments. Draco didn’t want to stutter or come off brash. He needed to remain calm, regretful and open. He could do that.
Once they were satisfied, they made a list of the top three flats in Hampstead that fit Draco’s criteria. His main goal was to eventually move back in with Hermione and the babies so he didn’t want anything extravagant. He also needed to make sure he could afford it in case Lucius was able to change his mother’s support.
He knew getting a job would be an important step in earning Hermione’s forgiveness. He needed to show her that he was his own man, making his own decisions. He didn’t want a career that was too demanding. Ideally he’d be doing something where he could work from home and spend time with his children. Lucius hadn’t been around much during Draco’s childhood and when he was, he was cold and distant. Draco, on the other hand, wanted to be a father who his children could rely on and shower them with love at every opportunity.
With his potions mastery and background of handling all of the Malfoy financials, Draco was fairly confident he could fulfill a need in the market for increasing production of certain medications and potions that weren’t readily available and grew more expensive as a result, like Granger’s Lycanthropy cure, which was soon to be released to the general public and was already causing worry that there wouldn’t be enough.
Through Blaise, Draco was already working his way through the necessary business permits and meeting with suppliers who could help him get started. While starting a business of this magnitude during such a turbulent time in his life wasn’t ideal, Draco knew it had to be done. He would be able to solve a problem that would pain Granger and the wizarding public while he made a massive profit.
Before he knew it, Thursday evening arrived and Draco was dressed in his finest. He stood near the floo with his Tempus charm up so he could count down the seconds until 6pm. He would get there at exactly 5:59:59. He knew she appreciated being on time.
Stepping through the floo, Draco arrived at Grimmauld Place at the time he wanted. It was quiet in the parlor as he looked around. The only noise being a burgundy grandfather clock as it chimed to announce the new hour.
“Hermione?” he called, his voice gravelly.
Hermione appeared immediately through the doorway, her eyes wide as she took him in, looking uncertain. Draco swallowed a whimper that threatened to escape as he gazed up at her form. She was wearing a red sweater dress that did nothing to hide her bump and he was grateful. She looked like an angel. Her hair was curled to perfection and she had on a red lip that made him want to nip at her lower lip.
“Hello, Draco,” she said, her voice quiet but calm. The fire in her tone from when they last met was gone. “Harry and Ginny aren’t here but all I need to do is send a patronus and they’ll apparate here immediately.”
Draco nodded, still dumbstruck at her beauty. He wanted to touch her bump, feel his babies, that would be okay, right?
“Let’s go to their library, Kreacher has tea for us.”
He followed her through the townhome and cursed himself for not saying anything yet. He had been preparing with Blaise non stop for this for the last two days. He needed to get it together.
“How are you feeling?” He asked. “How are the babies?”
She sighed. “I’m doing the best I can. The babies are thriving. I have another appointment next week.”
Draco’s breath hitched. He wanted to go to that appointment.
They passed through the doorway of the library and sat across from each other. Hermione’s hands were fidgeting in her lap as she said, “You have one hour Draco, no more. Say what you need to say.”
Draco realized that he just needed to get everything out there.
“I made the biggest mistake of my life when I chose my family duty over you. I never wanted to hurt you, Hermione. I know I did anyway and in the worst way possible. I don’t care about blood purity. I don’t want to be my father. I have always loved you. It’s always been you. It will continue to always be you no matter how this turns out between us. I am so fucking sorry. You deserve so much better than me. I should have told you about the letter from Lucius regarding the betrothal as soon as I got it. We could have had so much time to figure a way out of it. But I didn’t do that. I only thought about myself and how I would bring you down. I thought about how I would fuck up your accolades and that you deseverd someone who would only improve your standing. I didn’t think about what you wanted. I was a coward. I’m so sorry, Hermione.
I also want to apologize for how late it took me to get my shit together to realize I fucked up. I know you think that I’m only doing this because you're pregnant but I’d like to think I would have done the same thing I’m doing now even if you weren’t. I’ve thought about you every single day and have been a mess without you. Just seeing you across the room before I could tell you were pregnant caused a bomb to go off within me. You ruined me, Hermione. I am yours and I have always been yours.”
He was breathing heavily towards the end, he kept his eyes trained on her the entire time. He wanted her to see that he meant every word. Hermione had tears in her eyes as she stared back at him, perfect little droplets falling down her high cheekbones. He wanted to lick the salt from her face.
“Thank you for the apology but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you. My heart is shattered, Draco. It feels like every promise, every touch, every kiss was a lie. Our entire relationship feels like a lie. I know you say that it wasn’t but I’ve lived the last three months feeling so fucking betrayed by you.” Her voice was now steely.
“It wasn’t a lie, Hermione, I promise. I was a coward. I’ve loved you since sixth year. I love you now and I will love you for the rest of my life. You’re it for me, Hermione. I was a fool to let you go. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to prove that to you.”
She wiped a tear from her eye and took a steadying breath. “These are all pretty words, Draco, but I need action. I know you removed yourself from the Malfoy family. That’s a step but I’m going to need a hell of a lot more if I’m ever going to be able to move forward with you. And that is a big if.”
Draco nodded vigorously. He knew that.
Hermione continued. “That being said, I want my children to know their father. I would never rob you of that but I have requirements if you’re going to be in their life and these are non-negotiables.”
“Okay,” Draco said immediately. This was going as good as it could be, all things considered.
“They will take my last name. We are not married and I am carrying them. They will live at my house in Hampstead and they will never meet Lucius, Narcissa or anyone who believes in that blood purist bullshit.”
Her conditions broke his heart but he understood and he deserved it. Maybe he could one day become a Granger too. He wasn’t opposed. Draco needed to pose one amendment though. “My mother has been supportive of my decision and she says that she only wants me to be happy. Honestly, she’s been extremely excited about our twins so I ask you to reconsider so my mother can meet her.”
Hermione considered this for a minute, she had a faraway look in her eyes that meant she was thinking heavily. “As long as she’s not a blood purist, then she can meet them but I will always be present and the second she makes a comment about blood status, she cannot be around them.”
“Understood, thank you Hermione.” He appreciated her bending this rule for him. It was a big win and he was hoping that they could continue to make strides.
“I have an appointment with my healer on Monday morning if you would like to come? I’ll find out the sex of the babies and I figured you should be present for that since you haven’t been able to experience most of my pregnancy.”
“Fuck yes, please Hermione,” he begged.
“Okay, meet me at St. Mungos at 9:45am. My appointment is at 10.”
Draco resolved to be there at 9:30am. Nothing would keep him from being there for her and their cubs. After hearing that from Pansy, he couldn’t get it out of his mind. He longed to call her his little lion again. “Thank you, Hermione. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
She only nodded and looked away, he saw the depth of her emotions in her eyes and he struggled to keep his composure as well.
“I’m looking at flats in Hampstead so I can be near to help you and the twins whenever you need me.”
“Oh!” She replied, looking surprised. “Really?”
“Yes, I want you to know that you can rely on me. I’m hoping to sign off on one this weekend so I can move in next week. All are available for immediate move in.”
“Alright then,” she breathed. “I guess that makes sense.”
“I’m also starting a new venture. I won’t bore you with all the details now since our time is almost up but I want you to know that I’m not going to rely on my family money to provide for you and our twins. I know you don’t need me to be a provider but let me show you that I’m serious. I’m done being a Malfoy. I want to be the man you deserve.”
Hermione’s eyes were wide as she nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay,” Draco breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m going to go lay down now,” she said as she stood up from the loveseat. “This has been…a lot for me but I’ll see you on Monday?”
“Yes, I wouldn’t miss it,” he promised as he mirrored her actions. “Do you need help with anything?”
“No, not right now,” she replied with a small smile. “On Monday we can talk more about what to do next. I’ve done a little shopping already with Pansy, Ginny and Daphne but I think you may enjoy it so we can go together sometime soon.”
“I would love that, Hermione,” he said genuinely. He wanted to hold her while she fell asleep like he used to. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Good luck with the job and the flat hunting. I’ll see you soon.” She turned and walked towards the stairs that led to what must be her bedroom at Grimmauld.
Draco watched her ascend the steps wistfully before turning to leave himself. He was proud of how much he kept it together but he couldn’t help but notice how drawn she had seemed. For being four months pregnant, she seemed too skinny. She needed him to take care of her. He used to be so good at that and he had reveled in it. He resolved himself to do it stealthily. No one, not even herself, could take care of her like he could.
Heading to the floo, he made a promise to himself that he would take care of her from the shadows for now until she was ready to let him back in. After all, he was going to be a father soon and he wanted so desperately for Hermione to call him daddy. He felt his cock twitch at that thought and as he reached his room, he warded his room against intruders and stripped so he could grab his cock and come to the image of Hermione calling him daddy while he fucked her from behind.